1st XI lose high-scoring encounter with Wayfarers

On Saturday the 1st XI slipped to a 6-wicket defeat by Wilmslow Wayfarers in a high-scoring Cheshire Cricket Alliance Division 2 game at the Gorse Croft, sponsored by Brenda Heathcock.

Skipper Chris Shenton won the toss and elected to bat. The openers got off to a good start with Shenton (41) and Andy Capper (15) putting on 65 for the first wicket. However, a mini-collapse saw Andy Rothwell and Rich Wilson out as the score slumped to 85 for 4. Tom Measures and Oli Burney added 27 for the fifth wicket until Burney was caught for 14.

Measures continued to play well, stroking some excellent front foot drives for four and with new partner, Paddy Leese, took the score to 135 before Measures was trapped lbw for 31. Leese (14) was bowled nine runs later, reducing the score to 144 for 7. Kemal Toraman and Neil Humphries took up the cudgels and both were hitting boundaries as the score mounted to 161 when Toraman (18) was caught in the covers attempting another big hit. Humphries and Stuart Elkes added 34 for the ninth wicket, when skipper Shenton declared the innings at 195 for 8. Humphries was 24 not out and Elkes, playing the anchor role, 4 not out.

Andrew Bruce, with 6 for 64 and James Bennett, 2 for 69 were Wayfarers' successful bowlers.

The visitors' reply got off to a shaky start as Toraman and Elkes laid into the batsmen. Elkes soon got a reward when he bowled James McIntyre in the second over of the innings following Toraman's opening maiden over. Elkes continued to pick up wickets as firstly Thomas Matthews was caught by keeper Leese and then he trapped Joe Clinch lbw as Wayfarers slumped to 17 for 3. However, skipper Luke Unsworth and Bobby Hassard dug in, seeing off the opening bowlers and then increasing the run rate However, after crashing four boundaries, Hassard was caught by Andy Rothwell at cover off Lyndon Woodcock, leaving the score at 60 for 4.

Next to the crease was Bennett, who together with Unsworth, produced a batting display worthy of taking all 25 points. The pair played with a mixture of aggression, finesse, excellent timing and co-ordination to put on a 139-run partnership, both men making their half-centuries. It was Bennett (88 not out) who was the most aggressive, while Unsworth was 67 not out. Elkes finished with 3 for 42.

Audlem gained 12 points and Wayfarers 25 as the teams swapped 4th and 5th places in the table.

Next Saturday the 1st XI travel to Bramhall to play third-place Trinity. The match ball will be sponsored by Tyrepriceadvisor.co.uk.

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