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Match Reports for 2008 Season
Match Reports for Week Ending 03/08/2008
ECB Cheshire Premier League
Macclesfield 213-5
Alderley Edge 217-5
Alderley Edge won by 5 wickets
It was a crucial local derby for Edge last Saturday at Macclesfield with the home side in fine recent form and looking like they can avoid relegation after only one season back in the premier league. Edge skipper Mark Walker lost the toss for the seventh consecutive league match, and Macclesfield skipper Barney Cutbill chose to bat first on a pitch that was well covered by grass but actually played well, with reasonable pace and bounce.
The Macclesfield batsmen found it difficult to score runs at a good rate against accurate pace bowling from Jason Whittaker, Mark Walker and Sohail Rauf. In fact, at halfway through their innings the home side had made only 77 for three off 27 overs. However there was then a crucial fourth wicket partnership of 69 between Aussie Nathan Allen and Rob Porter, both players making half-centuries. With fifty coming from the last five overs Macclesfield could be reasonably happy with a declared score of 213 for 5 at tea, with Lancashire’s leg spinner Simon Marshall the pick of the Alderley bowlers with 2 for 71 from 18 overs.
However, it was with the bat that Marshall really shone, coming in at 17 for 2 and with Edge under real pressure from the Macclesfield pace attack. Marshall then played an outstanding innings of real class and he looked at home against both pace and spin as he dictated the game to the opposition. At 138 for 5 in the forty-first over Edge still had a lot to do when skipper Mark Walker joined Marshall. There was then an unbroken stand of 79 as Edge got home with three balls to spare in a dramatic finale, having needed fourteen from the last two overs. Marshall scored 125 off 148 balls in a chanceless innings of majestic timing, well supported by Walker who made a gritty 34. Edge secured the maximum 25 points possible to stay 33 clear of second placed Bowdon as the race for the title intensifies.
With six games to go it is looking increasingly likely that either Alderley Edge or Bowdon will be the new champions, with only Nantwich and Hyde in with a chance of causing an upset to the top two. Edge are at home next Saturday to deposed champions Oulton Park who will no doubt be out to put a dent in Alderley’s title charge.
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