A SUMMER that has probably seen more local cricket matches wiped out by the weather than ever before got even worse at the weekend, with hardly any games played at all.
For Grappenhall, riding at the top of the Chapel Press Cheshire County League, it was particularly frustrating as their crucial game at second placed Bowdon actually started, only to be abandoned at the tea interval.
The home side batted first and were reduced to 56-5, before recovering to reached 160-7.
Gaz Burns took 4-52 while the accuracy and extra pace of Aussie Jason Smith enabled him to take three quick wickets, all bowled, and unfortunate not to have got at least one lbw decision.
Matthew Titchard, making his first team debut, bowled a seven over tint in difficult, damp conditions.
During the tea interval the rain set in with a vengeance and the match was abandoned as a draw, with each team receiving seven points.
With other matches similarly affected, the top of the table remains unchanged, but it was a disappointment for Grappenhall who fancied their chances to knock off the runs and extend their lead at the top of the table.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Glazebury 2nd managed to complete a low-scoring game at The Groves.
Batting first, Glazebury were dismissed for 77, Steven Meadows top scoring with 25 and Chris Ayre hitting 19.
It did not look like a winning total, but the Wirral side were tumbled out for 44, Ayre taking 3-27, Matthew Shailer 3-7, Hakeem Dahau 2-8 and Sean Caine 2-1.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Appleton 2nd travelled to Haslington where they managed to beat the weather but not the opposition.
Appleton batted first and hit 11-9, Mike Arnold 27, Paul Hesford 28.
The home side replied with 114-5 despite Duane Jones’ 4-23.
Women’s cricket
APPLETON took full advantage of a shortened game against Hyde to consolidate their position at the top of the Cheshire Women’s League.
Champions Appleton scored 153-4, with Lauren O’Reilly scoring 75 from only 67 deliveries. Anni Rashid made an unbeaten 32 and Natalie Lyons 24, while there were two wickets for Hyde’s Kate Makinson.
Hyde – still without a league win – could only reply with 70-8. O’Reilly’s excellent match continued with 2-12 and Chloe Page took 2-8.
All other league games were rained off.
