Welsh fire too hot in Cheshire finale

NCCA Cluberly Championship - Western Division 2

Cheshire v Wales NC, Alderley Ege CC, 23-25 August 2026

Wales NC 487-2 (90 overs) & 287-6, Cheshire 381-9 (90 overs) & 202. Wales NC won by 191 runs

Cheshire 4 points, Wales NC 24 points

Scorecard & highlights  Western Division 2 Table  

YouTube Day 1 highlights    YouTube Day 2 highlights     YouTube Day 3 highlights 

Cheshire endured a chastening end to their red-ball campaign as a 191-run defeat to Wales NC at Alderley Edge left them as wooden spoonists in NCCA Western Division Two.

It may have been a ‘dead rubber’, but the Welsh side fully merited their first Championship victory for two years.

A remarkable 487-3 on the opening day set the tone. Although David Wainwright’s much-changed Cheshire side responded impressively with 381-9, the damage had been done and they were eventually dismissed shortly after tea on the final afternoon.

For Cheshire, Kesh Fonseka’s superb 164 was the outstanding individual performance, but even that was overshadowed by a record-breaking opening day for the visitors.

Matt Ryan struck a magnificent 241 and Tegid Phillips an unbeaten 151 as the pair piled on 380 for the first wicket— a new NCCA record partnership for any wicket.

On a flat Alderley Edge pitch and under relentless sunshine, Cheshire were made to toil. The Welsh openers ruthlessly capitalised and by the time the breakthrough finally came, the hosts were already facing a huge uphill battle.

Shell-shocked by Wales’ mammoth total, Cheshire nevertheless showed plenty of character to reach 79-1 by the close.

The fight continued on day two.

Alex Money, who was presented with his Cheshire cap before the start of play, made a determined 28, helping Fonseka rebuild the innings. Sam Perry also contributed a fine 63 as Cheshire refused to buckle.

Fonseka was the mainstay, however, producing a polished and patient 164 as Cheshire battled their way to a highly respectable 381-9.

Rhodri Lewis claimed 4-96 and Jason Foulkes 3-87 for Wales, leaving the visitors able to dictate the course of the match.

Any hopes Cheshire had of forcing their way back into contention disappeared as Wales piled on another 287-6 declared in their second innings.

This time it was the evergreen Brad Wadlan who took centre stage with an unbeaten 113, while Andy Dufty returned 5-100 for Cheshire — a haul which also took him beyond 50 wickets for the county.

The declaration left Cheshire with a daunting final-day challenge and Wales attacked their task with relish.

Money completed a decent match with 44, while Wainwright battled hard before being last man out for 50, but the outcome had long appeared inevitable.

Slow left-armer Lewis finished the job with 5-45, giving him impressive match figures of 9-141, as Wales wrapped up a thoroughly deserved victory.

For Cheshire, it was a difficult conclusion to a frustrating Championship campaign.

Their lack of penetration with the ball on the opening day left them on the back foot from the outset and, against a Wales side determined to finish their own season on a high, there was ultimately no way back.

There will inevitably be a sense of opportunities missed. Matches against Dorset and Shropshire offered Cheshire chances they were unable to press home, while promotion-chasing Cornwall ultimately proved too strong in a game where conditions did the visitors few favours.

In a Championship programme of only four matches there is precious little margin for error.

Cheshire will now lick their red-ball wounds, reflect on what might have been and look to regroup ahead of next season.

Match notes

• The 380-run opening partnership between Matt Ryan and Tegid Phillips is an NCCA record for any wicket, surpassing the previous mark of 289 set by JD Horder and EH Hamilton for Shropshire against Devon at Bridgnorth in 2022.
• Alex Money became Cheshire’s 177th capped player when he received his county cap before play on the second morning.
• Andy Dufty passed 50 wickets for Cheshire, reaching the landmark during his second-innings haul of 5-100.

We're greatly indebted to all at Alderley Edge CC for their superb hosting and hospitality across the three days and to groundsman Alan Day.

Cheshire 1st XI: David Wainwright (captain - Castleford), Henry Murray (Alderley Edge), Kesh Fonseka (Lindow), Alex Money (Chester Boughton Hall), Sam Perry (Alderley Edge), Luke McCoy (Widnes), Liam Clorley (wk -Toft), Andy Dufty (Oulton Park), Seb Botes (Wallasey, Ryan O,Brien (Woodbank), Jack Collett (Sandbach) 12th man day 1: Josh Leach (Chester Boughton Hall). Scorer: Inge Bevers