Audlem overcome adversity

Audlem overcame adversity last Sunday at Norbury to progress in to the Semi-Final's of the T20 Cup with a 23 run victory.

Captain Stuart Stanway dislocated his finger in the warm up and was rushed via Air Ambulance to Stepping Hill and Tom Kural was still nursing the after affects of a collision with a wooden bench the day previous.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat the visitors were quickly reduced to 26-4 with Rothwell, Wilson, Toraman and Humphries all back in the hut. With Stanway and Kural incapacitated and Woodcock not far behind it was left to Audlem's middle order to save the day.

Aided by some generous bowling which saw wides as third top scorer, stand in Captain Mcilveen and the wholesome Matthews set about rebuilding the innings. They paced their knocks superbly, playing themselves in and then accelerating to great effect in the final few overs enabling Audlem to post 128-5 with Matthews 41* and Mcilveen 44*.

Only four balls of Norbury's reply were possible before the heavens opened leaving the players to seek the sanctuary of the dressing room for the next hour. Kemal Toraman showed why he was Turkish Table Football Champion as a junior with a string of impressive wins whilst Qhama Matthews made light work of the buffet during one of the more pulsating rain delays in recent memory.

A restart was made possible just as Andy Rothwell's vapor was threatening to engulf large parts of Stockport in thick smog.

Openers Robinson and Twibell got the home side off to a solid start but they were never able to keep up with the rate despite several dropped catches in the outfield on the now damp surface.

Stanway was now deemed fit enough to field with a strapped right hand and Pob was spotted patrolling fine leg on an electric scooter.

Once Twibell was dismissed for 43, no home batsmen made more than 6 as the home side stuttered to 105-6 from their 20 overs with Robinson carrying his bat to finish 37*.

Mcilveen finished with 3-19 from his 4 overs to complete a man of the match performance.

In the Semi Final's Audlem host their old friends Holmes Chapel on Sunday the 26th of July at Gorse Croft in what is sure to be an absolute cracker. We'll have a fully stocked bar for the day so get yourselves down to cheer on the lads!

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