Audlem Cricketers win trophy

Last Friday Audlem 2nd XI, now known as the Sunday eleven, were the proud recipients at Burslem CC of the trophy awarded for winning the Stone District
Section B (South) Cricket League.

Despite this being the first year in their new surroundings the team soon adapted to the new environment of neutral umpires, electronic scoreboards, official scorers (well done 13-year-old Jordan Harding) and generally a much higher level of competition than encountered in previous years.

The astute and very active leadership of Chris Shenton was key to the team's success and batting first eight times to gain the full 25 points on offer paid off as
Audlem were able to pip the highly talented Moddershall outfit by the slender margin of 7 points. The strength of the batting was shown by no fewer than 4
batsmen (Atiq Hashmi, Chris Shenton, Ronnie Farnell and Danny Thorburn) being amongst the top twelve of the division. The young bowling attack of the Farnell brothers and Charlie Hine allied with the experience of Simon Swift and Jamie Roberts were effective despite the higher standard of batting.

In his last season for Audlem the number of wicket-keeper Leo North's victims came a creditable second in the league despite the team's lack of spinners.

Praise must also be showered on John Wainwright without whom such success could not happen. Week after week John is able to conjure players out of nowhere to ensure a full complement of 11 and his unstinting work on the pitch and around the ground is invaluable.

Players in picture – left to right – Simon Swift, Atiq Hashmi, Leo North, John Wainwright

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