Cricket Report

Cricket Report

Caverswall .v. Audlem Saturday 22 June.

Audlem maintained their good form with a victory at Caverswall on Saturday with a 43 run victory. Skipper, Chris Shenton again won the toss and elected to bat on a hard but somewhat green wicket pitched on the edge of the square facilitating one very short boundary.

A good second wicket partnership between Jack Allman ( 27 ) & Irfan Shaik (62 ) added 49 runs and a third wicket stand of 60 between Irfan & Dave Blatherwick ( 26 ) took the score to 117. Kemal Toraman ( 21 ) was next to the crease and consolidated the fine work of the earlier batsmen and giving the middle order scope to play their shots in the closing overs to set a good target for the hosts .

Audlem were happy with their total of 181 for 8 at the interval largely built around Irfan's fine innings which was his first half century for the club. Stand out bowler for Caverswall was Dave Tooth who took 4 wickets for 17 runs in 4 overs.

The host's reply got off to the worst possible start with both opening batsmen back in the pavilion with only 6 runs on the board at the end of the second over.

Caverswall managed to regroup with seasoned campaigner Chris Baranowski ( 55 ) leading the fight back before being dismissed with a fine direct throw from the boundary by Abhijith Jayan which stalled their quest for victory.

Runs were hard to come by against Audlem's varied bowling attack especially with Simon Swift now back to his best , taking 4 wickets for 21 runs off his 8 overs.

A first wicket for Connor Howard for the league X1 brought an end to the resistance as Caverswall closed on 138 for 9.

Audlem remain in second position to Stafford who are unbeaten in the league this season so far and next week play hosts to mid table Leycett with a 1.00pm start

Audlem .v. Lichfield Sunday 23 June.

Audlem played hosts to old friend's Lichfield Nomads on Sunday in a highly entertaining game of cricket with the visitors coming out on top by the margin of 3 wickets.

The home team's total of 206 for 5 was set up by a good opening stand between Jake Topping (25) & Michael Burton (38) before the loss of quick wickets brought Dave Parkinson ( 51 retired not out) & skipper, Ollie Banfield ( 38 not out ) to the crease who took the score past 200 with a fine 105 run unbroken partnership.

The game was in the balance right up until the final stages when Lichfield's powerful middle order batsmen took control to guide their team to a narrow victory.

A special mention to eleven year old Alfie Hardy who bowled a wonderful spell of 7 overs conceding just 13 runs and claiming one wicket and at one stage of the match was bowling in tandem alongside seasoned campaigner, Steve Neale which resulted in a 66 year age gap between the participants.

Another highlight was a spectacular flying boundary catch by Jake Topping to dismiss the belligerent M. Thakur. Certainly the best catch of the season so far for the Sunday X1.

Two wickets apiece for Richard Irvine & Bertie Hardy with Steve Neale & Dave Parkinson claiming one each were Audlem's main contributors in a close fought and enjoyable game of cricket.

Next Sunday Audlem entertain Burton ( Chester ) CC with a scheduled 1.00pm start.