As holders of the Cheshire Cup, Alderley Edge have been very keen to try and defend the trophy after a splendid final against Elworth last September when Edge won the cup for the first time in 32 years.
Edge were drawn away in the quarter-final last Sunday against form team Nantwich who have been rising steadily up the table in the ECB Cheshire Premier league over the last few weeks and boast Lou Vincent in their ranks who was playing first-class cricket for Lancashire as recently as 2008, and has played in the County 20/20 competition this season for Northampton.
Edge were put in to bat and openers Alan Day and Mark Currie got the away side off to a good start by compiling a century stand, Day eventually making 47 and Currie a majestic 89 to put the visitors in a strong position. Captain Jason Whittaker also chipped in with a fine 44 off just 37 balls as Edge totalled 253 for 4 with four balls left.
In a remarkable turn of events, occasional Nantwich bowler Ray Doyle, then took four Alderley wickets off the final four balls of the Alderley innings to leave Edge at 253 for 8 at tea, still with a good score but not quite sure how they managed to give away four wickets in four consecutive balls.
Nantwich themselves got off to a good start, but the key wicket was Vincent who Tom Atkinson had caught by Charlie Reid for 16 which put Edge in the box seat although a very exciting finish still ensued which either side could have won, but Edge got home by the narrow margin of 16 runs as they took several key wickets in the last four overs of the Nantwich innings.
Edge now face Neston away in one semi-final with a re-run of last year’s final possible, with Elworth in the other semi-final against Bowdon.
In the league Edge lost the previous day in another exciting match against champions Oulton Park despite a superb 93 from Richard Wilkinson. The top five in the league are now covered by just 25 points with seven matches to go in what looks like being the most exciting ever finish to a premier league season. Next Saturday Edge are away at Bowdon in a match they must win to stay in the top three in the league.
Final Score Cheshire Cup: Alderley Edge 253-8 Nantwich 237-8 Alderley Edge won by 16 runs.
