Audlem Cricket Report

Tom and Harry Measures

Audlem's cricket teams were unable to gain the upper hand in their matches with all three elevens falling to defeat at the weekend. The first team succumbed to a 63 run at the hands of high-flying Porthill Park at The Gorse Croft on Saturday. It was a day where the bowlers from both teams would dominate proceedings and it all started well for the hosts as second placed Porthill were dismissed for 147 in the 37th over of the innings . The target looked to be attainable, but Park's bowlers came out in determined mood and soon had the hosts in trouble with only opening batsman, Chris Shenton ( 21 ) possessing the resolve to stay the course as the innings soon unfolded as the team were dismissed for 78 in only the 23rd over.

The second eleven had a much tighter contest at Caverswall who only needed a single point to be claimed champions of the division. Audlem's bowlers made them work hard for their inevitable reward in the best performance for weeks. Some superb catches were taken in the deep, and the bowlers stuck to their task as the hosts were dismissed for 98 in the 33rd over. Audlem knew the chase would be difficult as Caverswall's bowling attack was their main weapon, and so it proved as Audlem slumped to 59 for 9 in reply. Number 8 batsman, James Cottrell ( 26 not out ) had other ideas as he took on the home bowlers with some lusty blows aided by the veteran number eleven who had received a late call to make the numbers up. With just seven runs needed, Caverswall eventually broke through to wrap up their deserved victory and crowned champions.

The Sunday team were involved in another tight game with visiting Whalley Range claiming victory by 3 wickets in an entertaining encounter. Skipper Jake Topping won the toss and inevitably decided to bat first . Jake was the star performer with the bat as he raced to an unbeaten half century before retiring in his best innings of the season with some delightful strokes all-round the ground. Good contributions came from Richard Irvine ( 24 ) Tej Nella ( 18 ) & Ryan Anderton ( 30 not out ) at the team closed on 172 for 7 off their 35 overs. Whalley Range in their reply took some time to get going with the bowlers' dominating proceedings , especially Conor Howard, who claimed 2 wickets for just 5 runs off four overs. The middle order were resolute and gained some rhythm with stylish Umar Jayani ( 44) looking set until he was bowled by an excellent delivery from Jemima Reynolds. The later order batsmen were able to see the job through with just an over to spare to avenge their narrow defeat in the fixture earlier in the season.

Next weekend's fixtures :-

Saturday 12 September

Audley .v. Audlem 1st   ( 12.30pm )

Audlem   2nd .v.  Little Mundon CC  ( 1.00pm )        Little Mundon are a touring team based near Ware in Hertfordshire

Sunday 13 September

Wistaston  .v. Audlem   ( 1.30pm )