Macclesfield failed to kick start their season as they lost their derby clash at Alderley Edge.

Macc skipper Ben Morrison won the toss and put Edge into bat on a green pitch.

The visitors’ bowling unit looked to restrict from the outset and tie the batsmen down.

The plan began well as neither Alderley opener could get going and it was Chris Moores who made the breakthrough when Mark Currie (17) was caught by Khalid Sawas in the gully region.

Calum Rowe quickly followed, with Moores grabbing his second wicket of the day as he found the edge and was safely pouched at slip.

This left Alderley struggling at 24-2 with Macc right on top. Macc looked for further breakthroughs, however Alan Day (34) and new batsman Jon Steele (52) built a resolute partnership of 80 to resist the efforts of the Macclesfield attack.

The introduction of Morrison and Rob Porter accounted for both players’ wickets as Macc looked to turn the screw back in their favour.

Morrison claimed two further scalps, trapping Charlie Reid LBW and having Adam Worrall caught by Porter in the infield.

With Edge struggling at 167-8, Macc looked to finish the innings strongly but the Alderley pair of Jason Whittaker and Adam Wildig had other ideas and went on to smash 40 in quick time with the latter making 21 off just nine deliveries.

Alderley finished the innings on 203-6 from their 55 overs.

The Macc batting line-up was hugely positive going into the chase and believed it was well within their grasp. It didn’t start well though, as they lost Morrison caught behind off the medium pace of Rowe early on.

Rob Keen was looking comfortable at the other end and stroked some fine drives to the cover boundary.

However the tireless Whittaker induced his edge and was snaffled at first slip for 15.

That left the score at 23-2 and Macc needed to rebuild. Sawas and Nick Ross went about the rebuilding process cautiously while latching onto anything slightly short. The pair moved the score onto 54 and brought Macc into a solid position.

However, losing wickets at crucial times has been a problem for Macc this season and it looked set to continue as Sawas (23) and Ross (16) were both caught by the keeper.

Two further wickets fell swiftly which left Whittaker on a hat-trick.  While the hat-trick delivery was kept out, at 85-7 Macc were left with another uphill struggle.

Porter and James Cross showed the kind of grit and determination required that had been lacking in the innings but when Porter departed for 24 it signalled the end of Macc’s chances of winning the game.

Cross went on to play some splendid shots all around the wicket but he was left with far too much to do and finished stranded on 32.

Fittingly, it was Whittaker who had the final say, trapping last man Ian Tait LBW, to finish with figures of 7-38 as Macc finishing well short on 135.

It was a disappointing batting display from Macc who need a much-improved performance against Hyde this week.