GRAPPENHALL earned a draw at high-flying Nantwich in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League – but not without cost.
Opener James McCoy had to retire before he had scored a run after being struck on the helmet by a short-pitched delivery from Cheshire opening bowler James Warrington that left him with a broken nose.
He was taken to hospital but returned to the ground to watch the closing stages of a game that was interrupted by rain which robbed Grappenhall of any chance of victory and left them with little choice but to aim for as many batting points as possible.
Nantwich had batted first and amassed 304-3 in 50 overs, despite the visitors using six bowlers. Skipper Guy Emmett took 2-70.
Grappenhall’s reply got off to the worst possible start with the injury to James McCoy. But fellow opener Richard Green hit a gritty 90 not out and there were useful contributions from Adam Roylance, 34 and Luke McCoy, 27, to enable Grappenhall to finish on 175-2.
Grappenhall 2nd also drew against the Nantwich second string at Broad Lane.
Rob Slater hit 58 and Andy Tetlow 40 as Grappenhall hit 188-9 declared in 46 overs.
Nantwich never looked like getting the runs and finished on 123-7, Albert Pennington taking 3-27, Neil Titchard 2-31 and Sam Baxter 2-17.
Warrington racked up a six wicket victory over Stockport after bowling them out for 130. A Martel took 4-26 and Matt Adams 3-30. Warrington opener Thomas Clutterbuck set the tone for the reply with 47 and James Hughes hit 36 and Malcolm Agar 20 not out as Warrington cantered to victory with 133-4.
Warrington 4th suffered a six wicket defeat at Oxton after being bowled out for 103, Derek Bate 29 and Michael Mather 22.
The home side reached 104-4 despite Bruce Jardine’s 3-32.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park lost by 23 runs at home to Winnington Park.
The visitors batted first and reached 158-8 in 4 overs, N Chadbourne taking 4-39 and K Wright 2-27. Lymm could only muster 135, despite good knocks from Chadbourne, 38, Phil Whelan 27 and Steve Knowles, 20.
Lymm 2nd also lost at Winnington Park where the home side declared on 205-9 and Lymm could only muster 152.
Stretton went down by 100 runs entertaining Bunbury, who batted first and hammered 250-3 in 45 overs. Ben Clissold was the most effective bowler with 2-57. Stretton’s opening pair put on 48 but then wickets began to fall and the side was back in the pavilion for 150, J Wells top scoring with 35.
Stretton 2nd declared on 210-8 at Runcorn – but under-estimated the home side’s batting strength. Runcorn reached 212-2.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury’s winning run came to at end when they lost at home to Haslington.
Glazebury batted first and got off to a poor start, being 97-7 at one stage. David Acton hit 32 but it was late resistance from Michael Nutkins, 26 and Jon Gibbons, 33 not out that eventually enabled the home side to reach 167-9.
Haslington came back hard and fast, however, hammering 168-7 in 28.4 overs. Skipper Andrew Calvert, 2-58 and Gibbons, 2-40 were the most effective Glazebury bowlers.
Glazebury 2nd had a hard fought local “derby” with Appleton which ended in a draw. Appleton batted first and hit 200 exactly, David Hurst top scoring with 83 and Mike Arnold 36 to put on 81 for the first wicket. Matthew Shailer took 5-33 for Glazebury.
Opener Gary Dunlop hit a gritty 101 for Glazebury to earn a draw at 170-8. Stuart Bate, 3.40 and Michael Cumberland, 3-20, were Appleton’s maion bowlers.
Appleton 1st XI’s run of poor form continued with a heavy defeat at the hands of Langley, who batted first and hit 249-5. Chris Grumley with 2-46 was the most effective bowler.
The Appleton inning started well, with 41 put on by the opening pair. But a mid-order collapse left them all out for 123. Antony Hurst top scored with 24 and Ed Sygrove hit 20.
Appleton 3rd went down at Wirral where they were dismissed for 102 and the home side passed their total with six wickets in hand.
Women’s cricket
HOLDERS Appleton Tigers surrendered the Cheshire Women’s League knockout cup in the first round when they were beaten by eight weeks by Romily and Dinting.
Appleton were held to 78-9 and Romily coasted to 79-2 with eight balls to spare. Jess Lewis took 2-21 for the Tigers.
