Alderley Edge 216 for 9 (47.1 overs) 25 points beat Marple 213 for 9 (55 overs) 10 points by one wicket
A remarkable unbroken tenth wicket partnership of 98 runs by Kieran Elliot and Blair Campbell took Alderley Edge to an unlikely victory at Moss Lane last Saturday. This was hard to bear for a Marple side that had edged the game up until Elliott launched a ferocious assault on the bowling, light rain having deadened the pitch at just the wrong time for the visitors.
Paul Wood won the toss and elected to take first knock on an initially bright and sunny mid August afternoon. Andrew Hall and Jim Morgan followed up their half century opening stand of the previous week by adding 44 here. The Edge opening attack of Elliott, a first grade cricketer from Melbourne, and ex Cheshire seamer Richard Wilkinson is one that demands respect. Hall was in vintage form, and although the pitch was not entirely trustworthy, he played some glorious strokes off Elliott in particular.
Alderley skipper Worrall wasted no time in switching his attack around to try and make the break through. It was off spinner Charlie Reid who picked up Morgan (11) with a filthy full toss. The batsman had had few scoring opportunities, but his eyes lit up, only to play too soon and sky a simple catch to Campbell at mid off. With Marple’s batting being unreliable this season, Wood took on the role of the responsible number 3. He bedded himself in as Hall continued to dominate proceedings. With sensible batting, and putting away the loose deliveries, the pair added 74 largely untroubled runs, but at 118 second off spinner Day served up a long hop. Although it was a shocking delivery, it popped up a little, and Hall was through the stroke early. He only succeeded in top edging the ball to deep square leg. Hall had looked certain to make a hundred, but his 78 was one of Marple’s best knocks of the season.
Unfortunately Wood followed soon afterwards, caught behind off the skiddy Foreman for a battling 33. When Schofield also fell lbw to Day for 4 at 128 for 4, Marple had Mark Bennett and Connor Ramsay both on nought.
After a sticky start, Bennett began to show his true pedigree. He drove and pulled with power, and the Marple total went above 150. Ramsay (12) was probably too keen to make his mark, and chipped an easy catch at 165 to Rowe at mid wicket off Reid who had changed ends. Bennett dominated the remainder of the Marple innings with a hard hit 60 not out, and it was solely down to him that Marple made a competitive 213 for 9. The lower order was guilty of gifting Reid with a number of soft wickets instead of supporting Bennett and giving him the strike. For Alderley, Reid finished with a flattering 6 for 62, spoiled somewhat as Bennett took 16 from his final over.
After the tea interval, Dylan Moroney’s third ball was hit for four by Calum Rowe, but next ball the batsman mistimed a hook stroke and only succeeded in giving the bowler a simple return catch. Sam Perry, at three, got off the mark with a single first ball, and then Alan Day pulled another long hop for six, eleven runs and a wicket coming from first over! With Jack Grundy unable to settle at the other end, the scoreboard rattled along at an alarming rate. Although erratic, Moroney picked up Day’s wicket for 35 at 60 for 2 for as the batsman flashed at another short delivery, only to be caught behind by Morgan. Alderley Edge’s two Lancashire second team batsmen, Perry and Fluck were now together, and Wood desperately needed some control. He took on the mantle himself, and it brought success in his second over, with Fluck (4) caught by Schofield and Wilkinson held by Joe Cash for a duck three deliveries later. Skipper Worrall dug in to partner Perry at 67 for 4, and they added 46, looking ever more secure and confident. It was Wood again though, who had them both in the one over, and Alderley were in trouble at 113 for 6. Off spinner Greasley had been relatively ineffective up this point, being “milked” by the fifth wicket pairing. With the tail exposed, he slightly quickened his pace using all his guile, and three more quick wickets ensued to leave the score 118 for 9. Surely the game was up?
Elliott, unbelievably low at number ten, is a proper all rounder. He looked in no trouble at all, and Campbell, though not a regular first teamer, looked very determined. Soon after the fall of the ninth wicket, a steady drizzle began to fall, and it looked as though Marple might be thwarted by the weather. The umpires remained out though, but gradually it became apparent that the wicket was becoming more and more docile. With the ball also wet, Elliott and Cambell went serenely on their way, although the acquisition of further batting bonus points seemed to be the limit of their ambition. Despite the ball now skidding onto the middle of the bat, and Wood tiring after a long and quality spell, this could not last. Or could it? Wood tried the extra pace of Moroney, but it played into Elliott’s hands. He thrashed the ball to all parts, as his fellow Aussie suffered some harsh punishment. With Cambell adopting the good old fashioned forward lunge in the knowledge that there was now no movement or lift, the only way a wicket could fall was through batsman error. No chance came Marple’s way, as Wood switched his bowlers around. With Campbell looking secure, Elliott continued to savage the bowling, and nothing Marple tried could force the mistake. A packed home pavilion whooped in delight as an amazing one wicket win was brought up with six overs remaining. Elliott, with 14 fours and a six ended 75 not out, and he could not have done it without Campbell’s 21 not out at the other end. Wood had a valiant 4 for 62, and Greasley 3 for 52 for Marple.
Marple will have to lick their wounds after this draining defeat. They face a key game at home to Cheadle next Saturday, with a 12.30pm start. Despite this hard to take loss, the other results in the league went Marple’s way, and they rise one position to eighth.
Alderley seconds warmed up for their T20 finals day with a nine wicket demolition of Marple at Bowden Lane on Saturday. Stewart Bass made a half century in Marple’s competitive 170 for 9. Alderley were in no mood to hang around, romping to victory in only 24 overs!
3rd XI - Hyde 199 all out
Andy Hayes 3 for 50
Greg Marsland 2 for 21
Peter Withers 2 for 36
Connor Bergin 2 for 43
Sam Ittig terrific with 1 for 10 on debut
Marple 200 for 2
Will Darby 76 not out
Lewis Braddock 41
Max Fitzgerald 63 not out, was terrific in seeing Marple to an emphatic 8 wicket win with 2 overs to spare.
This result brought welcome cheer to Marple after Saturday's agonies.
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