Audlem Cricket Club Report

Audlem CC vs Newcastle and Hartsill CC ( Saturday 26th August )

Audlem achieved the first of their season's aims by gaining promotion after their comfortable victory over Newcastle & Hartsill on Saturday. With Cheadle, the only team who can prevent Audlem from claiming the title also winning on the day the wait for the silverware could go the distance with only three games to play until the end of the season.

Confidence is high in the camp with two of the remaining fixtures against Sandbach next week who sit at the bottom of the division and the final game of the season is against Woore who occupy the other relegation spot.

Saturday's game was badly affected by the weather which has been a regular disruptive feature all season. With the game starting late due to persistent rain Audlem were asked to bat first.

Captain, Chris Shenton led from the front with a blistering 51 in only 40 deliveries well supported by Rich Wilson with a stylish 32 & with Andy Rothwell ( 47 ) & Irfan Shaik ( 39 not out ) keeping the runs flowing to take the score above the 200 mark a decent total looked on the cards. If Newcastle thought they were still in the game incoming Ben Salisbury soon put paid to their hopes with a blistering 31 off only 11 balls which contained 4 maximums as the innings concluded on 246 for 6.

During the innings the rain had returned which reduced Audlem's innings to 36 overs and left Newcastle with 27 overs to chase down a total calculated on run rate ( 185 ). The hosts were a couple of their regular front line bowlers missing on the day but Newcastle were never able to keep pace with the required scoring rate and soon started to lose wickets which further slowed their progress. James Haire was the pick of the batting with a fine 50 not out as they closed on 147 for 7 off their allocation. Wickets were shared between Dan Butler ( 2 ) , Dave Parkinson ( 2 ), Simon Swift ( 1 ) & Kemal Toraman ( 1 )

Audlem make the short journey next Saturday to Sandbach with the final home game the following week against Wood Lane.

John Wainwright

Audlem Cricket Club

.