THE RSK Cheshire County League “derby” between Grappenhall and Warrington ended in a drawn game shortened by the weather.
Warrington skipper Ashley Scholes won the toss and inserted Grappenhall on their own ground – and with three quick wickets including former Gloucestershire batsman Grant Hodnett for a duck, it seemed a good decision.
But Ben Bodha, 42 not out and Richard Green, 44 steadied the ship and Grappers were able to declare on 156-7 after 37 overs,
Jake Liddle took 4-38 and James Rudd 2-36.
Warrington got off to a lively reply with opener Jonathan Fletcher hammering a brisk 68 and Mike Rudd 22 at a run a ball.
But the visitors could not keep up with the run-rate and were 150=6 from 25 overs at the close.
Albert Pennington and Arran McCabe picked up two wickets each.
Grappenhall earned 10 points from the game and Warrington eight.
On Sunday, Grappenhall played a re-arranged match with Congleton, who batted first and reached 155. Grappers chased down the runs for the loss of seven wickets to put them back in the hunt for promotion to the Premier Division.
The 2nd XI game between the two close neighbours followed a remarkably similar pattern at Walton Lea.
Warrington won the toss and decided to field first. Grappenhall posted 193-5, opener Ian Hall hitting a fine 84 and Dave Tully, 31. Rishak Manta and Adam Lawton took two wickets each for Warrington.
The home side made little attempt to go for the runs, opener Lawton batting throughout the 40 overs available for a patient, unbeaten 50. James Lewis hit 39.
David Coyne and Mike Wildsmith took two wickets each for Grappers.
Warrington finished on 143-4 to claim six points to Grappenhall’s nine.
Grappenhall 3rd went down by nine wickets at Nantwich, batting first and totalling 128 all out. Skipper Paul Tyreman, batting at Number 10, top scored with 23.
Nantwich lost one quick wicket to Tom Ellis and then went on to race to the target in 21 overs without further loss.
In the UKFast Cheshire League, Appleton were humbled at home when they were bowled out for 31 by Winnington Park, five ducks waddling miserably back to the pavilion.
The visitors knocked off the runs without loss.
Appleton 3rd won at home to Haslington, bowling out the visitors for 127. Paul Grumley took 3-6.
Opener Sam Thorley hit 39 not out and Toby White 30 not out as Appleton took the honours with 128-5 in 27 overs.
Lymm Oughtrington Park won a rain-affected match against Middlewich at Oughtrington Lane after reaching a revised target of 67 for the loss of two wickets in 10 overs. Mainb architect of the victory was skipper Travis Scholes who hammered 42 not out in 26 balls.
Earlier, Middlewich had hit 140-9 in 38 overs. Scholes was also in form with the ball, taking 3-18.
Lymm Oughtrington Park 2nd lost by 137 runs at Port Sunlight.
The home side hit 206, batting first, Vinayak Shinde taking 5-20 as Lymm’s sixth bowler.
Lymm were then rolled over for 69, with Astrayo Daw top scoring with 27 and Prashant Nanda hitting 23.
Glazebury fought hard to get back into the game after being bwoled out for a disappointing 93 at Tranmere Victoria. Opener Anthony Meulman top-scored with 38.
Sam Stanier, 3-37 and Kyle Keeble, 3-25 had the home side struggling at 42-6 but despite Jack Warhurst chipping in with two more wickets, Tranmere reached their modest target with two wickets to spare.
