Alderley Edge 1st XI visited newly promoted Grappenhall on Saturday, 27th April, looking for their first win of the 2013 season.
However, they soon found themselves on the back foot as the home batsmen went on the attack, with captain Richard Green leading the way with a powerfully struck century on a day when Alderley's fielding did not live up to its normally high standards.
Worse still, Alderley skipper Alan Day received a nasty head injury while fielding and had to be taken to hospital. The reply started badly with Alderley reduced to 48 for 4, but then the ship was steadied by a sensible partnership between Jason Whittaker (43) and Adam Wildig (40). When these two were out and the lower order was in the process of being blown away by Grappenhall's lively fast bowler Dan Hawke (7 for 50), captain Day, normally the opening batsman, returned from hospital to bat at number 9.
He and number 11 batsman Mark Warnes resisted everything the home team could throw at them, allowing Alderley to finish on 177 for 9 and earn a draw. Day made a courageous 42 not out, and huge credit must go to Warnes, who despite not actually scoring a run, survived 43 deliveries to frustrate Grappenhall.
On Sunday, Day proved in no uncertain terms that he was none the worse for his experience by scoring a superb 126 not out in the National Knock-out against Derbyshire Premier League team Dunstall. Alderley racked up a useful 247 for 8 from 45 overs, but then the weather conspired against them, and following a very long rain delay, the match resumed late in the evening with Dunstall set a revised total of 110 from 20 overs, which they achieved for the loss of 3 wickets.
The 2nd XI meanwhile made it two wins out of two at home to Grappenhall, with DJ Johnson and Tom Sibley both making half centuries and young fast bowlers Dan Fesmer and Harry Bateman again amongst the wickets.
Match report by Richard Davis.
