2nd XI lose opening game of the season

After storming to the Division 5 title last year, the 2nd XI's first season in Division 4 of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance ended in disappointing defeat by 68 runs at Norbury.

Skipper John Wainwright won the toss and decided to bowl, a decision which appeared to be right when Roy Wild bowled Norbury's opener without a run on the board. However, a second-wicket stand of 153 put the home side back in the driving seat. The stand was broken when Alistair Herbert-Jackson had Danny Faulkner (46) caught by keeper Leo North. Four runs later Toby Banfield bowled Neal Shore (93) .

Fine bowling from Wild, Banfield and Jacob Rowe then took the last seven wickets for the addition of only 51 runs as Norbury were all out for 208. Banfield finished with 3 for 25, Wild 3 for 80 and Rowe 2 for 27.

In their reply, Audlem also lost the first wicket without a run being scored when Banfield was caught off Shore's bowling. Four runs later Dave Parry was lbw, leaving the visitors in deep trouble. A mini revival by Zar Ahmed and North took the score to 38 before North was out. Ahmed followed him back to the pavilion four runs later and when Steve Wilde was out shortly afterwards, Audlem had lost half their wickets for just 45 runs.

Andy Jinks and Tim Ruscoe added forty for the sixth wicket before Ruscoe was bowled by Shore. One run later skipper Wainwright was pronounced lbw and when Jinks was out for 31 the scoreboard showed 92 for 8. An excellent ninth wicket stand of 48 by Herbert-Jackson and Rowe took the score to 140, when Rowe was run out for 16. Herbert-Jackson was last man out, becoming Shore's fourth victim, having scored 21, without any addition to the score.

Man-of-the-match Shore finished with 4 for 46 as Norbury gained 25 points and Audlem 8.

On Saturday the 2nd XI play host to newcomers to the league Old Parkonians. The match starts at 2.00 pm.

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