GRAPPENHALL’S fight for survival in the Cheshire County League premier division has gone right down to the last match of the season.
They were unlucky to lose by just 11 runs at Nantwich, picking up just seven points. But those points kept them one clear of the relegation zone with one match left to play.
The home side won the toss and were soon in trouble as Edward Barnes took three early wickets. But later batsmen steadied the ship and Nantwich finished on 224 all out.
Barnes finished with 3-38 and Tom McRury, Joe Ashmnore and Arav Shetty took two wickets each.
Grappers went for the runs, led by Shetty with a well-struck 83 which only ended when he was run-out in the chase for runs.
Adam Roylance hit 36, Joe Ashmore 29 and Kieran Lawton a belligerent 26 as Grappers strove for the winning runs. But in the end they fell short when in sight of victory.
Grappenhall 2nd won by a comfortable margin of 109 at home to Alderley Edge.
Batting first they hit 198, Iain Wright top scoring with 42 The visitors were bowled out for 89, Ross Arrowsmith taking 3-26 and Steve Rooney 3-19.
Warrington went down by 24 runs hosting Ashley at Walton Lea.
The village side batted first and were all out for 204, Ashley Scholes taking 4-37 and Chai Gadepalli 3-37.
Warrington lost a quick wicket but then looked to be going well, with Thaakier Davids hitting a fine 70 and Charlie Jones contributing a useful 35. But the middle-order failed to produce enough runs and in the end the side were all out for 180.
The result left Warrington hanging precariously one point clear of relegation with one match left to play.
Warrington 2nd won by four wickets at Hale Barns after inserting the home side and restricting th em to 185-7. Akhil Aloysius took 3-24.
Skipper Ravi Sabba hit 51 as Warrington replied with 186-6.
Warrington 4th were beaten by eight wickets at Europa Mere after being tumbled out for 46.
Lymm Oughtrington Park lost by 43 runs at Chester County Officers despite bowling well to dismiss the home side for a modest 128.
Antonnel Atwell took 3-47 and Anthony Spaven and Andrew Brown took two wickets each.
When Lymm replied, Atwell hit 41 but got little support from the rest of the line-up The side were all out for 85.
Lymm 2nd lost by six wickets at home to North East Cheshire after winning the toss and batting first.
Hari Cross hit 39 and Gagan Juneja 43 as Lymm totalled 157-7. But it was not enough – the visitors got off to a good start and coasted to victory on 158-4 in the 36th over.
Appleton lost by nine wickets at home to Winsford in a low-scoring game they would prefer to forget.
Batting first they were rolled over for 57 and then saw the opposition hit off the runs in 15 overs.
It was a similar story for the 2nd XI who were bowled out for 98 at Wirral before the home side hit 102-4. How3ever, in t his game Ed Sygrove hit a respectable 37.
Appleton 3rd lost by 98 runs at Cheadle Hulme despite Matt Brady’s plucky 37 not out
It was left to Appleton 4th to bring victory to the club, largely thanks to a fine 109 from veteran Antony Hurst and 63 from Neil Thompson.
This enabled them to set a target of 226 which opponents Wirral were able to reach.
Glazebury lost by seven wickets at Aston after electing to bat first and hitting 167-8.
Anthony Meulman hit 32, Campbell Thomson 37 and Kyle Keeble 38.
Veteran Simon Green hit a boisterous 22 not out at the end of the innings.
But it all proved in vain as the home side coasted to victory at 168-3.
