Cricketers' nail-biting finish

Audlem's 1st XI match against Glazebury yesterday was an excellent game that ended in a nail-biting draw with the scores exactly level, both teams having made 252 for 8.

Glazebury won the toss and batted first. They looked set for a very big total with the score at 149 for 2 off only 29 overs. Dave Parry came to the rescue with three wickets in 3 overs as the game swung back towards Audlem. A late flourish by Glazebury's tail-enders saw them declare after 43 overs. Parry finished with 3 for 38 and Andy Capper 2 for 38. Stand-in skipper Simon Banks, still nursing a broken finger, took four catches.

In reply, Audlem lost a wicket in the second over, but a superb innings of 76 by George Gay off only 64 balls kept the run rate around the target of five and a half runs per over. He was well supported by Parry (47 not out) Paddy Leese (26) and Tom Measures (21). At the start of the last over the game was perfectly poised with six runs needed to win. Five runs off the first five balls brought the scores level. A leg bye off the last ball gave Audlem what appeared to be the winning run, but disappointingly it was ruled out by the umpire as he declared that no shot had been played, thus making the run invalid.

Audlem gained 9 points to Glazebury's 14.

Unfortunately the 2nd XI could not raise a side to make the long trek to Heaton Mersey Village and conceded the game.

Next Saturday's games see both teams playing Disley, the 2nd XI playing at home whilst the 1st XI travel to north-east Cheshire.

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