GRAPPENHALL inched their way towards safety in the Cheshire County League premier division with a four wicket victory at Neston.
It was a game they needed to win – but iirst of all it was a game they had to play. Quite a few matches were abandoned to the weather including Grappers’ 2nd and 3rd XI matches.
Skipper Pete Barnes won the toss and elected to field first – a decision that provede to be a good one.
Neston struggled from the outset – particularly against the bowling of Kiwi Tom McRury, who finished with figures of 4-21.
Ed Barnes and Arran McCabe also bowled well and picked up two wickets each as the home side were bowled out for 130.
But Grappers also found runs hard to get, with four batsmen failing to score. Again it was McRury who came to the rescue with a priceless 91 not out, including six sixes and nine fours.as the side recovered from 58-6 to finish on 131-6.
The victory left Grappers still only one place above the relegation zone but opened up a 22-point gap between them and the team below them.
Warrington’s home game against Upton was abandoned after just three overs were bowled.
But the 2nd XI played at Ashton on Mersey, only to lost by four wickets despite hitting a very respectable 246-7.
The home side replied with 250-6 in 44 overs.
Lymm Oughtrington Park won a low-scoring match at Holmes Chapel, bowling out the home side for 66, Antonnel Atwell taking 4-10 and Richard Parkinson 4-16.
Atwell hit 34 as Lymm hit off the runs for the loss two wickets.
Lymm 2nd lost by an embarrassing 180 runs at home to Timperley, who batterd first and hit 224-5.
Lymm could only muster 44-8.
Lymm 3rd lost by nine wickets at Davenham aafter being bowled out for 96, of which Gary Parson hit 47 not out.
Appleton lost byh five runs in a keenly contested rain-affected game at home to Westminster Park.
Rory Kellett hit 54 and Wesley Jenkins 33 as Appleton hit 130-6..
But the visitors hit off the runs for the loss of seven wickets. Moshin Rafique took 3-19.
Appleton 2nd won by 10 wickets at Port Sunlight after bowling out the homesters for 137, Justin Anson taking 4-5.
Appleton 3rd lost byh six wickets at Urmston.after being bowled out for 91.
Glazebury went down by nine wickets in a rain-affected game at Styal after being bowled out for 55 .
