1st XI almost win in Styal as last pair cling on

The 1st XI travelled to Styal for the Cheshire Cricket Alliance Div 2 fixture which was sponsored by Andy Capper. The game ended with Styal's last pair hanging on to salvage a draw.

Audlem skipper Chris Shenton won the toss and elected to bat on a track that looked good for batting. Openers Andy Rothwell and Rick Brown made a cautious start, but both were out with the scoreboard showing six runs. Rich Wilson and Tom Measures added 33 before Measures was caught behind. This brought Oli Burney to the crease, who, from the outset, played with elegance, good decision making, superb timing and stroke play. He and Wilson put on 82 for the fourth wicket, when Wilson was bowled for 49. Burney went soon afterwards for 44 attempting the pull shot from a shorter delivery, only to loop it up to the keeper, leaving Audlem 127 for 5.

Five runs later Kemal Toraman was out and, when Shenton and Neil Humphries were both out with the score on 137, things were looking bleak for the visitors. However Paddy Leese and Stuart Elkes came to the rescue, taking the score to 183 for 8 to gain maximum batting points. Leese was 24 not out and Elkes 19 not out. Bobby Seal and Rick Seymour were Styal's best bowlers, both taking 3 wickets.

Styal's reply got off to a stuttering start as both Toraman and Elkes tore into the batsmen. Elkes drew first blood as he bowled openers Steve Vose and Chris Nolan, leaving the home side on 11 for 2. Five runs later, when Elkes bowled Tim Hadfield, Styal were in serious trouble. Toraman got in on the act, bowling Brian Middleton with the score on 27. In the meantime, Seal was riding his luck, having been dropped three times, as he and John Saxon took the score to 45 before Saxon was caught by Wilson off Burney.

Mo Baig joined Seal at the crease and the pair steered Styal to 99 before Humphries trapped Baig lbw for 27. The impressive Seal was finally dismissed by Brown for 43, leaving Styal on 103 for 7. When Humphries bowled James Carley four runs later, a win was looking on the cards for Audlem. The mood of optimism was increased when Brown had Seymour caught behind by keeper Leese six runs later. However, a defiant, unbeaten last wicket stand by Charlie Williams and Paul Shawcross saw out the final overs, as Styal finished on 124 for 9.

Audlem's man-of-the-match Stuart Elkes finished with 3 for 15 as Audlem gained 15 points and Styal 6.

On Saturday the 1st XI host Holmes Chapel at the Gorse Croft, the match ball being sponsored by Peter Roscoe Financial Services. Play starts at 2pm.

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