Alderley Edge 172-8, Nantwich 175-7 (Nantwich won by three wickets) - ALDERLEY Edge lost only their second game of the season last Saturday at home to Nantwich.
Despite this Edge actually increased their lead in the ECB Cheshire Premier league to 30 points as the wet weather played havoc with the cricket fixtures throughout the county.
The most crucial toss of the season was lost by captain Mark Walker in a game reduced to 90 overs by the torrential rain of Friday night, and Edge found themselves batting on a damp strip that offered exaggerated bounce throughout the match.
That the game was played at all was a tribute to groundsman Paul Heades who worked tremendously hard to get the pitch playable so that only 70 minutes playing time was actually lost.
Edge were immediately in trouble when they batted, with the high bounce from the Mottram end a particular problem, a fact exploited by Nantwich captain Nigel Davies who took 4 for 40 off 13 overs.
The innings was held together by a fine 45 from Alan Day but when he went, Edge stood at 75 for six and in real danger of recording fewer points than they would have gained from a abandoned game.
Captain Mark Walker than played easily his best innings of the season with a gritty 64 not out, helped by 19 from Adam Wildig, and 11 from Paul Manton.
Edge finally reached 172 for 8 off 45 overs, which although somewhat below par, gave an outside chance of victory.
Nantwich also found it tough and Edge looked to be still in the game with the visitors 89 for 5 in the twenty-third over.
Jason Whittaker was yet again the pick of the Edge bowlers with four wickets off 22 accurate overs, beating the bat on many occasions that did not bring him a wicket.
The Hampshire brothers, Chris and Paul, eventually got Nantwich home with an unbroken stand of 40 for the eighth wicket with Edge taking eight points to the visitors 20.
With Edge’s nearest rivals Bowdon rained off, Alderley increased their lead by one point in the race for the title.
Next week Edge are away to Chester Boughton Hall, at a ground that normally produces plenty of runs.
