Cheadle CC 3rd XI travelled to Crewe to take on their 2nd XI knowing that two bonus points would guarantee promotion from Division 8 but also that a victory would see them finish the season as champions.
Having won the toss Crewe elected to bat with Cheadle knowing that four wickets would acquire the bonus points required. They got off to a fantastic start when in the third over Sam Akram had the divisions leading run scorer Max Gay caught behind by Justin Welford for 8 and when Josh Jackson bowled Steven Bickerton in the very next over for 0 Cheadle knew they were one point away. A partnership of 48 between Stuart Elsam and Frazier Hoye kept Cheadle at bay but as has been the case for most of the season the introduction of young off spinner Matthew Degg would be pivotal. He broke the partnership when Elsam was fantastically caught by Paul Barker at slip and then when he bowled M Whittingham for 4 promotion was assured. He then bowled Hoye for 23 leaving Crewe on 72 for 5 and he returned figures of 3 for 19 from his 8 overs. Zach Chambers and captain Calum Meakin steadied the ship with an excellent partnership of 75 but once Owen Turner bowled Meakin for 39 the opportunity for Crewe to post 200 passed and they finished their 40 overs on 171 for 8 with Chambers finishing unbeaten on 55.
Cheadle replied knowing that a successful run chase would see them crowned as champions and it could not have got off to a better start with 15-year-old Degg, ably supported by Akram putting on 88 for the first wicket in good time before Akram was bowled by Luc Parry for 21. Ben Bloor then joined Degg and the two juniors punished anything loose combining in an excellent partnership of 63 which took Cheadle to the brink of victory before Degg was caught at slip for a superb 70. Josh Jackson then took little time along with Bloor to add the required runs and after 31 overs the chase was completed and Cheadle were confirmed as the division winners, Bloor finishing on 37 not out.
Following the game captain Justin Welford paid tribute to the players throughout the club, ‘It has been a season with plenty of challenges but the lads have been brilliant and I couldn’t be prouder of them. We have had junior players in the team all season and they have risen to any challenge put before them. Matthew Degg has topped both sets of club averages as well as winning the league bowling averages which is incredible for a 15-year-old in his first full season of senior cricket. We have a great spirit running through the club and every player has played a part in the club winning three trophies in senior cricket this season, the first team set the bar high with their fantastic Talbot cup win and that filters through the other teams, roll on 2022!’