After an exciting few weeks, as new players joined the club, normal service returned last weekend as the attention once again returned to the Cricket. On a perfect weekend for cricket the 1st XI hosted Nantwich, the 2nd XI travelled Marple, and the 3rd XI travelled to Sale. If winning the toss is an indicator to success all teams won the day and choose to put the opposition in to bat.
Alderley Edge 1st XI sent a resounding message to the rest of the Cheshire County Premier League with a 7 wicket win over fellow title hopefuls Nantwich at Moss Lane on Saturday. At Moss lane Simpson and Comford (23) got Nantwich off to a good start against the pace of Australian Aaron Smillie, until Lancashire's Jordon Clarke took the edge giving keeper and captain Adam Worrall one of his four regulation catches for the day. Great bowling from Windle (2-35 from his 12 overs) and Wilkinson (3-19 off 7) left removed the top order with Nantwich struggling at 95 for 4 wickets. Robert Cook-Sieverwright (28) and Louise Cameron (18) showed stiff resistance to take Nantwich onto a total of 143, with Jordon Clarke clearing off the tail (3-52 from his 12 overs).
The Alderley Edge Cheshire openers of Callum Rowe and Alan Day strode confidently to the middle and put on 115, before Rowe (62) succumbed to opening bowler Lois Cameron. Alan Day edged the 1st XI towards a convincing victory with a solid knock of 40 runs. Khalid Sawas (18) with a flurry of boundaries saw the home team home to another victory for the season.
Unbeaten in all competitions and sitting 30 points clear in the Premier League Alderley Edge continued their great start to the season. The group stage of Cheshire Twenty20 competition continues at Northwich on Thursday (2nd June) is the next fixture before another Moss Lane game on Saturday against Cheadle.
Jonathon Usher's team fielded solid batting and bowling units at the weekend and reinforced their 2nd position in the Premier League with a convincing win, knocking off the required 163 from 34 overs. Veteran Garry Cash top scored with 51 with all four Alder Bowlers getting amongst the wickets: Jon Steele (12 overs 3 for 49), Chris Cook (14 overs 2 for 30), James Bateman (9 overs 2 for 34), and Daniel Fesmer ( 15 overs 1 for 43).
Two more Alderley Edge batsman took the game to the opposition with Ollie Hall providing a big hitting display for his 56 and Ed Fluck scoring a comfortable for 45, before some inexperience lead to a run out by Jack Grundy. With a middle order collapse, leaving Alderley on a nervy 162 for 8, Alderley had s steel backbone in Ollie Wildig (17). Nerves were put aside when birthday boy Daniel Fesmer hit the winning runs, with a graceful cover drive. Usher's men are on the road again, next weekend at Cheadle.
On Sunday the 3rd XI won convincingly at Sale. Batting first, the home team were reduced to 22 - 4, before a century partnership allowed them to reach a respectable 184. Abas Rizvi, veteran Austrian International player, tormented and frustrated the young bowlers for his 53 before holing out to a fantastic catch from Mike Higginson off Towle. Higginson also ran out the Sale's Soans Praveen (62), showing his value in the outfield. Alex Heaton, with figures of 4 - 28, was supported by Ollie Towle's 3 - 33.
Alderley's top order were once again on form with another 50 plus opening stand between Paul Heaton and Harry Elms. Elms went on to reach 62, before James Cheetham compiled an accomplished 69 not out to guide Alderley home with more than 6 overs to spare, and into third place in the league. They now entertain Stockport on Sunday at Moss Lane.
Match report by David Scanlon.
