Grappers win relegation battle

GRAPPENHALL Cricket Club beat fellow strugglers Alderley Edge at Broad Lane in a match that could have a big say as to which Division either team play in next season.
Alderley elected to bat first on winning the toss, so it was crucial that the home side could both restrict and take wickets on a track which offered some assistance.
Skipper Guy Emmett elected to start with Steve Titchard`s off spin, and young quickie, Luke Williams. At 8 for 2 Alderley were in trouble, with Steve taking both wickets,
and with the ball gripping, batting did`nt look easy. However, there was then a stand of 88, before Guy trapped his opposite number for 46, who arguably should have gone earlier, at an unsavoury moment in the match!
The skipper rotated his bowling options, and it was the late introduction of Tony Hurdley and Gaz Burns who got amongst the wickets taking three apiece.
At 161 for 8 it looked as though Grappenhall might keep the total below 180, but some late hitting took Alderley to a declared total of 196 for 9 at the half way stage.
Grappenhall`s out cricket on the day was mixed, with some below par fielding, though this improved in the later stages as wickets began to tumble.
Grappenhall opened with Richard Green, and keeper Liam Parkinson was promoted up the order to inject some energy into the reply. Both batsmen were positive from the outset, until Liam was bowled for 12 with the score on 32. Adam Roylance went quickly, followed by Richard for a hard hit 35, while `Barnsey` after a couple of lusty blows miscued and was caught for 11. The middle order which for most of the season has provided some `bone` to the teams totals did`nt on this occassion last long, with Iain Wright, Andy Tetlow and Steve Tichard out in quick succession. At 83 for 7 it was not looking good.
However, Gaz Burns stood firm for a while, and found a solid partner in Tony Hurdley, and gradually began to rebuild, taking the score to 109 before Gaz skied a catch. With overs in hand, but only two wickets left, could Grappenhall get over the line? Luke Williams joined Tony, and showed a praiseworthy maturity, as the two put on 30, before Luke was out for an invaluable 22. 139 for 9!
The skipper now entered the fray, and with Tony looking resolutely solid, the two, with Guy equally firm, gradually moved the score on. In a partnership spanning 13 overs, and producing 58 runs, Grappenhall eventually passed their target, much to the delight of a large crowd that was engrossed in what proved to be a thrilling, and at one stage a most unlikely win. Tony, 39 not out and Guy 22 not out, are to be congratulated for the spirit and application they both showed, and the value they each put on their own wicket in a real pressure situation.
In taking 25 points, Grappenhall have moved off the bottom, and the next two matches are crucial, as are the results of the other teams in the relegation battle. If the team as a whole can show the same `fight` as the last pair in this match did, then survival remains a possibility.