GRAPPENHALL had an opening-over burst from Gaz Burns to thank for their comprehensive 102-run victory over Oxton at Broad Lane on Saturday.

Skipper Adam Roylance, upon winning the toss, opted to bat first but he and opening partner James McCoy went cheaply to leave them struggling at 23-2 in the Cheshire County League Division One clash.

Overseas player Ryan Ninan came to the fore as he scored 48 as well as adding a crucial partnership with Pete Barnes, who weighed in with 45.

Ben Bodha’s 38 and an unbeaten 29 from Albert Pennington ensured the hosts reached a competitive 199-9 at the end of their allocated overs.

From then on, the bowlers took over and Burns ensured the ideal start when he took three wickets inside the first over of the Oxton reply.

The visitors dug in to frustrate Grappers for a period, but the spin bowling of Ninan helped to prize open the door as he finished with 2-18 from 11 overs.

Burns, unsurprisingly, led the way with 5-18 as the visitors were dismissed for just 97.

The seconds were also successful as they edged to a one-wicket win away to their Oxton counterparts.

Ben Bravington bowled superbly for Grappers as his figures of 6-52 helped bowl Oxton out for 139 before the nervy run chase began.

Albert Pennington top scored with 71, but wickets kept tumbling until the last wicket pair of Francis Young and Akshat Pranesh held their nerve to see the visitors home.

The thirds couldn’t follow the lead of the rest of the club as they fell to a heavy nine-wicket defeat at home to Hyde.

Batting first, only three Grappers players reached double figures as they were dismissed for just 78, a target the visitors reached with the loss of just one wicket.