Grappers’ second best in a drawn game

GRAPPENHALL came off second best in a drawn Vivio Cheshire County League game against Macclesfield at Broad Lane – but did well to salvage anything after a disastrous start.
Invited to bat first on a good wicket, Macclesfield got off to a flyer, racing to 54 in nine overs before the first wicket fell.
The second wicket fell four runs later but then the visitors began to pile on the runs, with their Aussie import hitting 134.
Eventually they reached a daunting 299-8 against a below par Grappers attack.
Gaz Burns took 3-75, Alex Mathews 2-54 while young Aaron McCabe was by far the most economical bowler with 2-14 from six tight overs.
Needing nearly 5.5 runs an over, Grappenhall were in deep trouble at 32-4  with only skipper Adam Roylance standing firm.
He was then joined by Will Sharp, and the two of them defied everything Macc threw at them for the next 35 overs, before Will was out for a hard grafted 36 and the score on 110-5.
Ian Barnes came in and the final nine overs produced a further 52 runs, with Barnsey making an attractive and breezy 27 not out, while Adam carried his bat for an excellent battling knock of 64.
Grappers finished on 162-5 but gained just six points from the game. Other results went their way, however, so they remain third from bottom of the table ahead of a tough game at Hyde next week.
Grappenhall 2nd, with a number of players unavailable, did well to claim a winning draw away at Oxton with the home side clinging on with nine wickets down at the end.
Grappers posted a below par 154-8 in their 50 overs, with 15-year-old James Jenkinson top scoring with 40 and ably supported by fellow 15-year- olds Josh Hayes, 31 and Ben Bravington, 21.
Oxton struggled all the way through with Ben Cagna making it hard to score as he picked up four wickets and Sam Baxter three to close the game out with the home side on 133-9.
Grappenhall 3rd picked up a much needed win at home to Marple with a commanding six wicket victory win.
Marple posted 178-6 in 45 overs which was 40 more than they should have got, but some late hitting got them to a decent total. The pick of the bowlers was Matt Titchard with 3-19 off 12 overs.
Grappers got off to a good start at 50- 1 off 10 overs with Paul Tyerman and Josh Hayes scoring freely. When Tyerman went for 16, Tony Wright came to the crease. He and Josh found it hard going with some tight bowling, but Wright started to take on the bowling with some success. Hayes went for a well crafted 40 and this brought Matt Titchard to the crease who along with Wrighttook the fight to the bowlers and pushed Grappers towards victory.
Wright was finally dismissed for a match winning 68 with only a few runs to win. The win was duly secured as Titchard finished 38 not out.
Warrington earned a draw at Bollington after the home side batted first and scored 234-5. Nathan Green, 2-76 and Brad McIntosh, 2-59, were the picked of the bowlers.
Warrington never looked likely to reach their target and finished on 164-7, Adam Green, 64, Nathan Green 35 not out and McIntosh, 25 not out providing most of the runs.
Warrington 3rd were beaten by six wickets by Chester Boughton Hall.
Batting first, Warrington were dismissed for 132, with Tim Rothwell, 31 and David Lee, 31 not out, top scoring.
Robert Dempster took 3-26 when the Chester side batted but they coasted to victory on 133-4.
In the TACS Partnership Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park enjoyed a seven wicket victory over Bunbury at Oughtrington Lane.
The visitors were dismissed for 134, with Blair weller taking 6-43. Lymm replied with 140-3. Shahzad Butt and Nafees Din were both unbeaten on 54 when victory came.
Lymm Oughtrington Park 2nd were humbled for 56 at Runcorn where the home side hit off the runs for the loss of one wicket.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Stretton defeated visitors Stalybridge St Pauls by 35 runs.
E Malik hit 36 and Ali Zubain 32 as Stretton reached 149. Zubain took 4-25 and J Mir 3-11 as the visitors were dismissed for 114.
Stretton 2nd hit 159 at Sandbach, Will Metcalf hitting 42, Shahid Khan 29 and Richard Taylor 24. The home side were tumbled out for 45, Metcalf completing a good day with 6-15.
In-form Glazebury totalled 136 at Wistaston Village –n the Cheshire Alliance David Actop top scoring with 67.
The home side subsided for 68, Sam Stanier taking 4-16 and veteran Jon Gibbons 3-7.
Glazebury 2nd lost by 100 runs against a strong Maritime team at Hurst Lane.
The visitors hit 198-9, Sean Caine taking 3-37. Glazebury were bowled out for 98, Gordon Chesworth top scoring with 22.
Rylands earned a draw against visiting Capenhurst, with the visitors batting first and scoring 1 41. Rylands were 123-7 at the close, Andrew Mansfield hitting a useful 79.