Both teams win as 1st XI back in promotion race

Both Audlem teams got back to winning ways last Saturday in low-scoring games. The 1st XI's six-wicket win at bottom club Rostherne takes them back into the Division 2 promotion race as second-placed Frodsham unexpectedly lost at Glazebury.

1st XISkipper Chris Shenton lost the toss and Rostherne, with ony ten men, decided to bat first on a slow wicket. They got off to a reasonable start as openers Dave Crinson and Pete Britton put on 21 for the first wicket before Britton was caught and bowled by Stuart Elkes. Skipper Pete Starr joined Crinson (24) and they took the score to 43 when both of them were out. From this point onwards wickets fell on a regular basis as the home side couldn't cope with the pace of Jim Littlewood and the spin of Lyndon Woodcock. Only Colin Bethell (14) managed to contain the bowlers as Rostherne were all out in the 41st over for just 85. Littlewood finished with 6 for 22, Woodcock 2 for 30 and Elkes 1 for 12.

Requiring 86 off 49 overs, Audlem got off to a great start as openers Andy Capper and last week's century scorer, Rich Wilson, took the score to 34 before Wilson was caught of Tony Rowland's bowling for 25. A mini collapse saw bowling-hero Littlewood, Tom Measures and skipper Shenton all out cheaply as the score edged up to 55 for 4. Oli Burney joined Capper at the crease and they saw the visitors safely home with five overs to spare, Capper finishing on 32 not out and Burney 13 not out. Rowland was the home team's most successful bowler with 3 for 21.

Audlem gained 25 points for the win and Rostherne 4. The fight for the second promotion spot behind already-promoted Haslington is now a three-horse race. Audlem are now just 9 points behind second-placed Frodsham, but only 3 points ahead of Saughall with three more games remaining.

2nd XIThe 2nd XI's impressive home form continued on Saturday with a positive result from a hard fought encounter with their counterparts from Frodsham.

On losing the toss Audlem were inserted on a wicket always likely to offer something to the bowlers. Skipper Toby Banfield's poor run of form continued when he was out to a sharp catch in the covers after mistiming a drive. With the dismissal of their talismanic leader, John Wainwright (36) and Zar Ahmed (24) constructed a cautious, but what was to prove match-winning partnership of 60. Paul Thorburn chipped in with a useful 19 as Audlem batted out their full allocation of overs for 148 for 9.

Frodsham's reply started brightly and it looked like they were taking home the spoils until a fine piece of fielding from young all-rounder Dan Thorburn ran out star batsman Burgess. This proved to be the turning point of the game as Audlem's attack of Roy Wild and Greg Fallows set about the remaining batsmen with relish. Youngster Fallows bowled his best spell for the club to finish with figures of 5 for 21 off 9.2 overs. Veteran Wild bowled unchanged and gave the batsmen no respite, to finish 4 for 49. Frodsham were all out for 106 with 5 overs remaining. A key element in the victory was the much improved fielding, due mainly to skipper Banfield's introduction of youngsters into the line up as catches were taken, boundaries saved and run outs achieved to contribute to the victory.

Audlem gained 25 points and Frodsham 6. The win keeps the 2nd XI in a respectable fourth place in Division 5

Next Saturday's gamesThe 1st XI entertain Glazebury, hoping to maintain their push for promotion to Division 1, whilst the 2nd XI travel to Division 5 leaders Langley. Both games start at the earlier time of 1 pm

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