ANOTHER victory for Grappenhall pushed the club into fifth position in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League division one, just 17 points behind the leaders.
Warrington earned a draw at title-chasing Christleton – but remain rooted at the foot of the table and staring at the prospect of relegation.
Quite a few local games were lost to the weather.
Grappenhall, away at Heaton Mersey, asked the home side to bat first on a wicket that looked as if it would offer some assistance to the bowlers.
At 37-3 it looked a good decision, but Mersey recovered to 192-6, largely due to overseas player Sahabbudin who hit 99 before being run out.
Grappenhall’s bowling and out cricket was not at its best, although Cameron Park took 2-30, and Liam Parkinson effected two fine stumpings.
Grappenhall got off to a poor start and at 20-2 clearly had a fight on their hands. But Richard Green dug in and put on 55 with Will Sharp and then had another useful partnership with Alan Brady, 30, before falling for a fine 67. Skipper Steve Titchard then entered the fray, and put together a controlled 45 not out, and with keeper Parkinson hitting the winning runs in the last over, Grappenhall won a tight game by five wickets.
Grappenhall have now had a run of five wins and a winning draw and could soon be challenging for promotion.
Grappenhall 2nd elected to b at first against Birkenhead Park at Broad Lane, but got off to a bad start with the loss of two quick wickets. But opener Ian Wright, 52 and Andy Wright, 43, steadied the ship and further contributions from Dave Nicholson, 14 and Neil Baxter, 22 took the side to 175-8 in 50 overs.
Sam Guest and Ash Higham bowled tightly and each claimed an early wicket as the visited struggled to score runs against accurate bowling. Park were eventually dismissed for 101, with Andy Wright completing a great day with 3-30, Higham taking 3-26, Guest 2-15 and Adam Roylance 1-12.
Warrington’s bowlers were put to the sword at Christleton where the home side declared on 226-1, overseas player Ironshan De Silva hitting an unbeaten 106. Warrington never looked able to chase the runs but finished on 163-7, James Hughes top scoring with 63 and Andy Kirby, 38 and Richard Taylor, 35 contributing useful innings.
There was an exciting to Warrington 2nd game against Middlewich at Walton Lea, with the visitors eventually winning by one wicket.
Warrington were dismissed for 154, Toby Mullins 42 and David Baxter 36.
Howard Morris, 3-29 and veteran seamer Paul Agar, 4-34, bowled well for Warrington but Middlewich reached their target at 155-9.
It was again left to Warrington 4th to bring a victory for the Walton Lea side. They travelled to Chester Boughton Hall and dismissed the home side for 100 before cantering to victory on 101-1. Joel Chaderton hit 34, Tom Corroboy 46 not out and Sam Houghton 15 not out.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park had an easy nine wicket win over Alderley Park, who were dismissed for 79. Lymm replied with 80-1.
Stretton 2nd XI drew with Ashley after batting first and reaching 155-8. Ashley replied with 118-8.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury went down by two wickets to Saughall at Hurst Lane.
Batting first, Glazebury were dismissed for 136, Ian McCue 44, Jon Gibbons 27 and Rhys Marsh 22. The visitors replied with 137-8 despite some good pace bowling from David Acton, who finished with 5-42.
Glazebury 2nd’s game at Kerridge ended in a draw when it was shortened by rain. Kerridge batted first and hit 205-9, with Julian May taking 3-59, Wayne Hargreaves 3-15 and Simon Green 2-24.
Glazebury were 120-3, Dave Mason 69 not out and John Acton 19 when the rain came.
Appleton 2nd held on for a draw at Ellesmere Port after the home side batted first and reached 121-9. James Darbyshire took 3-24 and Chris Tomlinson 4-37. Appleton were 113-9 at the close, Andy Peters stop scoring with 28 and Matthew Swannell scoring 19.
Women’s cricket
WARRINGTON’S game in the ECB Premier League North was washed out by the weather but Appleton Tigers managed to play their Cheshire League Twenty20 League game against Neston.
Batting first, Appleton hit 109-6, Jen Regan 26 retired, Emma Barlow 25 not out and Anni Rashid 20.
Neston were dismissed for 58, Natalie Long taking 4-4, Regan 2-5, Rashid 2-11 and Jess Lewis 2-15.
