1st XI crumble in top-of-table clash

The 1st XI came off second best in their top-of-the-table battle with leaders Glazebury on Saturday, crumbling to a 66-run defeat. However, they remain in second place in Division 2, now just seven points ahead of the chasing pack.

Glazebury won the toss and elected to bat. Skipper Chris Shenton opened with a mixture of the spin and fast bowling. Spinner Lyndon Woodcock immediately justified the decision by trapping opener Wayne Hargreaves without a run on the board. Twelve runs later Stuart Elkes had Ian McCue caught by keeper Rob Johnson. Elkes soon struck again as Shenton caught Callum Morgan, leaving the visitors 22 for 3. Woodcock claimed his second wicket as Phil Backes held on to a catch from Phil McCue. When Elkes trapped Simon Green lbw, Glazebury were in tatters at 37 for 5.

Jack Warhurst and Saj Sadiq took the score to 49 before Warhurst was caught by Tom Measures to become Woodcock's third victim. Sadiq and Andrew Calvert then put together the first partnership of the game, adding 45 before Sadiq was trapped lbw by Kemal Toraman for 17. Two more wickets fell at the same score, first Calvert for 22, caught by Elkes off Woodcock's bowling and then Toraman clean bowled Sam Stanier, who didn't trouble the scorer. This put Glazebury in deep trouble at 94 for9.

Unfortunately for Audlem, the last pair, Kyle Keeble and Chris Eyre, frustrated the bowlers, adding 45 valuable runs before Toraman ran out Eyre for 20. Keeble was left unbeaten on 22 as Glazebury were all out for 137. Woodcock, bowling unchanged, took 4 for 85, .Elkes took 3 for 26 and Toraman 2 for 19.

In their reply, Audlem were three wickets down for 19, having lost Shenton, Richard Wilson and Measures to the quick bowling of Eyre and Stanier. Johnson and Paddy Leese then put together a stand of 23 before Leese was trapped lbw by Sadiq.

Ollie Burney came to the crease and watched as Johnson continued to score freely against the visitors. Johnson was eventually dismissed for 35, which included 8 fours, by a sharp slip catch off Sadiq's bowling. This left Audlem at 63 for 5. Two runs later, Glazebury grabbed complete control of the game as Sadiq demolished the middle order. Toraman, Andy Capper and Backes all were sent back to the pavilion without scoring as Sadiq grabbed a hat-trick. When Burney was stumped off Calvert with the score the still at 65, Audlem had slumped to 65 for 9.

Six runs later it was all over as Elkes was caught at deep mid on, having tried to hit Calvert for four, which would have earned another bonus point. Sadiq finished with the remarkable figures of 5 for 8 off 8 overs. Glazebury gained 25 points and Audlem 5.

On Saturday the 1st XI hope to get back on the winning track as they travel to Mossley.

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