Alderley Edge First XI claimed a sensational win over Grappenhall on Saturday at Moss Lane with the visitors stumbling with the finish line in sight to lose their last 5 wickets for just 10 runs as the home side rescued victory from the jaws of defeat.
Winning the toss and batting first Alderley found themselves under pressure as Grappenhall's seamers claimed three quick wickets to leave the hosts on 38-3 with 22 from opener Pat Ashling making the early headway for Alderley.
A priceless 38 from Lancashire man George Bell helped Alderley put some pressure back on the Grappenhall attack before a quickfire 42 from 38 balls from number 8 Chris Sanders helped push the hosts over the 150-run mark, Australian Saami Welsh offering valuable support with 19 not out as the home side closed on 184 all out in the final over.
Tom Bramhall and Joe Ashmore were both economical in claiming three wickets for the visitors with Arav Shetty providing good backup with 2-40 from his 10 overs.
Chris Sanders struck immediately in the second innings as Grappenhall lost opener William Fell before a run was on the board but a partnership of 113 between opener Arav Shetty and number 3 Pete Barnes put the visitors in control of proceedings.
Alderley fought back with Ed Foster trapping Barnes lbw for 47 and Liam Yahathugoda capturing the key wicket of Shetty, bowled for 63, to begin the turnaround. At 165-5 with captain Ben Bodha going nicely with the bat the visitors looked to be heading for a comfortable victory but in an extraordinary passage of play George Bell, more famous for his wicket-keeping, took three wickets for 5 runs in two overs with some tidy off spin to pull the rug out from under Grappenhall's middle order.
With skipper Sam Perry plying his spin from the opposite end (2-21) the pressure began to mount on Bodha who was the last man out, bowled by Perry for 24, to complete a spectacular Grappenhall collapse to be dismissed for 175 as Alderley's bowlers showed their fighting character to seal an unlikely victory by 9 runs.
Alderley's Second XI made it another double-victory weekend for the club as they claimed a 5-wicket victory in the reverse fixture at Broad Lane. Winning the toss and bowling first Alderley faced a strong Grappenhall top order who put on 99-1 in the early stages on the back of 50 from opener Zach Pomfret before three quick wickets for Alfie Usher (3-38) helped reduce the hosts to 108-5.
Grappenhall's number 5 Ramakrishnan kept the scoreboard ticking over with a tidy 48 from 57 balls but Alderley continued to chip away, taking wickets regularly through Mark Warnes, taking 3-53, and young seamer Charlie Boddy who collected 3-59. In reply Alderley started well to reach 109-1 with Usher opening up to hit 59 at better than a run a ball, and with number 3 Jon Steele continuing his recent good form in hitting 72 Alderley steadily broke the back of the chase without too much damage inflicted.
Sam Pennington lead the hosts attack with 3-33 from 12 overs to slow Alderley's progress slightly but 28 from Tejas Rao and 21 not out from Calum Wilson applied the finishing touches to Alderley's win as the visitors reached their target in the 43rd over to seal back-to-back wins.
Match report by Andrew Windle
