Cheshire County League champions and Cheshire Cup holders Chester Boughton Hall visited Moss Lane on Saturday but their team of stars left with almost nothing as Alderley Edge moved into second place in the table.
Boughton Hall were shot out for just 113 as Australian paceman Simon O'Brien returned the exceptional figures of 6 for 28. The Chester club, however, are not champions without cause and a hostile opening spell from Henderson and Lancashire's Jordan Clark reduced the home team to 24 for 4.
Jon Steele then dug in and Adam Worrall, despite nursing an injury, played in his normal fluent style and saw Alderley home by 4 wickets with 54 not out – taking his league batting average for the season to 208! Things are not going to get any easier, however, as next Saturday sees a visit to league-topping Hyde!
For once the 2nd and 3rd XIs could not quite emulate their senior counterparts, but both came tantalisingly close. The former losing at Chester by the narrowest margin of just one wicket, the star turn being Matt Dawson who contributed 61 out of the team's 152.
The new 3rd XI meanwhile faced an uphill battle when a strong Trafford Metrovicks side ran up 213 from their 40 overs. Half centuries from Sam Perry and Angus Muir very nearly set up a thrilling finish, but when both were dismissed, Alderley had to settle for a draw, finishing on a very creditable 200 for 8.
Match report by Richard Davis.
