GRAPPENHALL suffered a nine-wicket defeat to Cheshire County Premier League high flyers Toft at Broad Lane.

Invited to bat first on a wicket which offered considerable seam movement, Toft`s opening bowlers exploited the conditions admirably and soon reduced Grappenhall to 43 for 4, with only opener Adam Roylance showing real resistance.

He was then joined by Will Sharp and the pair added a further 32 before Roylance went for 31.

Debutant Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire and England under 19s) joined Sharp and added a few more before the latter, who until then had looked relatively untroubled, went for 22.

Thereafter the last few wickets fell all too quickly with only Gaz Burns contributing 23 before he was last man out in the 55th over for 138.

All Toft`s bowlers performed, with M Corns outstanding, taking 3 for 33 from 20 consecutive overs.

In reply, Toft took Grappenhall`s attack apart and it was evident that the earlier seam movement which had caused Grappenhall so many problems had largely diminished, though there was not the same degree of control from the home team`s bowlers.

Toft passed their target in the 22nd over for the loss of one wicket, Burns, though it was encouraging to see the pace of Mahmood who will undoubtedly take wickets on quicker tracks this season.

Grappenhall, who took two points, host Cheadle on Saturday.

Travelling to Timperley, the seconds failed to keep their 100 per cent start to the season going after clinging on nine down for a draw.

Timperley set 180 with wickets spread around, while young seam bowler Arran McCabe took three.

Grappers lost wickets at regular intervals but clung on for a draw to remain unbeaten four matches in.

Grappenhall's third team visited Cheadle and fought valiantly to claim an eight-point draw against last year's league champions.

The hosts posted 183 for 9 in their 45 overs. Grappers lost Arthur Pennington early in the reply but Matt Brown took the attack to Cheadle.

He fell for 53 and the tail wagged sufficiently to claim a draw.