Cricket: Alderley hold their nerve against Toft

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Alderley Edge First XI held their nerve in a close run encounter against Toft on Saturday, emerging with a three run victory at Moss Lane.

Winning the toss, visiting captain Jimmy Lomas decided to bowl first but Alderley grabbed the early initiative reaching 108-2 with Sam Perry racking up 53 and Ed Foster 49 in a second wicket partnership of 92. Alderley's middle order lost some momentum against the spin of Lomas who picked up 3-35 but a run-a-ball 23 from Chris Sanders and 23 not out off just 13 balls from skipper Charlie Reid help Alderley finish with a flourish posting 191-8 from their 40 overs.

Sanders then struck twice with the new ball to leave Toft reeling at 4-2 at the start of the second innings. 36 from the dangerous Rob Sehmi lifted the visitors out of their early troubles and a partnership of 64 between Ewan Williams and Tom Forster began to give Toft a grip on the game at 143-5.

In a crucial passage of play Williams departed for 37 with Sanders' second spell accounting for Forster for 51, with an amazing catch off his own bowling, and Matthew Cornes two balls later with a vicious yorker to claim 4-34 in the penultimate over with the visitors left requiring 9 off the final 6 deliveries. In a head to head for the two captains Charlie Reid held his nerve to deliver four dot balls and see Alderley defend their total, Lomas finishing with 23 from 19 balls in a valiant effort.

With rain washing out Alderley's fixture against Hyde on Sunday they were left with no chance to catch East Division leaders Didsbury who will meet Hyde themselves next Saturday in a shoot-out to determine who will claim the East Division title.

Alderley's Second XI swept past local rivals Macclesfield on Saturday claiming a 6 wicket victory at Victoria Road. Winning the toss and bowling Alderley's attack struck regularly to dismiss the hosts for just 97 with opener James Coombes making the only score of note with 35.

Ben Chapman led the way for the visitors with 2-7 off 7.2 overs including five maidens, with James Davidson and David Johnson also claiming two wickets apiece. Alderley completed their chase with 3 overs to spare on the back of 35 from opener Henry Stevinson and 35 not out from number 5 Andy Kennedy.

On Sunday Alderley's Third XI won a nailbiter at Nantwich by just one wicket. Winning the toss and batting first the hosts posted 163-7 from their 30 overs with opener Ben Wright hitting 55, Max Davidson the pick of Alderley's bowlers with 3-27.

After a nightmare start to the second innings, in which the visitors found themselves 3-3, a well played 69 from number 4 Tejas Rao rescued the innings with good support from Max Davidson who hit 28 from number 7. But it was left to the father and son combination of Theo and David Johnson to take Alderley home with 4 balls to spare, Theo finishing on 10 not out with dad David unbeaten on 13.

Match report by Andrew Windle.

Tags:
Alderley Edge Cricket Club, Cricket
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