Double success for cricketers

Audlem Cricket Club returned to winning ways as both teams won their Cheshire Cricket League matches yesterday.

In Division 3, the 1st XI playing at home to Sandbach won by 77 runs. Winning the toss, skipper Chris Shenton elected to bat as he chased the maximum 25 points available for a win when batting first. Openers Andy Capper and Tom Thorley immediately threw caution to the wind adding 19 before Capper was out. Skipper Shenton then came to the wicket and he and Thorley took the score to 43. Tom Measures joined Shenton and they shared a century partnership until, with the score 145, Shenton was run out for 86 by a direct hit on the wicket from about 35 yards. Warner Baxter (25) and Measures then added 50 for the fourth wicket. Measures (59) and Paul Dean.(23 not out) added runs quickly, enabling Shenton to declare on 239 for 6 after 47 of the scheduled 48 overs.

Sandbach chased the runs when they batted but they were undone by an excellent spell of bowling by spinner Lyndon Woodcock, who finished with 5 for 75. He was well supported by Baxter and Stuart Elkes, who both took two wickets apiece, and Dave Adlard, who took the other wicket. Sandbach were eventually all out for 162 with 9 of the 43 overs still remaining. Audlem gained 25 points and Sandbach 7.

The 2nd XI, playing their first match for six weeks, travelled to high-flying Norbury in their Division 5 fixture. Norbury's batsmen were restricted right from the first over by accurate bowling from Roy Wild (4 for 48) and Les Hemmant (4 for 27). No batsman could dominate and, despite a few lusty blows from Andy Deplitch, the innings stuttered to 77 all out. All three bowler, Wild (4 for 48), Hemmant (4 for 27) and Pete Harding (2 for 4) were successful as Norbury were bowled out for 77 in the 21st over.

Audlem had a massive 69 overs available to reach the small target and, as wickets fell at regular intervals, it looked at one stage as though they would need most of them. As the opening bowlers began to tire, however, the runs started to flow. Hemmant and skipper John Wainwright had an unbeaten partnership of 37 taking the score from a precarious 42 for 6 past the target as Audlem won by 4 wickets in the 35th over. Wainwright hit 4 fours in his score of 24 not out. Audlem took 20 points and Norbury 5.

Next week the 1st XI travels to Port Sunlight, whilst the 2nd XI is at home to Wirral. Both matches start at 2.00 pm.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.