Cricket Report

Cricket Report

A good weekend for Audlem's teams with all three of them posting victories.

They were led by the first X1 on their short trip to Norton-in-Hales and came away with maximum points by a margin of 5 wickets. The home team were in all sorts of trouble in the early stages of the game, with two wickets down without a run on the board. Things didn't get any easier for the beleaguered batsmen and things looked decidedly grim for them at 17 for 5. A mini recovery instigated by Simon Line who top scored for the hosts with 23 gave them a glimmer of hope but on his dismissal the innings soon subsided as Norton were dismissed for just 83 in the 30th over.

Chief tormentor was Abijith Jayan who was virtually unplayable in his 9 overs conceding only 15 runs for his five wickets . He was backed up by Audlem's all seam attack with Simon Swift and Jake Topping both claiming a brace and Kemal Toraman bagging the remaining batsman.

The run chase was not as straightforward as it might have appeared at the tea interval with Norton's top scoring batsman repeating his heroics with the ball to bowl his 9 over allocation for just 24 runs and claimed 3 Audlem wickets. Thankfully for the visitors the other bowlers did not pose any significant threat as they cruised past the total in the 25th over. Bertie Hardy was the top scorer with 22 to his name followed by Dave Blatherwick with 19 not out. Irfan Shaik ( 17 ) and Jake Topping ( 12 ) were the other batsmen to contribute to the total.

Audlem's second X1 entertained mid table Newcastle and Hartshill in their clash at The Gorse Croft. The hosts needed to push for a victory to keep up their aim of obtaining a promotion spot and were helped in that regard by winning the toss and asking the visitors to bat first.

Audlem soon asserted total control of the game with Newcastle being reduced to 42 for 6 in only the 13th over with Conor Howard and Nerendra Babu Challa equally sharing the wickets between them. Newcastle did manage to revive their hopes somewhat with Lusal Basnayake ( 45) and Laurie Moore ( 20 ) showing some resistance as they managed to post 118 all out in the 34th over with Dave Parkinson and Anapala Shasidar sharing the other 4 wickets to fall.

Audlem were confident at the tea interval with plenty of batting in the lineup but in the event only two were needed with Ben Salisbury ( 69 not out ) & Tom Measures ( 38 not out ) finishing the game in the 24th over of the reply. A comprehensive victory by a 10 wicket margin keeps Audlem in the hunt for one of the two promotion spots on off

The following day it was the Sunday X1 that turned on the style.

The scheduled game against Betley was postponed as they were unable to raise a team for the game so the fixture secretary managed to find alternative opponents with Romiley CC from Stockport providing the opposition.

It turned out to be the best game of Sunday cricket so far this season, with the result in doubt right up until the final over of the game with Romiley making a great effort to overhaul Audlem's total of 211 for 9 and finishing just 6 runs short with 9 wickets down.

Audlem were indebted to young Alfie Hardy for his magnificent knock of 74 not out as wickets fell at regular intervals around him. A good steady innings from Jake Topping of 18 to stabilise the middle order and a belligerent 30 from Dave Parkinson followed by an invaluable 11 not out from Conor Howard ensured the hosts were able to set a competitive total.

The pick of the bowlers was Josh Umpeleby with 4 for 26 off 7 overs.

In the reply Romiley were able to keep up with the required scoring rate but were losing key wickets as the game swayed back and forth. Fine knocks from Toby Wells ( 51 not out ) , Ben Nurcombe ( 37 ) & Graham Umpleby ( 34 ) kept the pressure on the bowlers and fielders but Bertie Hardy ( 3 for 39 ) , Dave Parkinson ( 2 for 36 ) , Conor Howard ( 2 for 29 ) and Steve Neale ( 1 for 35 ) kept their discipline to ensure the game went the distance,

The match was effectively settled with the dismissal of the big hitting Graham Umpleby in the final over with a brilliant diving catch by Jake Topping in the deep off the bowling of Dave Parkinson. A great game of cricket between two well matched teams rounded off a perfect weekend for the club.

Next Saturday the 1st X1 are at home to Church Eaton whilst the second X1 travel to The Staffordshire Moorlands to visit Cheadle ( both games have a 1.00pm start time ). The following day Springhill CC from Wolverhampton are the visitors to the Gorse Croft. The start time for this fixture is dependent on the result of a football match in the USA on Wednesday evening but nominally it is listed for 1,30pm.