Heavy loss for Grappenhall

GRAPPENHALL suffered a heavy loss against high flying Toft at Broad Lane, losing comprehensively in a 9 wicket defeat.
Invited to bat first on a slowish wicket which offered considerable seam movement, Toft`s opening bowlers exploited the conditions admirably, and soon reduced Grappenhall to 43 for 4, with only opener Adam Roylance showing real resistance. He was then joined by Will Sharp and the pair added a further 32 before Adam finally went for a hard earned 31. Debutant Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire and England U19) joined Will and added a few more before the latter, who until then had looked relatively untroubled went for 22. Thereafter the last few wickets fell all too quickly with only Gaz Burns, looking in good touch and probably batting too low, contributing 23 before he was last man out in the 55th over for a well below par score of 138. All Toft`s bowlers performed, with M Corns outstanding, taking 3 for 33 from 20 consecutive overs.
In reply Toft took Grappenhall`s attack apart, and it was evident that the earlier seam movement which had caused Grappenhall so many problems had largely diminished, though there was not the same degree of control from the home team`s bowlers. Toft passed their target in the 22nd over for the loss of one wicket, (Gaz Burns), though it was encouraging to see the pace of SaqibMahmood who will undoubtedly take wickets on quicker tracks as the season unfolds.
Just two points for Grappenhall who find themselves very much at the wrong end of the table, and must look to raise their game considerably next week when they host Cheadle.