Alderley Edge almost achieved their first win of the season against Oulton Park at home last Saturday, as their batting at last found some rhythm and they had the better of a hard fought draw.
It was a beautiful batting wicket at Moss Lane, prepared by groundsman Paul Heades, that looked as though it had a mass of runs there for the taking and led Captain Jason Whittaker to decide to bat first. Edge were quickly in to their stride, scoring a rate of around 5 runs an over which always looked like it would yield Edge a significant total.
Oulton are not as strong a side as they used to be and their bowling attack was depleted further when opening bowler Andy Hards was taken ill after just 5 overs, and he took no further part in the match. Alan Day scored a well-crafted 63, but there were more aggressive knocks from wicket-keeper Adam Worrall and veteran Jon Usher, with Worrall racking up 74 in just 63 balls, and Usher 76 in 72 balls Oulton toiled to contain the Edge batting.
Edge went past 200 on the scoreboard without any difficulty to secure maximum batting bonus points for the first time this season. A final tally of 293 for 8 declared off 54 overs at tea certainly put Alderley in the box seat and looking to secure a first league victory.
Ex-Cheshire Danny Leech had other ideas when Oulton batted however, and together with Lancashire’s Louis Bentley, put on 110 for the third wicket. Leech made an agonising 98 as he fell just 2 runs short of a deserved century, and Bentley 52, which had the visitors dreaming of an unlikely victory at one point. Spinner Mark Warnes and pace man Ben Davis both took two wickets for Edge but their efforts were not enough to force victory as Oulton were able to close on 220 for 7 off 56 overs.
However, Edge took more points than their opponents for the first time in a league game this season to close the gap on the team immediately above them in the Cheshire County Premier League.
It was a disappointing Sunday for Alderley as they were knocked out of the Cheshire Cup at home by Middlewich in their first match of the competition this season having won the cup for the last two consecutive years.
Next Saturday Edge are away at Didsbury, a ground they have often struggled at in the last few seasons.
Final Score: Cheshire Premier League
Alderley Edge 293-8
Oulton Park 220-7
Draw
