Alderley Edge’s title hopes suffered a severe set back on Saturday when they were beaten at home by title rivals Nantwich in a game where winning the toss was always going to be an important factor in deciding the outcome of the game.
With Alderley skipper Jason Whittaker on holiday, Alan Day was captain for the first time but it was the opposition who called the spin of the coin correctly and inserted Edge in to bat on a wicket that seamed significantly right from the start.
It was former Guyana pace bowler Barrington Browne who took the early wickets as Alderley found the going difficult as the ball swung in the damp conditions with 4 overs lost to the weather in two separate rain delays. It was left up to number three, Richard Wilkinson, to try to sustain the Edge momentum with a very useful 50. A key moment came when Jon Steele was run out after Edge had put on 56 for the fourth wicket and it was always a battle from this point to try to set a realistic target of 200 plus.
In the end, all Edge could total was 169 all out off 53 overs, with former Lancashire professional Lou Vincent taking 4 for 45, and Browne 3 for 35.
Batting conditions had improved somewhat when Nantwich batted and 38 from Vincent and 71 from number four, Ray Doyle, saw the visitors over the line with 15 overs to spare. Easily the pick of the Edge bowling was 16 year-old leg spinner Ethan Harding who took 3 for 28 from 10 overs and took the key wicket of Vincent to give Edge a glimmer of hope when Nantwich were 101 for 3.
It was a disappointing weekend for Edge as they were knocked out in the semi-final of the County League 20/20 finals at Chester on Sunday when they lost to Didsbury after failing to put enough runs on the board when they batted first.
Next Saturday Edge face bottom of the table Bramhall at home in a match that they must win to maintain any chance of the title with just five games left in the premier division title race.
Final Score Cheshire County Premier League: Alderley Edge 169 all out Nantwich 173-6 Nantwich won by 4 wickets.
