2nd XI mauled by Mellor

Last Saturday, because of a family wedding, the Gorse Croft was unavailable. As a result, the 2nd XI hosted Mellor 1st XI at the beautifully positioned Scot Hay Cricket Club for a Cheshire Cricket Alliance Division 4 match. Both teams came into the match in excellent form with Audlem having won four on the trot and Mellor having won six of the last seven. It was Mellor who continued their run of form as they achieved a comprehensive eight-wicket victory.

Mellor won the toss and, possibly influenced by Audlem's recent results, asked the "home" side to bat first. Skipper Danny Thorburn and Zar Ahmed opened the innings and Thorburn continued his good form of recent weeks before being bowled for an attractive 24 as the pair put on 33 for the first wicket. Ahmed and a succession of partners – John Wainwright, Rob Chadwick and Dave Parry, tried to push the score along against extremely accurate bowling from the visitors but failed. As wickets fell steadily the runs started to dry up, indeed at one point only11 runs were scored from ten overs! When Ahmed was bowled for a valuable 29 the score was 87 for 5 with just twelve overs remaining. Paul Thorburn (22), Leo North (15) and Raj Dharmaraj (12 not out) and extras pushed the score to 146 when the last wicket fell on the final ball of the innings.

Mellor's openers, Selwyn Stephenson and David Baythorpe set about their task purposefully. After Baythorpe (30) was bowled by Roy Wild with the score at 58 the innings stagnated somewhat. Six runs later a smart run out from Danny Thorburn gave Audlem a little hope, but with a perfect view of an approaching storm from the Stiperstones over fifty miles away, Stevenson (68 not out) and Sam Smith (39 not out) upped the pace. The thunder and lightning veered off towards Stoke-on-Trent and the visitors' victory by 8 wickets was completed with six overs to spare.

Audlem gained 7 points and Mellor 20. As a result, Audlem slip one place to sixth whilst Mellor remain fourth.

On Saturday the 2nd XI travel to ninth-place Appleton hoping to avenge their defeat earlier in the season.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.