Another damp and dismal early summer weekend, and on this occasion not quite relieved by results!
The 1st XI entertained Grappenhall on Saturday, and the top order batting again looked fragile as Alderley floundered to 104-7. Fortunately captain Alan Day held the innings together with 69, and with the help of a quick-fire 32 from opening bowler Chris Cook Alderley reached 175 all out. Enough to inspire hope given recent excellent bowling performances.
Despite their innings being curtailed by rain, Grappenhall chased the runs very courageously with their experienced captain Richard Green (64 not out) seeing them home by 3 wickets with 2 overs remaining.
The previous Thursday evening saw a chastening defeat at the hands of Bramhall in the T20 Knock-out, with Alderley unable to overhaul a modest score of 96 in 20 overs, admittedly on a very poor batting surface.
The 2nd XI had by far the better of their drawn game with Grappenhall, rattling up a massive 281-7 with Dave Johnson, Jonny Scurrah and Ollie Wildig all making half centuries. Despite a 6-wicket haul for quick bowler James Bateman, Grappenhall hung on to finish 8 wickets down with the Alderley bowlers frustrated at a number of very close LBW calls not going their way!
So it was left to the 3rd XI to fly the flag again, hammering Cheadle Hulme by 9 wickets on Sunday (in yet more drizzle). A good team bowling display restricted the visitors to 114-8 from their 40 overs, which Alderley knocked off in just 24 for the loss of only one wicket, schoolboy prodigies Sam Perry and Ollie Pooler both making superb unbeaten 50s, thus leaving Alderley sitting proudly on top of the league table.
Member post by Richard Davis.
