Batsmen fail against seam attack

GRAPPENHALL slumped to a disappointing defeat in their Vivio Cheshire County League encounter with visiting Bowdon after their normally strong batting line-up failed to get to grips with a good seam attack.
Both openers were  back in the pavilion with only 26 on the board and only debutant overseas player Warwick Abrahim troubled the bowlers, his useful 50 promising much for the coming season. James McCoy, with a lively 23, was second top scorer as Grappers were dismissed for 161.
The visitors coasted to 162-3, Ian Barnes taking 2-37 and Gaz Burns bowling with great hostility but no luck.
Grappenhall 2nd turned the tables at Bowdon, bowling out the home side for  121, Matt Titchard taking 4-16. Grappers replied with 124-4, Tom Hulme 35 and Jack Critchley 36 not out, to maintain their 100 per cent record.
Grappenhall 3rd took on Warrington 3rd in a Twenty20 “derby game” which Grappers won with ease.
Batting first, they posted 131-3, Matty Brown hammering 70 from 56 balls and Mike Brown hitting 28. Warrington were never in the hunt and finished on 91-2.
Warrington 1st travelled to Bredbury St Marks and dismissed the home side for 102,  Aussie Nathan Green taking 7-43 to follow his five wicket haul the previous week. Chai Gadepalli took 2-14.
In reply, Warrington lost five wickets reaching their target, James Rudd top scoring with 34.
Warrington 2nd were held to a draw by Oxton after batting first and amassing 245-5, Ian Sleigh 87 not out, Tom Higher 35 and James Sharrock 33. The visitors held on at 178-7, Ryan Swart taking 2-43, Pheil Whelan 2-11 and Howard Morris 2-7.
In the TACS Partnership Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park maintained their  winning form to win by one wicket at Oakmere.
The home side reached 146-9,Blair Weller taking 3-51, Matthew Bradshaw 3-31 and Travis Scholes 3-25. Lymm scraped victory with their last pair at the wicket, Nafees Din top scoring with 71.
Lymm 2nd were not so lucky, going down by eight wickets at home to Lindow,.  Batting first, they reached a modest 101, Asim Shah 37 and Jack Hughes 20. The visitors strolled to 102-2.
In the Cheshire Alliance,  Glazebury chalked up their second win of the campaign after totalling 160 against Stalybridge St Pauls. Dave Acton hit 52 and Scott Sparks 60.
Acton was on form with the ball as well, taking 5-14 as Stalybridge were tumbled out for 54. Tom Wilkinson took 2-7 and Jon Gibbons 2-6.
Glazebury 2nd also maintained a 100 per cent record, with a six wicket win over Appleton who were dismissed for 99, Dave Derbyshire 23 not out. Chris Ayre took 4-9 and David Nicholson 5-36. Glazebury cantered to 101-4, Harry Barton 20 and Ayre again impressing with 25.
Appleton went down by five wickets against Westminster Park.
Batting first, Appleton made hard work of reaching 139, Tom Lomas hitting 39 and Martin Cooper 27. Westminster Park replied with 142-5.
Appleton 2nd came out on top in their return fixtures, hitting 161-7 and then bowling out Park for 119.
Rylands managed to hang on for a draw against Frodsham who batted first and hit 206-3. Rylands’ last pair were at the wicket with the score on 133 when the overs ran out.
Batting first against Tranmere Victoria, Rylands 2nd totalled 137-7. But Tranmere coasted to victory on 138-3.
Stretton recorded a good four wicket victory over The Groves after the Wirral side had batted first and reached 161-5. Ali Zubain took 3-39.  Stretton responded with 162-6, Rafeel Nazir 66 not out.
The “derby” game between Stretton 2nd and  Appleton 3rd ended in victory by 39 runs for Stretton.
Fashad Qayum hit 42, S Ehmed 32 and Mark Owens 29 as Stretton totalled 166. Appleton were dismissed for 127, Jim Warham top scoring with 29 and Simon Tomlinson hitting 26.