GRAPPENHALL look virtually certain to be promoted back to the ECB Premier division of the RSK Cheshire County League after a hard-fought win at Bramhall.
They now need only three points out of a possible 75 from their last three games.
The question now surely is whether they are promoted as champions or as runners-up.
But they had to battle hard for their 20 run victory at Bramhall after a rare day off with the bat
They struggled to 160-9, with gutsy innings of 39 not out from Ben Bodha the top score.
At 87-3, Bramhall look set to take the spoils but Grappers’ bowlers came good at the right time and bowled the home side out for 180 with 10 balls remaining.
Next week, Grappenhall host Timperley – currently third in the table – and with second-placed Cheadle also to be tackled, their destiny is in their own hands.
Grappers came out on top when the clubs met earlier in the season but it is certainly not a game to take for granted.
Grappenhall 2nd were bowled out for 93 at home to Timperley, with Sunder Bhinder top scoring with 27. Grappers put up a fight in the second half, claiming five wickets but weren’t able to force an unlikely win. The result sees them sitting in mid-table with three weeks of the season to go.
The 3rd XI had their match postponed due to the opposition’s cup commitments.
Warrington, facing a very different problem – that of avoiding relegation – fought hard to salvage a draw at Port Sunlight.
They asked the home side to bat first and saw them reach a respectable 260-6. The bowlers shared the wickets, with Chai Gadepelli 2-54 and Aamir Ali 2-41 the pick of the bunch.
Muhammad Abid batted superbly for 93 and Asmir Alik, 46 not out was defiant at the end, but the final total of 216-9 was only enough to earn seven points.
Warrington 2nd, at home to Bollington, also drew after asking the visitors to bat first.
Bollington hit 243-7, with Ravi Sabba, 3-35, the main wicket taker.
Warrington replied with 166-4, skipper Thomas Jones hitting 63 not out and Adi Ajay 52.
In the UKFast Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park lost heavily at home after winning the toss and asking visitors Over Peover to bat first.
They then saw the visitors amass 351-2, with both openers scoring centuries
The Lymm bowlers toiled manfully in the heat, but it was a game they will want to forget.
Lymm replied with 211-9 with Matthew Carr, 79 and Steve Knowles, 46 not out, the main run scorers.
Appleton lost by 22 runs at home to Old Parkonians after putting them in.
The visitors hit 173-8 despite Harry Sygrove taking 6-48.
Appleton were bowled out for 151 with Ali Shariff hitting 29 and Rory Kellett 25.
Appleton 2nd lost at Winnington Park after being bowled out for 58.
They fought back in the second half, taking six wickets, Michael Cumberland 3-12. But the home side took the honours with four wickets to spare.
Glazebury won by 68 runs at home to Offerton, after being put in and totally 235.
Anthony Meulman top-scored with 66 and Andrew Calvert hit 48.
The visitors were bowled out for 167, Sam Stanier taking 4-25 and Jack Warhurst and Dave Nicholson picking up three wickets each.
Glazebury 2nd lost by seven wickets at Styal after being bowled out for 78.
