2nd XI in thrilling tie

Last Saturday Audlem 2nd XI hosted Maritime 2nd XI on a cloudy but pleasant mid-summer's day at Gorse Croft. Stand-in skipper John Wainwright lost the toss and Maritime elected to bat first.

Audlem opened the bowling with Abbie Adams and Dave Parry and both settled immediately and troubled the Maritime openers on a regular basis. With the score on 17, Adams removed Amal for 14 with the catch being taken at point by the substitute fielder – young Luke Harding!

Luke repeated the act later in the innings off the same bowler to take his second catch – a remarkable feat by the youngster who expected to spend the afternoon supporting his team and practising in the nets!

It was a day-of-the-youngsters in the field – Luke's two catches were matched by 13-year-old Jasper Mitchell – one of them a stunning take low down by his ankles. The Audlem bowlers never let the away team off the leash and kept taking wickets at regular intervals. At 80 for 9, the game seemed a formality as an easy win looked on the cards.

Then Maritime went on the counter attack. Jayakumar launched into the Audlem attack, ably supported by the obdurate number 11 , Karunanithy. The score gradually crept up as the last wicket pair made hay.

The earlier optimism of the home team started to dwindle as the score crept past 130. Finally, Steve Ellsmore took a stunning catch in the slips to dismiss the rampant Jayakumar for a hard-hitting 42. However, the final score was now a challenging 136. Adams took 4 for 27, Parry 4 for 35 and Roy Wild 2 for 32.

In reply, Audlem lost Julian Mitchell early for 10 with the score on 17. Zar Ahmed followed next for 17 and suddenly Audlem were 27 for 2. The Maritime attack was proving to be very testing. The tall left-arm bowler, Hary, was one of the best bowlers faced by the home team this season. He extracted bounce and pace from the wicket and troubled everyone.

He was well supported by his partner at the other end, Satha. Audlem started to lose wickets on a regular basis to the duo, Steve Farnell (7) out at 42 and Steve Ellsmore (9) leaving Audlem on 48 for 4.

When Jasper Mitchell was out for 8 the score was a miserable 51 for 5. A collapse had well and truly begun. 51 was to prove an unlucky number for Audlem, as both Reggie Franell and Leo North departed to leave the scoreboard showing 51 for 7. At this stage, everyone expected a certain victory for the away team.

Skipper Wainwright walked to the wicket to join Parry in this dire situation and the fight back began. The pair added a crucial 36 runs before the skipper was adjudged lbw. He had contributed an excellent and fighting 21. However, it was still only 87 for 8.

Abbie Adams now joined Parry and Audlem refused to lie down. The pair batted sensibly and the score crept upwards slowly but surely. The pair added 27 precious runs until Adams (6) was dismissed with the score now 114 for 9. There were still 22 more runs require with only one wicket left. Surely this was a brave effort but ultimately not enough.

The veteran Wild walked to the wicket to join the obdurate Parry. The fighting spirit still burned brightly in the Audlem ranks however. Sensible batting ensured the total crept towards the target – inch by inch. Wild was playing an aggressive role as he dispatched two excellent boundaries in his stay at the wicket.

The final over arrived with Audlem needing 3 runs to win. A single was taken. Another single was greeted with exultation from the boundary and the scores were level! One more run to win with three balls to go. Man-of-the-match Parry was at the crease having scored 34. The bowler, Satha, delivered a high full toss but Parry had advanced forward and was not in the ideal position to dispatch it. The ball hit the outside edge of his bat and bobbled to short point. Audlem were 136 all out as the game finished in a tie. Wild was left on 14 not out.

What a game of cricket! Credit needs to be given to both teams for a superb match played in fine spirits. Hary was the star man for the away team, taking 5 for 23 whilst Satha took 4 for 30.

Both teams gained 18 points as Audlem stay in second place in Division 4 and Maritime stay fourth. The 2nd XI entertain tenth-place Glazebury 2nd XI tomorrow afternoon at the Gorse Croft, with a 1.30 start.

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