GRAPPENHALL’S first home game back in the Cheshire County Cricket League Premier Division saw them earn an impressive win over big-hitting Chester Boughton Hall.

The visitors won the toss and chose to have first use of the Broad Lane wicket, but Grappers’ bowling attack soon had them in trouble with Gaz Burns taking three early wickets.

That set the tone for the afternoon as the hosts kept the usually free-scoring Chester batting line-up in check.

Burns finished with 4-45, with Owen Lynch and Arran McCabe picking up two wickets each as the visitors were bowled out for 199.

In reply, openers Adam Roylance and Jamie Bye put on 62 for the first wicket as Grappers started strongly.

Both went in quick succession, but Lynch and Pete Barnes picked up where they left off by dealing with everything the Chester attack threw at them.

Lynch finished unbeaten on 75 as Grappers cruised to a six-wicket victory with 14 overs to spare.

Meanwhile, the seconds’ batting let them down as they were beaten at Urmston.

After being reduced to 50-7 when batting first, Grappers were bailed out of trouble by James Jenkinson’s score of 54, with Will Metcalfe, 32, providing useful support to get them to a defendable total of 138.

Matt Titchard, Arthur Pennington and Akshat Pranesh took two wickets each, but Urmston were able to wrap up a three-wicket victory.

The firsts travel to Cheadle on Saturday, with the seconds welcoming their counterparts from the same club to Broad Lane.