A heavy away defeat saw The Groves slip closer to relegation danger on Saturday.
The Ellesmere Port outfit lost by 99 runs at Pott Shrigley, a result which leaves them just 15 points outside the drop zone in Division Three of the TACS Partnership Cheshire League .
The hosts made 149, but Groves could muster only 50.
Stand-in skipper Mike Garvey, who replaced the injured Mike Caulfield (back), said: “We did well with the ball but then, like so many other games, our batting was woeful. We really need to start getting some results together as the end of the season isn’t too far away and we’re back in the mire.”
Garvey lost the toss and was asked to field first on a decent looking track.
Mike Piercy (1-19) and Martin Flanagan (5-41) opened the bowling and they started to make light work of the Pott Shrigley top order, leaving them on 44-5.
The opposition managed to recover before being bowled out just shy of 150, with other wickets coming from Vipul Jindal (1-27), Joshua Cummings (1-27) and Garvey (2-24).
Having wobbled chasing relatively small totals already this season, Groves repeated the trick. They lost Garvey (2), Nick Brimble (2), Martin Flanagan (1), Mark Evans (0) and Paul Lyth (1) to leave them in tatters at 16-5.
Only Daz Green (15) offered any resistance but he and the tail were blown away.
The Groves host second-placed Over Peover on Saturday.
In Division One of Cheshire Alliance , Ellesmere Port lost out in a close game at Stalybridge St Paul’s.
The hosts won the toss and batted first, making a competitive 202-9 declared off 45 overs. In reply Ellesmere Port got close but the superb bowling of Mike Mallett (8-62) ensured the visitors were bowled out for 189.
Port host Wilmslow Wayfarers on Saturday.
In Division Three, the re was a low scoring game at Capenhurst as the hosts won the toss and batted first. They scored just 83 all out. In reply Eastham won by three wickets.
Cape travel to Hartford on Saturday.
