Winning run comes to an end

GRAPPENHALL’S winning streak which has taken them to the top of the Chapel Press Cheshire County League division one has come to a disappointing end.
Looking for their eighth consecutive victory, the Broad Lane outfit went down by 51 runs at Irby.
Skipper Steve Titchard elected to bowl first on winning the toss and with Irby struggling on 60-4 it looked a good decision. Dean Riches, 3-40 and Gaz Burns, 2-37 both exploited the pace and bounce of the wicket and were unlucky not to have done more damage. But Irby recovered to build a useful total of 201-9, despite Titchard taking 2-42.
Grappenhall’s reply started brightly with James McCoy scoring a quickfire 26. Richard Green contributed a steady 20 while wickets fell at the other end and skipper Titchard raised hopes with a useful 39. But the side was all out for 150 meaning they took just eight points from the match.
Some sloppy work in the field and 10 no balls contributed to Grappers’ defeat and the club is hoping the setback will prove to be a wake-up call for the side, who are still at the top of the table.
Grappenhall 2nd redressed the balance somewhat with a six wicket victory over Irby at Broad Lane.
The visitors batted first and were held to 181-8 thanks to some accurate bowling from Sam Guest, 3-39 and Ian Hall 3-31.
Mark Tyerman, freshly promoted from the 3rd XI, got Grappers off on the right foot with a well-struck 60 and there were good knocks from Hall, 44 and skipper Mike Holden, 42 not out.
Grappenhall 3rd went down by five wickets to Hyde after batting first on a lively wicket at Broad Lane.
Opener Jamie Bye was forced to retire after being struck on the hip by a fast delivery and Neil Muttock ended up in hospital after the same bowler struck him on the helmet, resulting in a bloody nose and swollen eye.
This unsettled the Grappenhall side and only Tom Roberts, 23, batted with any confidence as they were dismissed for 90.
Hyde were also troubled by the pace of Sam Baxter, who took 4-34, but managed to reach their target for the loss of five wickets.
Warrington chalked up a 21-run victory over Ashton-on-Mersey thanks largely to a superb century from James Hughes who hit 17 fours in his 116. Tom Jones contributed a useful 51 and Malcolm Agar 27.
Ashton went for the runs but finished on 202 after Steve Heydon took 6-54, Lewis Nunn 2-29 and Charlie McElroy 2-25.
Warrington 2nd snatched victory by one wicket in a tense finish against Poynton.
Nick Houghton took 5-52 as Poynton were dismissed for 174 and Warrington’s last pair were at the wicket when the winning run was hit.
It was a disappointing result for Warrington 3rd, however, as they went down by eight wickets against Brooklands. Jake Shackleford, 35 and Brian Boys, 28 were the main contributors as Warrington totalled 127. Brooklands coasted to 128-2.
Warrington 4th went down by 47 runs at the hands of Oxton, who batted first and reached 147. Bruce Jardine took 3-33 and John Burgess 2-48. Warrington replied with 100, with Mike Cornelia top scoring with 31.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Appleton suffered another heavy defeat when they went down by nine wickets against Haslington.
Richard Clarke batted well for 40 and Chris Grumley chipped in with 21, but Appleton were back in the pavilion for a modest 129. Haslington coasted to 130-1.
Mike Arnold hit 72 and Sam Swift 29 as Appleton 2nd reached a useful 194-9 against Wistaston. Then they bowled out Wistaston for a meagre 78, with Duane Jones and Swift both bowling well.
Appleton 4th threw away victory at Chelford after bowling out the home side for 130. Emma Barlow – “borrowed” from the Appleton’s women’s XI – top scored with 48 in Appleton’s reply but the side was dismissed for a disappointing 111.
Glazebury triumphed by two wickets at Holmes Chapel. Kyle Keeble took 4-31, Andrew Calvert 2-28 and Dean Lord 2-22 as the home side were dismissed for 108.
Then Dave Mason, with an unbeaten 43, steadied the ship as Glazebury made hard work of reaching 111-8.
Glazebury 2nd salvaged a draw after all had seemed lost against Styal.
The visitors batted first and posted 196-7, despite good bowling by the experienced Jon Gibbons, 2-26 and Dave Nicholson, 2-29.
Gibbons was in form with the bat as well, hitting 30 as Glazebury replied with 143-9. Andy Durrington hammered 36.
Rylands 2nd went down by 46 runs against Langley, who batted first and finished on 200-7. Rylands replied with 154, Geoff Shaw 41 and Sean Peters 24.
Women’s cricket
It’s four defeats from four games for Warrington in the ECB Women’s Premier League North after a largely self inflicted defeat to Meir Heath – themselves without a win prior to this.
The Potteries side got home in the last over with an unbroken 10th wicket stand of 45 between Kathryn Whyle and Ceara Toal, with Whyle finishing unbeaten on 39 and number 11 Toal playing a vital role in surviving 43 deliveries.
The early part of Warrington’s innings saw several batsmen look good for a short while before getting out, with Kate Dicken taking the first three wickets. Warrington finally got a partnership together as Lorna Thomas made 46 on her return from injury and Sarah McCann made 23.
In the field Warrington proceeded to drop numerous catches, several from normally reliable fielders, and this was key in allowing Rachel Priest (28) and Charlotte Whyle (23) to build a stand of 58 for the second wicket.
However, once this stand was broken, Warrington took regular wickets, including two each for Jemma Bentley and Abbey Gore on their league debuts. But the final success proved elusive as a heartbreaking defeat ensued.
Appleton continue to lead the Cheshire Women’s League after completing a league double over Chester Boughton Hall, having completed a much less fraught run chase than their win on the opening day of the season. Mandy Humphreys’ 27 was the top score as Chester only reached 101-9 in the full 40 overs. Natalie Lyons took 3-22 and Nathalie Long 2-9 in eight overs. Appleton got home in 28.2 overs for the loss of only two wickets, led by 42 from captain Emma Barlow.