Mark Currie batted through the Alderley Edge innings, finishing tantalisingly on 99 not out, to give his side victory in a must-win game.

Before?Saturday’s game, Alderley Edge were hovering just above the relegation zone, while Bowdon were one place below them in the table.

Alderley’s attack was weakened by the absence of both regular opening bowlers and in the early overs Bowdon’s openers – former Lancashire all-rounder Simon Marshall and top grade Australian Trent McCormick – looked set to build a huge score.

But a tight spell from Calum Rowe, followed by outstanding bowling in tandem from spin twins Mark Warnes (5-67) and Charlie Reid (3-30) brought Alderley right back into the match and restricted the home side to a manageable 212-9 from their 55 overs.

Alderley’s reply started well with Currie and Alan Day putting on 50.?When Rowe was out after a useful contribution, Alderley required less than 100 from the final 20 overs with eight wickets in hand.

At that point it was the turn of Bowdon’s experienced spinners Marshall and Gareth Edwards, to turn the screw, and Alderley’s middle order faltered.

When teenager Andrew Jackson came in at eight with fewer than eight overs remaining, more than 50 runs were needed and a victory seemed a long shot.

But Jackson proceeded to take the Bowdon attack apart with some blistering hitting, notching 39 in only 20 balls including three enormous sixes. When he was out in the last over, only two runs were required, and the

winning run was fittingly scored by Currie.

With the second XI also weakened, they performed well to hold Sale to a draw. Good bowling from Harry Bateman, Ben Heades and 13-year-old Edward Fluck kept the visitors to Moss Lane to 209-7, but despite good starts no batsman got past the 30s. Alderley finished on 182-9.