CRICKET is back for 2024 – and Grappenhall marked their return to action in perfect fashion.

All three of the club’s senior teams were victorious over the weekend, with the first team winning by 45 runs at Widnes in the first game of the reformatted Cheshire County Cricket League.

The first four matches and the final six games will be played as “win/lose” cricket, with draws back in the equation for the middle 12 games.

Returning overseas player Tom MacRury smashed a powerful 81 from just 52 balls as Grappers posted 243 all out, with Arthur Pennington’s solid 66 providing chief support.

In reply, Arav Shetty led the bowling attack as he claimed 4-39 to help bowl Widnes out for 198 in response.

The seconds’ win over Macclesfield was a low-scoring affair, with Grappers’ bowlers putting them in command by skittling their opponents for just 96. Ross Arrowsmith took four wickets while Stan Pennington chipped in with three.

They made hard work of the chase but Steve Rooney’s patient knock of 44 guided them to a three-wicket victory.

On Sunday, the thirds hammered Bredbury St Marks by nine wickets at Broad Lane in a T20 Cup group stage match having restricted their visitors to just 74-7 in the first innings as Zach Tully, Tom Ellis and Zak Judge all took two wickets each.

Grappers then made short work of their target as Dave Coyne top-scored with 40.

Saturday sees the first XI play their first home game of the season as they host Toft while the seconds travel to Cheadle Hulme, with both games at 12pm start.

The thirds have two matches this weekend – they host Sale in their first league match on Sunday before Marple visit for a T20 match on Bank Holiday Monday, both 2pm starts.