1st XI game eventually beaten by the weather

The start of Audlem 1st XI's Cheshire Cricket Alliance game at home to Ellesmere Port was delayed by the weather. As a result the total number of overs was reduced from the standard 90 to 76. Despite the best efforts of all the players and their willingness to play in the poor conditions they were eventually beaten by the rain.

Skipper Chris Shenton won the toss and elected to field first. Ellesmere Port got off to a good start as they went after the runs. Stuart Elkes finally got the breakthrough when he trapped opener Anthony Jarvis with the score at 40. Port continued to push the score along until James Gatrell became the first of Lyndon Woodcock's victims to make it 80 for 2. Three runs later opener Brian Heaps was caught by Shenton, again off Woodcock's bowling. The visitors continued to push the score along even though first Chris Gatrell and then James Howdon were fooled by Woodcock's spin to leave Port at 120 for 5. When James Siddorns joined the wicket takers, bowling Paul Isaacs at 144, Audlem appeared to have gained the upper hand. However Wayne Shore and Dwayne Bernard continued to score freely before Shore was run out by Rob Johnson as he went for a quick single. Woodcock continued to trouble the visitors, snapping up two further wickets, having Bernard stumped by Johnson and then bowling Dave Rowlands as Port declared on 185 for 9 in the last of their 41 overs. Woodcock finished with 6 for 57.

In their reply Audlem's openers Andy Capper and Shenton went for the runs in poor conditions, but eventually the rain became too heavy. The game was brought to a halt after three overs with the home side 12 for 0. Audlem gained 5 points and Ellesmere Port 10.

Audlem remain top of Division 3, still leading Mossley by 18 points and Kerridge by 30 points as both of their games were abandoned without a ball being bowled.

On Saturday the 1st XI travel to tenth-placed Capenhurst, whilst the 2nd XI entertain Bramhall-based Trinity. Both games start at 2pm.

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