|
Match Reports for 2008 Season
Match Reports for 29/06/2008
ECB Cheshire Premier League
Urmston 267-7
Alderley Edge 271-2
Edge won by 8 wickets
There was a batting feast last Saturday when Alderley Edge played Urmston in the ECB Cheshire League with nearly 550 runs scored for the loss of only 9 wickets.
Urmston won the toss and decided to bat first at Moorside Road, no doubt with an eye on securing maximum batting bonus points as they struggle in the bottom three of the premier league.
Urmston opener Chris Watson must have set some kind of record by not changing ends until the 90th ball of the match, and in the process went on to score a fine 76, with only Edge’s Cheshire paceman Jason Whittaker showing any real penetration with the ball, as he took another 5 wicket haul, with 5 for 76. Urmston’s overseas player Ashwin Punja played some aggressive shots as he plundered anything loose before being out for a superb 115. Urmston eventually totalled 267 for 7 at halfway, having secured their target of the maximum 10 batting bonus points. For Edge, leg-spinner Adam Wildig also bowled well, taking 2 for 62 off 12 overs.
Having made easily the biggest total of any of the premier league teams batting first on Saturday, Urmston could well have been considered favourites at tea to secure at least a draw against the premier league leaders.
When Edge batted however they never appeared in any danger of recording anything other than a convincing win. Left-handed opener Alan Day, and Edge’s overseas star Sohail Rauf put on 179 for the second wicket with some powerful attacking strokeplay, against which the Urmston bowlers had no answer. Day eventually went for a super 91, whilst Rauf completed his first century of the season with 127 not out, with Alderley scoring 271 for the loss of only two wickets, winning with 9 overs to spare.
Edge secured maximum points from this match, leaving them 17 points clear of nearest rivals Bowdon in the race for the title. At the halfway point of the season, Edge were further boosted by the first defeat in three years for champions Oulton Park, and are in a good position to secure their first premier league title. A local derby at Toft is the next match for Alderley as they end their marathon spell of five successive away games.
|
