Back to winning ways

GRAPPENHALL returned to winning ways in the Vivio Cheshire County League with a fine three wicket win at Marple.
The hosts elected to bat first but lost their first wicket with only five on the board.
Skipper Richard Green juggled his bowling attack and Marple found the going tough. Luke Williams, Jack Critchley and Gaz Burns were among the wickets and Albert Pennington took his first Premiership wicket when he trapped former Cheshire captain Andy Hall lbw.
Marple’s innings closed on 216-6 – a challenging target on a track offering help to the bowlers.
At 73-4, and the ball turning square, things did not look good for Grappers but Jimmy McCoy, who had been moved down the order, hit a fine 75 not out and with Gas Burns hitting 22 and Luke Williams 27 not out, the target was reached in the 51st over.
The victory took Grappenhall back to third in the table.
Grappenhall 2nd played Urmston at Broad Lane, knowing a win would put pressure on top club Neston.
They elected to field first and with opening bowlers Sam Guest and Ian Barnes bowling with pace and aggression managed to bowl out the visitors for 152.
Guest finished with 6-55 and Neil Muttock 3-42.
Will Sharp and Jamie Bye put on 50 in 12 overs before Bye was out for 32.
Andy Tetlow hit 23 and Ian Wright a belligerent 35 not out which with Sharp remaining unbeaten on 59 was enough to take Grappers to victory.
Warrington coasted to an eight wicket win over Alvanley, restricting the visitors to 186-6, Kyle Adams taking 4-60. Warrington replied with 187-2, Chris Kirby 59 not out, Richard Heaney 31 and James Hughes 59.
Travelling to Oulton Park, Warrington 2nd declared on 237-9, opener Andy Kirby hitting 54 and Will Fleetwood 57 not out.
The home side were bowled out for 210, Brendan Morris taking 4-29 and Simon Hewitt 3-44.
Warrington 3rd made it three wins out of three for the Walton Lea club when they travelled to Neston.
The home side were dismissed for 143, Terry Balmer 4-33, Rishav Mantra 3-23.
Balmer hit 73 not out and Tom Corroboy 30 not out as Warrington replied with 145-1.
In the Cheshire Alliance, the local “derby” between Glazebury and Rylands at Hurst Lane ended in victory for the home side.
Batting first, Glazebury were able to declare on 225-4, Wayne Hargreaves hitting 52 and Tom Wilkinson 53 nout out.
A depleted Rylands were looking good on 134-1, Eddie Platt 83 and Richard Buck 57. But a batting collapse followed and they were all out for 175. Jon Gibbons took 4-20.
Glazebury 2nd travelled to Mellor and were dismissed for 95 – Paul Warhurst contributing 58 of them. The home side hit off the runs for the loss of one wicket.
Appleton were tumbled out for 58 by visiting Stalybridge St Pauls and then saw the visitors coast to an eight wicket victory on 62-2.
There was a similar low-scoring match between Appleton 2nd and Hartford with Appleton bowled out for 57 and Hartford losing six wickets before reaching the modest target.
Stretton managed to bowl out visiting Wistaston Village for a meagre 74 – but then collapsed to 68 all out themselves.
Travelling to Stalybridge St Pauls, Stretton 2nd restricted the home side to 177-7, J Large taking 6-30. Stretton managed to hang on for a draw at 131-9, D. Tidd top scoring with 75.
In the Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park 2nd won by 32 runs at Hale Barns after batting first and reaching 138-9.