GRAPPENHALL suffered another heavy defeat in the Cheshire County Premier League, this time at Bowdon, even though their initial response showed promise in chasing down a high score.
Bowdon elected to bat first on a somewhat variable track and put on 48 for the first wicket, as their openers took advantage of some slightly loose bowling.
At 78 for 2 their was a sniff of a chance that Grappenhall would get back into the game, but a century partnership put paid to that as Bowdon scored freely, and at 184 for 3 it looked as though they might get towards the 300 mark.
Grappenhall used six bowlers to try and stem the flow of runs, but it was the re-introduction of Saqib Mahmood who was instrumental in limiting Bowdon`s final score to 251 all out in the 53rd over, by taking out the middle order, along with Sam Guest polishing off the tail.
Mahmood took his first `fifor` for the club, (5 for 42), while Guest finished with 3 for 51.
Jimmy McCoy and Adam Roylance looked in no trouble at all against Bowdon`s seam attack, as the pair raced to 64 before Roylance went for 28.
McCoy went soon after for 40 having showed the same kind of form of recent weeks, both to spin, which ultimately proved decisive as Bowdon worked their way through Grappenhall`s batting order.
The only two other Grappenhall batsmen to reach double figures were Warwick Abrahim with 25, and Mahmood, who made32 not out and showed a lot of discipline throughout his unbeaten knock. All out for 145, and a defeat by 106 runs.
A five-point return now leaves Grappenhall second from bottom, and in a real dog fight with four other teams for Premier League survival.
However, there was a fantastic win for Grappenhall in the quarter finals of the T20 competition away to Hyde on Thursday evening.
Set a daunting target of 193, Grappenhall reached it with two balls to spare and only four wickets down.
Highlight of their reply was a superb 91 not out from Albert Pennington, who has been in terrific form after returning from injury.
Other major contributions were 55 from stand in skipper Adam Roylance, and an invaluable 27 not out from Gaz Burns.
Finals day is at Upton on Sunday, July 26
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