Macclesfield 184-8, Grappenhall 185-7 (Grappenahll won by three wickets)

With two places available for promotion, Macclesfield started this weekend’s key encounter with Grappenhall in second place, 18 points in front of their opponents, and 14 behind leaders Widnes.

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Macc started slowly on a wicket with little pace and bounce. Accurate bowling from Gareth Burns and Ian Barnes reduced Macc to 19-1 off 11 overs.

Rob Keen (21) and Khalid Sawas (36) progressed but both fell when getting set.

The introduction of former Derbyshire and Lancashire pro Steve Titchard caused Macc further problems. He bowled unchanged for 18 overs as each of the Macc middle order failed to get to grips with the slow wicket.

After 37 overs Macc were struggling on 122-6 after Tom Parfett, Rob Porter and Pete Barron had all fallen to the off-spin of Titchard. The lower order worked the ball around and took advantage of some poor fielding and Macc were able to claim six of the available 10 batting points. Macclesfield eventually declared on 184-8, leaving Grappenhall 50 overs to chase down the target.

Titchard finished with 5-61 and Australian Dean Riches picked up 2-38.

As he had done in the reverse fixture James McCoy attacked from ball one before being well caught at point by Pete Barron off the bowling of his older brother Tom for 14. Ian Wright fell cheaply bringing together another ex-Lancashire star, Richard Green and the promising 17-year-old Adam Roylance.

Roylance batted confidently, reaching 60 before he was again caught by Barron at point, giving Ian Tait his 50th league wicket of the season.

It was the introduction of spin that slowed down the scoring rate. Liam Markie picked up the wicket of Barnes and Porter dismissed Titchard and Luke McCoy as Grappenhall slipped to 182-7.

However, Macc were unable to force a dramatic late victory as Alan Brady hit the winning runs. Grappenhall’s run chase was excellent, led by the impressive Green who finished 41 not out as, for the second time this season, they took the maximum 25 points from a game against Macc.

With the ball Tait picked up three wickets and Porter two and there was one apiece for Markie and Barron. Barney Cutbill was unlucky to bowl seven overs for 27 without claiming a wicket.

Macc picked up 10 points from their defeat that keeps them in second place, but now only three points above Grappenhall. Widnes extended their lead at the top of the table to 24 points and the penultimate game of the season comes in mid-September as Macc travel to the current leaders.

In an awful weekend for the club, both the second and third teams suffered heavy defeats, at the hands of Neston and Birkenhead Park respectively. The fourth XI regained some pride for club as they recorded a convincing 103-run victory over Bollington thirds.

On Sunday, the 1st team travelled to Chester to play the final of the T20 Plate competition.

Playing Premier League opposition in Oxton, who they had beaten in the same final two years previously, Macc won the toss and elected to field. Oxton posted 165 in their 20 overs and Macc were never in the game as they were dismissed for 95.

It was a disappointing end to a disappointing weekend but the first team will be looking to bounce back with victory over Cheadle Hulme who they host at Victoria Road on Saturday.