Nantwich 206-8, Alderley Edge 210-1 (Alderley Edge won by nine wickets)
A glorious sunny day last Saturday saw another splendid victory for Alderley Edge at Nantwich, one of the pre-season favourites.
Their hosts may well have been one of the front-runners for the Cheshire Premier League title, but – inspired by an unbeaten partnership of more than 200 – they completely outplayed Nantwich to win by nine wickets.
Nantwich batted first and boast in their ranks ex-test player Lou Vincent who was playing first class cricket for Lancashire as recently as 2008.
Vincent misjudged a ball from Edge skipper Jason Whittaker and was bowled by one that nipped back at him.
The home side struggled to put runs on the board and it wasn’t until a seventh-wicket stand of 87 that they looked as though they would set a realistic target.
A declared total of 206 at half-way looked perhaps 30 runs short of par. Whittaker took 4-52, and there were two wickets each for Richard Wilkinson and Alan Day.
It was in the second half that Edge really took the game by the scruff of the neck and turned the match into a procession.
Opener Mark Currie and Wilkinson, coming in at three, put on an unbroken stand of 204 for the second wicket with shots all round the ground that had the home side reeling long before the end.
Wilkinson in particular was in majestic form, and he accelerated from 55 to his century in just 21 balls. His final analysis showed six sixes and 14 fours as he completely eclipsed the Nantwich attack to make 114, while Currie made a more circumspect 82 off 82 balls without ever giving a chance.
Edge romped home by nine wickets with 24 overs to spare and this was a match when they were well ahead of the opposition in all aspects of the game. A points total of 20 to Edge and nine to Nantwich actually flattered the home side although leaders Neston had another convincing victory and look the favourites to take the title with Alderley remaining in second place.
For Alderley this was a game to remember and indicates that they are in excellent form as they approach the busiest part of the season with matches coming up in four separate competitions.
Next Saturday Edge face a derby game against bottom of the table Bramhall, but must be wary of complacency in what is a very open league with each side able to beat any other on any given day.
