Audlem On the Brink!

Audlem on the brink

Audlem 2nd XI finished off their season with a victory over Longton two weeks ago and a very fortunate draw at Leek this weekend.
Two weeks ago, with an eye on the threatening weather, Longton were invited to bat and dismissed for 98 (Simon Swift 6-20, Jamie Roberts 3-25). Before a record crowd, mainly made up of hikers taking a well-earned rest from their exertions, Audlem comfortably completed victory by 8 wickets (Chris Shenton 17, Ron Farnell 22, Dan Farnell 23no and Atiq Hasmi 25no)

On Sunday with an early 1pm start it was the home side Leek who invited Audlem to bat, aware that rain was due at 3 o'clock. The visitors produced a performance unlike any that has gone before this season and before 2.30 were reeling at 15-7 (fifteen runs for seven wickets!) with capable batsmen all choosing the same afternoon to have an off-day. Neil Humphries, who managed the first (and only) boundary of the innings and Paul Thorburn were the first batsmen to make any impression on the bowlers, before Paul departed for 5 (second top score) closely followed by Simon Swift who emulated his illustrious predecessors and departed cheaply. Leo North joined Neil and whilst the latter plundered 20 runs before being caught off a skier, Leo stoically defended for 15 balls and finally retired (literally) in his last Audlem innings undefeated (again) for 0no. The innings had been inched along to a total of 48 all out. As it turned out the last few minutes taken up and the runs scored proved decisive on the day but in the overall league picture were 2 runs short of what could be a vital bonus point.

Leek reached 24-0 in three overs before the first heavy shower prompted an early tea and Audlem gamely took the field again in wet and murky conditions not experienced this summer. With the black clouds descending from the surrounding hills the ubiquitous Neil Humphries bowled opener Carr for 32 in the ninth over at 45-1 and as the heavens opened the batsmen panicked and Simon Swift ran out Turner, trying in vain for the single that would win the game. New batsman Rory Owen Lewis Haydon paddled onto the pitch as quickly as he could, but by now the water was lapping into the players' boots. Leek had 48 runs for two wickets, were on the verge of victory but the umpires were forced to call a halt to proceedings. The game was an unexpected draw, the 7 -- 3 points in favour of the home side hardly doing justice to their performance.

Audlem 2nd XI in their reincarnation as the Sunday XI have benefitted greatly from the switch to the Stone League. A much higher standard of opponent, beautiful grounds with excellent facilities, neutral umpires, electronic scoreboards, official scorers -- well done Jordan Harding -- and in general very enjoyable cricket has seen the season close with the team uncertain whether they are champions or runners-up in a highly competitive league.
Rivals Moddershall were also rained off but only took two points from their match and complete their programme in a fortnight's time needing to win both matches to overtake Audlem. It's also possible that weather could intervene on either day so watch the forecast carefully!
It's therefore a brave punter who would bet either way and Audlem could well win the league and be promoted to Section A of the Stone and District League with trips to such illustrious grounds as Cheadle, Newcastle and Hartshill or Barlaston.
Watch this space.

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