Seven-up Humphries floors Frodsham

The 1st XI travelled to Frodsham last Saturday and picked up another 25 points with a 51-run victory, mainly due to the left-arm brilliance of Neil Humphries.

Despite the wicket looking green, skipper Callum McIlveen won the toss and decided to bat. However Audlem got off to the worst start imaginable, with both Kemal Toraman and Rich Wilson departing in the first over without a run on the board. Dave Morris and Chris Shenton began to rebuild the innings and took the score to 27 before the latter was bowled for 13. Qhama Matthews followed soon after for a duck but Paddy Leese hung around as Morris continued to score at steady rate before he was caught for 24. When Leese was adjudged lbw Audlem were 50 for 6 with only 19 overs bowled.

McIlveen (7) and Tom Kural (9) attempted to rescue the innings but they soon went the same way as their team mates as the visitors were in serious trouble at 70 for 8. However, a rear guard action by the last three batsmen changed the mood. Neil Humphries and Simon Swift added 27 for the ninth wicket before Humphries was bowled for 12. Stuart Elkes then joined Swift and the pair added a further 34 runs to take score to 131. Elkes (21) finally became Matt Deakin's fifth victim, leaving Swift on 23 not out.

With the wicket having become more batsman friendly, Frodsham took advantage and after eight overs were 49 for 0 as bowlers Swift and Elkes struggled. McIlveen brought himself and Humphries in to the attack, which proved to be the game changer: Humphries struck twice in his first over and the captain toiled away at the other end, maintaining a tight line and length which cranked up the pressure on the home side who were previously cruising. Supported by some good fielding, the bowlers quickly reduced Frodsham to 80 for 6 with Humphries decimating the opposition's middle order. Mcilveen got a deserved wicket and then brought Swift back on for an improved second spell which claimed two wickets. A change of ends allowed Humphries to mop up the tail and finish with astonishing figures of 7 for 10 off 10.1 overs, as the home side capitulated to 80 all out.

Audlem gained 25 points and Frodsham 6. Audlem stay fourth in Division 2 and on Saturday third-place Heaton Mersey Village visit the Gorse Croft. The match starts at 1.30pm.

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