IAN Hall was excellent with the ball for Grappenhall but his batsmen left the side with an uphill task as they lost to Macclesfield by four wickets.

Batting first, Grappers posted a below par 168-9 off their 50 overs.

After being 20-4, they did well to make the game competitive with Ben Bodha and Albert Pennington batting patiently with 60 and 38 respectively.

Grappers made a fight of it in the second innings but left themselves too much to do.

Macclesfield chased down the total for the loss of six wickets with one over to spare.

Hall picked up 4-22 in an excellent bowling spell, but Grappers are still to achieve their first win of the new campaign.

The seconds got the better draw points at home to Macclesfield.

Grappers posted a commanding 224-3 in their 50 overs.

Josh Hayes and Steve Rooney batted superbly at the top of the order, putting on 137 for the first wicket.

Rooney scored 68 and Hayes finished agonisingly short of his 100, on 97 not out at the end of the innings.

Macclesfield finished on 140-7 off their 50 overs.

Matt Titchard bowled superbly with figures of 2-11.

Grappenhall's thirds lost their first game of the season at North East Cheshire, by 40 runs.

Now in Division One after last year’s relegation, they are playing win/lose cricket with no draw option in the games.

North East Cheshire batted first and posted 173-6 off their 40 overs, with Tom Ellis picking up two wickets.

In response, Grappers struggled from the start with no-one really getting going with the bat as they were bowled out for 133 with seven overs to spare.