Grappers lose top spot

GRAPPENHALL have been knocked off the top spot in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League division one for the first time this season – by the weather.
Their game was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch while fellow title-chasers Bowdon defied the rain to chalk up a three wicket win.
The victory took them just two points ahead of Grappers.
The Grappenhall 2nd XI were also washed out by the weather but the 3rd XI managed to play, thanks to heroic efforts by the players who removed 500 gallons of water from the Broad Lane field before their match against reigning champions Didsbury.
The effort proved worthwhile as the match ended in a nail-biting, one wicket victory which took Grappers back to the top of their division.
Didsbury chose to bat first and were soon struggling at 40-4. There was then a stand which took the total to 80. But in the end they were all out for 128 – a feature of their dismissal being a superb, one-handed diving catch by Mark Tyerman.
Richard Wiles took 4-32 and Albert Pennington 3-22.
With such a modest target, Grappers opened confidently but were soon all at sea against excellent seam and swing bowling. They were wobbling at 45-5 and staring defeat in the face.
But Matt Titchard had other ideas, supported by Pennington. He rode his luck, being dropped on the edge with the ball creeping over the boundary for six.
Pennington fell for 15 but Titchard took the game to the flagging bowlers and finally fell for 46 when only 10 runs were needed.
However, the last pair were at the wicket when the winning runs were struck.
The weather took its toll on many local matches. But Warrington 2nd managed to play at Walton Lea, only to go down by three wickets against Irby.
Warrington were dismissed for 120, of which Charlie McElroy scored 60 and Jan Derek Stoker 21.
Nick Houghton, 4-18 and Ryan Swart, 2-33 bowled well for Warrington but the visitors reached 124-7.
Warrington 3rd went down by 52 runs at Timperley where the home side made first use of the track and reached 148-9. Ben McCarthy, Wesley Charlton and Tom Corroboy took two wickets apiece. Warrington were dismissed for 96, despite Aaron Chaderton’s excellent, unbeaten 53.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park were bowled out for 120 at Chester County Officers and were beaten by two wickets.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Appleton snatched a two wicket win at Bowdon Vale, after dismissing the home side for 75.
Appleton 2nd won by 22 runs against Capenhurst at Lyons Lane. Dom Smith hit 53 of Appleton’s modest 120, with Inzy Rashid contributing 29. Capenhurst were dismissed for 98, Aamir Rashid taking 5-25.
Dave Hurst top scored with 34 as Appleton 4th totalled 133-8 against Bowdon Vale. The visitors were dismissed for 120, Amir Aslam taking seven wickets.