GRAPPENHALL continued their recent good run of form chasing down 175 against high-flying Alderley Edge in the Cheshire County Cricket Premier League.

Alderley opted to bat first and after an early breakthrough from Josh McClelland the wickets began to fall steadily until Grappenhall were looking to finish the job with the score at 107 for 8.

Alderley’s skipper, along with the tail order, stood firm for longer than expected and were eventually bowled out in the 52nd over for 175 with McClelland picking up another two wickets to claim his hat-trick.

A lengthy rain break meant that Grappenhall only had 36 overs to bat but Jimmy McCoy and Adam Roylance set about the task by taking the game to the Alderley bowlers.

The attacking approach saw Roylance walk cheaply and Jamie Bye soon followed, before McClelland gave another good performance, this time with the bat to give McCoy some support with a well made 20.

McCoy went for 45 with the score at 66 for 3, at which point the skipper Richard Green entered the fray to go on and produce his best knock of the season and eventually finish up with 64 not out The lower order contributed useful runs to help Green along as Grappenhall eased over the line with 10 balls remaining and a fine three-wicket win.

The win takes Grappenhall into third in the league and puts the side in good spirits ahead of the home game against Nantwich on Saturday.