1st XI rained off, 2nd XI win third game in a row

Audlem 1st XI's Cheshire Cricket Alliance Division 2 match at Styal was called off because the outfield was waterlogged. Both teams received 5 points, leaving Audlem in sixth place. After suffering an opening day loss, the 2nd XI won their third game in a row, beating Holmes Chapel by 6 wickets to move up to third place in Division 5.

Following last week's comfortable six-wicket victory over previously unbeaten Trinity (see below for a brief report), the 2nd XI went into Saturday's match full of confidence against another unbeaten team, Holmes Chapel. Skipper Toby Banfield lost the toss and Chapel decided to bat on what looked a good batting track. The decision rebounded immediately as Sarwan opened the bowling and took a wicket in the first over with the score on 4. Having given the visitors few scoring opportunities Roy Wild took his first wicket to make it 18 for 2. Wild then continued to rattle through the visitors' line up with only Tim Corburn Jnr (18) and Andy Gilligan (20) giving any resistance. Wild ended the innings with 7 for 32. Sarwan supported him with 2 wickets and the other fell to a run out. Holmes Chapel finished on 100 all out off 31 overs.

In their reply openers Banfield and John Wainwright faced a good opening spell from Chapel's bowlers as they chased the modest target with 59 overs in which to get them. After 11 overs Audlem had scored 35, however accuracy was a problem for the bowlers and runs came more freely than the visitors needed. Five overs later and the score had raced to 76, when Banfield was caught for 46 off just 57 balls. Following the fall of another wicket Zar Ahmed joined Wainwright and they took the score to 91 before Wainwright was run out for 30. The game was over soon after this, with Audlem reaching 101 for 4. This was particularly pleasing for Audlem's Andy North, who teaches at Holmes Chapel, as he hit the winning run against some of his former and existing pupils. Audlem gained 25 points and Holmes Chapel 6.

******************

On the previous Saturday at Bramhall-based Trinity, Banfield won the toss and decided to field. Trinity's batsmen made his decision look to be the wrong one as they all scored runs reasonably freely until Raj picked up to quick wickets at the end of the innings. Trinity finished on 173 for 7 after their maximum 48 overs. Philip Lowe was the home team's top scorer with 47. Raj took 4 for 42.

Audlem's reply got off to a superb start as openers Banfield and John Wainwright chased the runs and put on 136 for the first wicket before Banfield was out for 53. Wainwright continued to score freely until he was third out with the score at 152. Zar Ahmed (13 not out) and Ollie Banfield (6 not out) saw Audlem past the winning post with only four wickets down. The home team did themselves no favours by conceding 46 extras. Audlem gained 20 points and Trinity 10.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.