With the holiday season in full swing, Edge faced a crucial game against visitors Neston without several key players last Saturday, their opponents having just posted a Premier League opening batting partnership record stand the previous week.
Edge fielded one of their youngest ever bowling attacks with the average age below 20, hoping they could still take sufficient points from the game to stay out of the relegation zone.
Edge batted first on a green wicket but were quickly into their stride as opener Alan Day was joined by Jon Steele.
A second-wicket partnership of 183 was the result as Edge gathered momentum after a steady start before both batsmen opened fire on the Neston attack. In an extraordinary sequence, first Neston’s best batsman, opener Jack Smith, pulled a hamstring in the field and took no further part in the game, and then their main bowler, Chris Finegan, broke down bowling and had to be removed from the attack.
To make matters worse for the visitors, both Day and Steele went on to score superb centuries for the home side, Day making 101 in 149 balls, and Steele 118 in 135 balls.
Edge were able to declare on 267-4, a well above par total that looked as though it would be too much for Neston with two players potentially unable to bat.
This was the way it proved with the Edge youngsters taking crucial wickets early on, Ben Davis and Tom Foreman impressing with the ball. With three wickets later on for Charlie Reid, two for Jason Roodt and one for Ethan Harding, Edge were able to complete an easy victory by a massive 184-runmargin, taking maximum points to Neston’s two.
With Smith unable even to bat with a runner, just about everything that could go wrong for Neston in this match, did.
Edge are now ensconced in a five-way relegation battle with Didsbury, Neston, Oulton Park and Grappenhall all involved.
Five games remain and this Saturday Alderley face a trip to bottom of the table Oulton Park in another key game.
