TWO cricket competitions involving clubs from Wilmslow have merged.

Wilmslow, Wilmslow Wayfarers and Styal are to feature in the UKFast Cheshire Cricket League, which is to now include teams previously competing in the Cheshire Cricket Alliance, in different divisions.

On the back of achieving promotion, Wilmslow will be in Division Two, while Wayfarers stay in Division Three and Styal will be in Division Five.

Alderley Park have resigned.

There is an inaugural meeting of the new competition pencilled in for Thursday, February 23 when areas such as rules, playing formats and points awards will be formalised.

Meanwhile, Alderley Edge will start their defence of the ECB Premier League title at home to promoted Grappenhall on Saturday, April 22.

Lindow open at home to Brooklands on the same day in Cheshire County Cricket League Division Three.

In the revamped Joseph Holt T20 Trophy competition, Alderley Edge are in Group Nine for 2017 with Bollington, Macclesfield and Toft, whereas Lindow are in Group Four with Bowdon, Mobberley and Timperley.

All 36 clubs in the Cheshire County League have been included and are divided into 10 unseeded geographical groups to provide as many local derbies as possible, playing either two or three games each, on Thursdays, or other days of the week by mutual agreement.

Group games will be played between Thursdays May 11 and June 15, while finals day is set for Sunday, July 9 at the home of one of the semi finalists.

The league’s Sunday third XI line-up in 2017 will comprise 55 teams operating in five divisions starting on May 7.

Alderley Edge will be in the Premier Division, Lindow and Wilmslow in Division Three East.

Cheshire fixtures this year include two at Alderley Edge, Herefordshire visiting in the knockout competition on May 14 and Wales heading to town from July 16 to 18 in the County Championship.