Leese stars in Appleton turnover

On Saturday 21st June Audlem 2nd XI gained their seventh consecutive victory when they overcame Appleton 3rd XI by four wickets at the Grange Sports Club in Warrington on Saturday. Paddy Leese was the star of the show with an undefeated 42.

Skipper Danny Thorburn won his seventh toss in a row and invited the hosts to bat on a wicket that looked grassy and uneven but actually played better than it looked. Dave Parry struck early when John Wainwright took a good catch at cover to dismiss Adam Wright for 3.

With the score on 15, with an age difference of 53 years between them, Reggie Farnell and keeper Leo North combined well to run out home skipper Marcus Pepper. Parry turned one past Jamil's bat and Roy Wild, back to his parsimonious best, induced Steve Cooper to edge one to his opposite number behind the stumps.

When North stumped Jim Warham off Parry the scoreboard registered 40 for 5, home skipper Pepper was already asking for the kettle to be put on. However several eagle-eyed Audlem fielders had spotted a slightly-built Indian batsman warming up impressively by the pavilion and debutant Gavaskar entered the arena.

He soon proved himself worthy of his name as he twice lifted Parry onto the neighbouring bowling greens and it was clear that Audlem suddenly had a genuine fight on their hands. His timing and aggression were providing a genuine challenge for the bowlers and his battle with Lyndon Woodcock developed into one of the highlights of the season so far. Huge sixes gave Gavaskar an initial edge but two difficult drops on the boundary and a close lbw call were keeping honours even.

It was Reggie Farnell who then showed a maturity beyond his years and despite being hit massively for two excellent sixes over square leg forced respectful defence for the majority of his deliveries.

Eventually it was Reggie who tempted a skier that was snaffled gratefully by North to dismiss Gavaskar for 69. His exciting innings that included eight sixes had taken the score to 114 and Woodcock (3 for 29) and Farnell (2 for 30) quickly demolished the tail for Appleton to be all out for 115. Parry took 3 for 46 and Wild's 10 overs yielded 10 runs for his one wicket.

Unlike his illustrious namesake this Gavaskar also bowls, but it was his opening partner Andy Rimmer who quickly removed stalwarts John Wainwright and Zar Ahmed for 1 and 2 respectively at the start of Audlem's run chase.

Danny Thorburn showed a welcome return to form and batted beautifully with Paddy Leese. Together they moved the score confidently forward. The skipper's initial fears about the nature of the pitch were then confirmed as he was bowled by a shooter from Wright for an excellent 27, to leave Audlem on 60 for 3. Father, Paul, became the first batsman to score runs off the bowling of Gavaskar, who had returned for his second spell and made a characteristically brisk 17 before being caught at cover by the ubiquitous Gavaskar, again off Wright's bowling.

Gavaskar then accounted for Rob Chadwick (2) with an unplayable delivery and the game could have been in the balance at 88 for 5. North came in to bat aware that with overs not being an issue a Zar-like innings would ensure an Audlem victory and stubbornly supported Leese in seeing off the two strike bowlers.

Leese, after surviving an initial scare early in his innings, batted calmly and quietly accumulated his runs, defending stoutly when necessary and punishing any bad balls severely.

With a handful still needed North was caught off his 34th ball from Appleton's own 12-year-old prodigy, Adeed Jamil, for an extended duck and it was left to the reassuring figure of Parry (5 not out) to see the team home. Leese finished with an impressive undefeated 42 in a victory that was hard-earned and demanded some real application from the visitors as they passed the target with four wickets in hand.

The 2nd XI gained 20 points to remain second in Division 4, whilst Appleton gained 7.

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