Alderley Edge’s long journey to the Wirral proved fruitful as they surprised league leaders Oxton.

Their hosts have topped the league all season and also boast New Zealand’s ex-Lancashire and Test player Lou Vincent among their ranks.

Edge won a crucial toss on Saturday and decided to bat first on a green looking wicket that was going to give plenty of help to the bowlers throughout the day.

After 10 overs Oxton may have had their wickets still intact but they had only scored nine runs.

They were unable to build on this solid foundation when Edge’s pace attack of Jason Whittaker, Ben Davis and Zaymn Chapman started to make inroads into the home side’s batting.

Only Simon Stokes looked at all comfortable for Oxton and he went on to make a steady knock of 35.

However, he was one of only three Oxton players to make double figures.

The last Oxton pair managed to put on 22 for the last wicket to give some respectability to the score as they made a well under par 113 all out.

There were four wickets for Whittaker – including the key wicket of Vincent – three for Chapman and two for Davis in what proved to be an excellent display of accurate line and length bowling from the visiting side.

Edge knew that a good start after tea would put them in a very strong position.

They saw their openers, Alan Day and Mark Currie, put on 33 for the first wicket.

Day made 21 and Currie 24, before Cheshire player Calum Rowe made the game safe for Edge with 32.

Wicketkeeper Adam Worrall then wrapped the fixture up for the visitors with 25 not out as Edge strolled home with over 30 overs to spare – and seven wickets still in hand – to return with 25 points in contrast to Oxton’s sole point.

Edge are at home this weekend, welcoming Chester Boughton Hall in a Cheshire Premier League of 12 teams, where all the teams are on a similar level.

Eight teams – separated by 54 points – are in contention for the title, but the same number of sides are still not safe though from the threat of suffering relegation.

The bad weather has also contributed to a Premier Division table that has a very congested look to it with eight games still to be played.