Audlem cricket teams in winning form

Audlem's cricketers made it a double over the weekend with home victories over Moddershall & Oulton on Saturday and the following day against Poppyfields CC.

Saturday League XI v Moddershall

The league X1 made it back-to-back wins after defeating Moddershall by 54 runs in Saturday's encounter at The Gorse Croft. Skipper Chris Shenton won the toss and decided to bat first on what appeared a decent batting track. All was going to plan with an opening stand of 46 between Chris ( 19 ) and Venu Reddy ( 26 ) before the fall of three quick wickets on the same score including the loss of both openers. With two new batsmen now at the crease time was needed to rebuild and regain the initiative. A steady and resolute partnership was the order of the day against some good accurate bowling from the visiting team with Bertie Hardy ( 35 ) & Tom Measures ( 25 ) taking the score onto 75 before Tom became the fourth wicket to fall. This brought Dave Parkinson ( 32 ) to the middle & Bertie added another 56 runs between them . On completion of the innings the score was 162 for 8 with neither team not sure if the total was defendable or achievable as the track was somewhat slower than anticipated, but with Audlem's strong bowling attack the hosts were always going to have a say in the proceedings.

Audlem were straight down to business with Jake Topping snaring his first victim with his very first delivery in the second over of the reply and the following over fellow opening bowler Abijith Jayan clean bowled the other opening batsman with only four runs on the board. This trend continued and at the end of their combined 12 over stint the visitors were left reeling with the score on 51 for 5 with Jake claiming 3 victims and Abijith 2. If Moddershall thought, they were going to get some respite with the introduction of the change bowlers they were very much disappointed as the innings was brought to a speedy conclusion in only 29 overs with the final score on 106 all out. Rahul, Simon Swift, Ron Paul all claimed a wicket whilst Dave Parkinson finished with figures of 2 for 6 off his 3 overs + a fine catch whilst on his wicket keeping duty in the early stages of the reply to complete a fine individual performance in a great team effort.

Audlem are one of three teams in the division with maximum points after two games and sit at the top of the league albeit on alphabetical order. Next Saturday Audlem make the short journey to take on AlsagerCC with a 1.00pm start.

Sunday XI v Poppyfields

The following day it was the turn of the Sunday team to shine with a narrow 12-run victory against old rivals, Poppyfields.

Ollie again lost the toss which is becoming an annoying habit as that makes it 3 out of 3 this season... But this time he was forgiven as Poppyfields asked the hosts to bat first. Ollie ( 21 ) & Dave Parkinson ( 35 ) set the tone with a fine opening partnership with Jake Topping chipping in with a classy 15 before the two star performers of the day took centre stage. Marcus Taylor, 52, retired not out & Andy Jackson with 51 retired not out shared a three-figure partnership for the fifth wicket that put Audlem in control of the game. Bertie Hardy added a breezy 10 as the hosts closed on 214 for 8 at the tea interval. R. Brotherton and M. Wheeler were the main strike bowlers for Poppyfields picking up 3 wickets apiece.

Audlem looked to be coasting to a regulation victory with half the batsmen back in the pavilion with barely 50 runs on the board but number 6 batsman, J. Brotherton with an unbeaten 84 had other ideas and found a willing partner in F. Hodson ( 29 ) to get the visitors within striking distance but a spectacular diving catch by Andy Jackson off the bowling of his son Tom broke the stand. With Ollie expertly rotating his bowlers and setting clever fields the runs started to dry up and with frustration creeping in the inevitable happened with a run out in the penultimate over with Poppyfields all out on 203. Connor Howard and Andy Burton took two wickets apiece with Bertie Hardy, Annabelle Burton, Tom Jackson, Dave Parkinson & Irfan Shaik all claiming one each.

Next Sunday Audlem are again at home, this time they welcome Alvanley CC to The Gorse Croft with a 1. 00pm start.

John Wainwright

Audlem Cricket Club