GRAPPENHALL, with one wicket remaining fell just two runs short of victory in an incredible finish to their Chapel Press Cheshire County League game against Poynton at Broad Lane.
They needed six runs from the last ball – and number eleven batsman Sam Guest’s valiant effort fell just inches short.
The result will make Grappers’ promotion challenge more difficult – but not impossible.
Poynton batted first on a good wicket and, despite making a solid start, were restricted to 190-8 by some good bowling, with skipper Steve Titchard taking 3-49 and Sam Baxter 2-21.
However, nine wides and six no balls were to prove costly later.
Grappenhall also made a good start, with an opening of partnership of 61 between Richard Green and James Taylor.
But after Green fell for 22, wickets fell regularly with the mid and later order underperforming.
Taylor finished with 95.
Grappenhall 2nd elected to bat after winning the toss at Sale but got off to a bad start with both openers back in the pavilion for four runs. Skipper Mike Holden steadied the ship with 24 and Matt Titchard top scored with a dogged 36 but Grappenhall were all out for their lowest total of the season, 107.
But superb bowling and good fielding made life difficult for the Sale batsmen. Mark Roylance finished with 8-20 and Adam Roylance, just to keep it in the family, took 2-17.
Sy Fryer took two superb catches and Sale were dismissed for 65.
Grappenhall 3rd lost to Stockport, but were only four balls from saving the match.
Stockport chose to bat first and put on 90 before losing a wicket.
Runs continued to flow and some careless misses in the field enabled Stockport to reach 184-9 in 45 overs. Jamie Edgington was pick of the bowlers with 4-28 and Sam Hartford picked up 2-28.
Grappenhall struggled against good bowling. Jack Critchley, 23, Tom Roberts, 19, and Ashley Scholes, 18 not out, were the leading scorers and managed to get within four balls of saving the match.
Warrington’s second win of the season did little to remove them from bottom of the table – but it severely damaged second placed Bramhall’s title challenge. The visitors were beaten by seven wickets after Warrington’s batsmen came good for once.
Bramhall were asked to bat first and posted a formidable 227-6, despite Steve Heydon’s 4-65.
Warrington replied with 229-3, Malcolm Agar top scoring with 89 not out, Chris Kirby hitting 66 and sound contributions from James Hughes, 20, Richard Heaney, 21 and Liam Heaphey, 20 not out.
Warrington 2nd also enjoyed a seven wicket victory at Oulton Park where they restricted the home side to 215-9, Ryan Swart taking 4-56. Warrington started their reply badly, losing three wickets for 19 runs before racing to 216-3, Malcolm Gwatkin hitting a superb, unbeaten 103, and David Barker 90 not out.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Rylands triumphed by seven runs after a tense finish to their game with The Groves.
Rylands had batted first to reach 150 and the Groves were bowled out for 143.
Glazebury went down by just five runs at Trinity after the home side had batted first and reached 174-6.
Dave Mason, 41 and Saj Sadiq, 47, were the mainstay of Glazebury’s reply of 169 all out.
Glazebury 2nd also lost against Eastham and Bromborough at Hurst Lane.
The visitors were dismissed for 152, with good bowling by Sean Caine, 3-55, Kyle Keeble, 3-31 and Dave Nicholson, 2-22.
Glazebury were bowled out for 134, skipper Wayne Hargreaves top scoring with 39.
Women’s cricket
THREE Appleton players and one from Warrington have been chosen for a Cheshire Select XI to play the MCC at Chester Boughton Hall on Tuesday, August 18.
They are Warrington’s Lauren Griffiths and Appleton’s Emma Barlow (vice captain), Kim Challis and Anni Rashid.
Two England players will be in the MCC side.
Meanwhile, Appleton have reached the final of the Plate Competition in the Cheshire Twenty20 knock out.
They cruised passed Bowdon in the semi-final, restricting them to 47-5 thanks to fine bowling from Natalie Lyons and Anni Rashid, who both took 2-5.
When Appleton batted, Kim Challis blasted 25 retired and Amy Page 21 not out as Appleton reached their target inside eight overs.
