THE Groves could not claim a second successive scalp as they lost by five wickets at Chester County Officers on Saturday to remain in the Meller Braggins League Division Three danger zone.
Buoyed by their thrilling victory over leaders Bunbury seven days earlier, Mike Garvey’s men made the short trip to Upton confident they could overcome their title-challenging opponents.
But in spite of a half-century from the returning Byron Ward, they were unable to put clear daylight between themselves and the drop spots.
After winning the toss and electing to bat on a dry and well-prepared track, The Groves got off to the worst possible start when openers Dom Green (2) and Martin Flanagan (10) fell victim to Vamshidhar Parvathaneni.
Ward (50) survived a couple of scares to get the innings back on track but wickets continued to fall at the other end and so the away side were grateful for good work from tail-enders Mark Evans (21no) and Vipul Jindal (19no).
Chasing 173-8, third-placed Chester recovered from 64-3 to reach 174-5.
The Groves head to Alderley Edge on Saturday.
Ellesmere Port face a basement battle of their own on the same afternoon as they entertain fellow Cheshire Alliance Division One strugglers Appleton – a match which comes on the back of their disappointing eight-wicket defeat at mid-table Wistaston Village on Saturday.
Minus captain Gareth Boys, Port started well enough as James Gatrell (33) andTom Mitchell (22) put on 56 for the first wicket – a season’s best.
But once the openers were dismissed the game changed and Wistaston bowled the visitors out for 97 before patiently making their way to 110-2.
Port 2nds won their Division Three clash at Wistaston Village 2nds thanks to a sparkling century from captain Neil Percival. The opener hit 124 to haul Port up to 213-3 inside 31 overs in reply to 212-8.
