In a dramatic finale to the Cheshire Premier League season last Saturday, Edge survived by staging a remarkable comeback against Macclesfield, just when it looked like they would be relegated.
With relegation rivals Grappenhall snatching a win against Oxton, Edge were put on the brink in the final hour of the season.
Edge batted first on a wicket that provided considerable help to the bowlers all afternoon and meant that large totals were unlikely and runs would be at a premium.
Edge lost the early wickets of Alan Day, Mark Currie and Jon Steele, but were saved from collapse by an aggressive 56 from wicket-keeper Adam Worrall with Macclesfield skipper Barney Cutbill having a field day and taking six wickets.
A useful 16 from Edge number 5, Adam Wildig, still meant Edge posted a below par 115 with news coming through from Grappenhall that they were on course for a victory that meant that the only way Alderley could save themselves would be to bowl out Macclesfield for less than 115, a feat that appeared highly unlikely.
The visitors however lost a steady stream of wickets as Edge’s best bowler this season, slow left-armer Mark Warnes, came good again with a 5-wicket haul for just 21 runs, just when it was needed. This took his tally for the season to 33 and finish in second place in the Cheshire Premier League bowling averages for 2011.
A dramatic game looked like it was finally going Macclesfield’s way with Khalid Sawas making an impressive 44 before being caught on the boundary by Tom Atkinson off Warnes’ bowling.
It meant Macclesfield’s last pair came together with just 14 runs required to relegate Edge, but it was Edge skipper Jason Whittaker that took a caught and bowled chance to seal a dramatic comeback for Edge and spark huge celebrations amongst the home side’s faithful.
A great game, played in a tremendous spirit, was a credit to both sides and meant that Edge were able to preserve their Premier League status in the final few minutes of an enthralling season.
News that Alderley’s second team had been promoted after starting the day outside the promotion places meant that celebrations continued long in to the night at the Club on Saturday as the season reached a dramatic conclusion that few could have foreseen.
Final Score: Cheshire Premier League
Alderley Edge 115
Macclesfield 107
Alderley Edge won by 8 runs.
This is a member post by Mike Day.
