1st XI back in promotion race

As reported exclusively on Audlem Online last night, Audlem 1st XI beat second-placed Frodsham in their must-win Division 2 match at the Gorse Croft yesterday by 71 runs.

Skipper Chris Shenton won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat first in order to try to gain maximum points. Opener Andy Capper was caught with 12 on the board and Shenton followed soon after, bowled for 23 to make it 28 for 2. Tom Measures and Rich Wilson took the score to 99, when Measures was caught behind by visiting skipper Geoff Abram off James Burton's bowling for 42. Burton immediately bowled Jim Littlewood to make it 99 for 4. Wilson was caught behind for 35 and was soon followed back to the pavilion by Andy Rothwell, as the score slumped to 112 for 6, with Frodsham sensing victory.

A vital stand of 46 between youngster Oli Burney and Paddy Leese reignited the Audlem innings, but as so often happens, both were out soon after each other – Burney scoring 16 and Leese 32 – to make it 165 for 8 with one over remaining. Simon Swift took the home side to within one run of maximum batting points before being run out for 12. In the quest to score the extra run off the last ball of the innings, Stuart Elkes, was also run out, leaving Audlem all out on 174. Burton was Frodsham's most successful bowler with 4 for 62.

The visitors' innings started reasonably well before Elkes struck, bowling opener Jonathan Lewis with the score on 21. Elkes followed this with two more wickets as he ripped Frodsham's upper order apart with pacy, accurate bowling. Only opener Burton, following his own success with the ball, was able to fend off Elkes as the visitors' reply slipped to 32 for 3. Burton and Matt Williamson started to regain some momentum as they took the score to 68 before Burton top-edged Lyndon Woodcock's spin and was caught for 38.

Williamson and Mo Hickton dug in as they played for the draw to stop Audlem gaining maximum points. However Littlewood and Woodcock had other ideas and whem Williamson was bowled by Littlewood for 30 with the scoreboard showing 84, Audlem sensed victory. When Hickton was out 12 runs later, Frodsham's tail was exposed. An excellent spell of bowling saw Littlewood mop up the tail, all bowled, as the last four wickets fell for one run leaving Frodsham 103 all out. Littlewood fished with 5 for 20, Elkes 3 for 19 and Woodcock 2 for 35.

Audlem gained 25 points and Frodsham 7, reducing the gap between them to 15 points. There now appears to be a three-horse race for the second promotion spot behind runaway leaders Haslington, with Frodsham, Saughall and Audlem separated by just 15 points with five games remaining.

On Saturday the 1st XI face another tough encounter as they entertain Haslington in what should prove to be another exciting game. Play starts at 2 pm.

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