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Match Reports for 2008 Season
Match Reports for Week Ending 24/08/2008
ECB Cheshire Premier League
Hyde 139
Alderley Edge 142-9
Edge won by 1 wicket
It’s now down to two in the race for the ECB Cheshire Premier League title with only Alderley Edge and Bowdon now in a position to secure top spot after both won last Saturday, Alderley however by the slender margin of just one wicket over Hyde in a dramatic game at Moss Lane.
Hyde won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch that was slower than it looked, with shot making quite difficult. Edge were immediately on top with Hyde in real trouble at 34 for three, with Edge’s paceman Jason Whittaker taking all three wickets. A fourth wicket stand of 56 between Chris Tipper and Rob Woolley for the visitors restored some sort of stability to the Hyde innings, but they never looked like posting a big total. An all out total of 139 off 55 overs looked to be well short of par with Edge’s leg-spinner Adam Wildig bowling his best spell of the season with 5 for 32, including a triple-wicket maiden.
When Edge replied after tea they got to what looked to be a commanding position of 84 for 2 with opener Mark Currie dominant, scoring 61 off 62 balls. From there it all went wrong for Edge despite 18 from Whittaker and 19 from skipper Mark Walker. At 136 for 9 it looked like Edge could be staring a disastrous defeat in the face with numbers 10 and 11 at the crease and four runs still needed. In the end Edge held their nerve and a fine off-drive from wicketkeeper Simon Elliott secured Edge a vital victory. For Hyde, spinners Danny Woods and Danny Berry both bowled well taking six wickets between them, but a bowling change by the Hyde captain, taking off Cheshire player Berry and restoring pace to the attack, was a major mistake at a crucial stage in the game.
With three matches left, all at home, two against the premier league’s bottom two, Edge have their fate in their own hands with a significant points lead as they strive for a first premier league title. The visitors next week are Urmston who find themselves in dire straits, with relegation looking likely, but with Edge determined to try to force home their advantage at the top of the table.
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