1st XI edge towards promotion place

The 1st XI took promotion in to their own hands last Saturday with a crushing 7 wicket defeat of visitors Offerton.

Victory in the remaining two matches of the season will now be enough to see them playing First Division cricket next year. Going in to the match in 4th place, Audlem trailed second-place Maritime by 15 points and third-place Westminster Park by 14.

Following Saturday's results, Audlem leapfrogged Park and reduced the gap on Maritime to just 4 points. However, they must now travel to table-toppers Tranmere Victoria today and then defeat Maritime at home in the final game to cap a memorable 2014.

Skipper Richard Wilson lost the toss and was invited to bowl first. Chris Connolly and Simon Swift took the new ball. Connolly made the breakthrough having Steve Pickles caught behind off the glove. Offerton were unable to gain any momentum and when Wilson made a double bowling change after 15 overs the away side was struggling at 40 for 1.

Callum Mcilveen and Neil Humphries blew away the middle order and with 10 overs remaining Offerton were 80 for 5. A late onslaught from Ian Bates and Matthew Downs saw the visitors accelerate with some lusty blows from the tail the visitors closed on 142 for 8 as Humphries returned 4 for 49 and McIlveen 3 for 44.

Andy Rothwell and Wilson opened the innings for Audlem , but Rothwell was bowled for 8 by a dipping full toss with the score on 25. This brought Stu Stanway to the crease who had no problems with such deliveries, sending two in to neighboring fields as he raced to his third fifty of the season from just 26 balls.

At the other end, Wilson was more circumspect, happy to see off the new ball bowling but quick to punish anything short or overpitched. Together, the pair added 96 for the second wicket as Audlem raced towards their target with bad weather on the way.

Wilson departed for a well-made 36 with Audlem just thirty from victory and Stanway soon followed him back to the pavilion after a majestic 69, leaving Audlem on 127 for 3.

With the rain now falling, Qhama Matthews and Tom Kural had just enough time to seal the game by 7 wickets with 15 overs remaining. It meant Audlem took 25 points and Offerton 8.

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