Cricket report

Sunday 12 August

Audlem Sunday X1 .v. Checkley Sunday X1

Stone & District Cricket League : Sunday A Section ( South )

Audlem were back to their best on Sunday with a narrow 8 run victory over close rivals Checkley at The Gorse Croft.

Skipper Ronnie Farnell had no hesitation in electing to bat on winning the toss on a day where rain always threatened to disrupt proceedings.

Opening batsmen Shaj Ali Snr (46) and Atiq Hashmi (29) struggled manfully on a track giving assistance to Checkley's pace men with extra lift and seam movement but slowly began to show their authority over the bowlers to accrue a very valuable (and ultimately match winning) first wicket partnership of 70. On their demise no other batsman managed to stay at the crease long enough to assert themselves but crucial small partnerships developed to take the eventual total to 170 all out in 38 overs.

Audlem were reasonably satisfied with the total at the tea interval as they probably possess the most potent bowling attack in the division. With the wicket "doing a bit", seamers Ewan Farnell, Simon Swift and Shaj Ali Jnr all looked forward to the contest to come.

Checkley's reply was delayed by a rain shower that had been threatening all afternoon that reduced their allotted overs to 37. Most of the early runs came off the edge of the bat or the pads over or wide of the eager slip cordon and down to fine leg but inevitably the edges began to find the safe hands of keeper Ronnie Farnell (4 victims) and eager slip fielders. Checkley managed to rally with a fine partnership of 61 between Will Godfrey and Patrick Maguire both reaching deserved half centuries but with the dismissal of Godfrey by Shaj Ali Jnr (3 for 41) the tail enders became exposed to Audlem's attack.

The re-introduction of opening pace men Ewan Farnell (3 for 34) and Simon Swift (4 for 50) proved to be too much for the lower order batsmen as the visitors subsided to 162 all out, an agonizing 8 runs short of their target. The game was a great advert for Sunday League cricket . Played in the right spirit to a good standard and competitive throughout.

The detailed scorecard can be read here.

Next Sunday Audlem travel to Caverswall ( 2;30pm start )

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