Convincing win as Hyde CC set up top-of-table showdown

Hyde maintained their 24-point lead at the top of the Cheshire County Cricket League with a comprehensive 7 wicket win over Alderley Edge.

After winning the toss and putting the visitors into bat, Hyde’s Daniel Cranmer put in a captain’s performance in taking four wickets for just 23 runs.  

Reigning league champions Alderley Edge were under pressure from the opening over, when Andrew Jackson skittled Patrick Ashling on the fifth ball of the innings. 

Subhaan Mahmood steadied the ship, sharing the crease for an hour with Sam Perry as the latter lumbered to 9 runs before being bowled by Cranmer. 

Mahmood’s dismissal for 34 prompted a collapse, with Alderley Edge going from 64-3 to 114 all out in the space of 12 overs. 

Hyde made short work of the reply, reaching their target in just 22 overs. 

Opener Tom Partridge clattered six boundaries – including a pair of sixes – on his way to 37 runs, before being caught by Chris Sanders. 

Sanders was the pick of Alderley’s attackers, restricting the home team to 1-16 from his seven overs, but his miserly economy wasn’t enough to stop Hyde from hitting the winning runs with the minimum of fuss. 

Ahead of their top-of-the-table clash next week, second place Nantwich also scored 20 points for winning at Grappenhall. 

Batting first, Nantwich limped to 157 all out but blitzed through the home side’s order for just 107 runs, with Jimmy Warrington taking a devastating 6-27. 

Victory on the road next week would put Hyde within touching distance of a first Cheshire County Cricket League title since 2015.