Edge have played the last two Saturdays against the team that on the morning of the match was leading the Cheshire Premier League with Alderley firmly rooted to the foot of the table.
The combined points total from those two games has been Edge 40 points, opponents 15 points, with Edge thrashing last Saturday’s leaders Chester at Moss Lane by the emphatic margin of 9 wickets.
Chester won the toss and decided to bat first on a fantastic, sunny day for cricket but never looked comfortable against a pace attack of Jason Whittaker and Tom Atkinson, who showed how to cause problems for the batsmen by bowling a good line and length, and swinging the ball.
Only Chester number three Ollie Law made any real impact with some tremendous off drives which brought a deserved half-century for the visitors.
Three wickets for Whittaker and five wickets shared between spinners Charlie Reid and Mark Warnes left Chester in a parlous state at 132 all out at tea, a score which looked well short of par giving Alderley a great chance of a maximum points victory in their bid to avoid relegation.
Edge openers Mark Currie and Alan Day set about making quick inroads in to the Chester total despite facing some hostile bowling from the Chester attack. A superb century opening partnership put the match beyond doubt as Currie really hit form with an unbeaten 71 as Edge eased home by the emphatic margin of 9 wickets with a full 36 overs in hand.
This was the second season in succession that Edge had beaten Chester at Moss Lane by 9 wickets, a remarkable record given the visitor’s title ambitions over the last two years.
The result not only took Edge off the bottom of the table but actually out of the relegation zone itself, but with 7 matches still to go the relegation battle looks certain to go to the last game of the season with at least 8 clubs still involved.
The Cheshire Premier League now shows three clubs battling for the title and not much to choose between the other nine which includes Edge.
Next week Alderley make the short trip to Toft boosted by two super performances against teams battling for the title itself.
Final score Cheshire Premier League
Chester 132 all out
Alderley Edge 135-1
Alderley Edge won by 9 wickets.
This is a member post by Mike Day.
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