Audlem Cricket Club report

Both elevens were in action over the weekend with the Sunday team returning home from Wellington with a 76 run victory whilst the previous day the league X1 cemented their position at the top of the division with a 48 run win against Sandyford at the Gorse Croft.

The Sunday team had to make some enforced changes from the previous week with key players unable to turn out due to family holidays, work commitments and unforeseen circumstances. Conor Howard took charge of proceedings in the absence of regular skipper Ollie Banfield & his vice captain, Jake Topping who were both missing due to holidays. After being asked to bat Audlem were off to a flier with the ever reliable Michael Burton ( 50 retired not out ) & Bertie Hardy ( 17 ) getting the team off to a good start. Another valuable partnership developed between father and son Andrew & Tom Jackson who scored 28 and 10 respectively with Dave Parkinson (29 ) & Marcus Taylor ( 30 not out ) continuing the good work. Steve Ellsmore batting lower down the order than usual contributed a classy 14 not out to round off proceedings with a good total of 225 for 5 after the allotted 40 overs. A special mention to Josh Boulton who contacted the club during the week enquiring about nets and promptly found himself in the starting X1 a nice little knock and a top fielding performance belied the fact that this was his first ever game of cricket.. Well done Josh.

Despite Audlem finding themselves without key bowlers their deputies came to the fore as the visitors soon had the hosts way behind the clock in the run chase with Conor Howard & Steve Neale leading the way only conceding 27 runs between them in their 16 overs with Conor claiming three victims to finish with 3 for 12. Richard Irvine bowled the difficult middle overs alongside Michael Burton & Bertie Hardy to contain the Wellington batsmen ably assisted by Dave Parkinson, Tom Jackson & Marcus Taylor as the hosts closed short on 151 for 7. The team were able to relax with a well earned drink on the balcony after the game overlooking the delightful ground that hosts Shropshire County games with a backdrop of the nearby Wrekin.

The previous day the league X1 had a comfortable victory against mid table Sandyford which enabled them to increase their lead at the top of the table to 13 points as closest rivals lost to Leycett.

A new opening partner for Jack Allman ( 53 ) in Simon Swift ( 28 ) enabled the hosts to get off to a fine start in putting on 99 for the first wicket. Runs flowed throughout the innings as Dave Blatherwick (16), Kemal Toraman ( 33 ), Dave Parkinson ( 10 ), Ben Salisbury ( 21 not out ) & Vijayan Rahul ( 18 ) all playing their part as the hosts closed on 209 for 7.

Sandyford never really got going and were always behind the clock as Audlem s strong bowling attack took charge. Abijith was back to his best with figures of 8 overs 1 for 15 whilst Kamal was even more economical conceding just 11 off his allocation and claiming a wicket. The visitors couldn t make any headway against the change bowlers with Conor and Jack claiming two scalps apiece with Dave Parkinson, Vijayan & Ron Paul each snaring a victim as Sandford closed 48 runs short on 161 for 9.

The game attracted a good crowd who were well entertained on a glorious summer day at The Gorse Croft. Next week the Saturday X1 travel to Moddershall whilst their Sunday counterparts play hosts to Wistaston with both games scheduled for a 1.00pm start.

John Wainwright
Audlem Cricket Club