1st XI record win at HMV to go fourth

The 1st XI staged a valiant fightback to win by 43 runs at Heaton Mersey Village on Saturday.  The weather had made for another green and soft track, however skipper Chris Shenton was bold and took the decision to bat first in an effort to take maximum points.

Openers Andy Rothwell and Neil Humphries started solidly with Rothwell scoring the early runs and Humphries playing the anchor role.  Rothwell was the first batsman out, having scored 13 of the 18 runs on the board.  Paddy Leese departed without any addition.  Humphries and new batsman Rich Wilson then staged a resistance taking the score to 29 before Humphries (3) was bowled and soon after Wilson was dismissed the same way for 5.  With the score on 30 for 4, doubts were beginning to form whether the decision to bat first was a good one.

Audlem needed to swing the game back in their favour and looked for Kemal Toraman to do just that.  With partner Qhama Matthews at the crease, and a thundering six from Toraman, the pair put on 13 runs before they both fell to deliveries that stayed low – Toraman bowled for 9 and Matthews lbw for 3.  Skipper Shenton didn’t trouble the scorer and on 44 for 7 things were looking bleak.

However, Audlem staged another much needed recovery with Toby Banfield and Tom Kural demonstrating Audlem’s depth with the bat.  The pair played impressively to take the score to 63 before Banfield was caught and bowled for 8.  Top scorer Kural put on a further 15 runs with Simon Swift before being trapped lbw for 15.  With the score now 78 for 9 Audlem’s tail completed the wag with a further impressive effort from Stuart Elkes, as he and Swift, took the score to 100 before Swift eventually went for 6.  Ajit Phadke finished with 7 for 31.

HMV’s innings got off to a shaky start as Swift bowled Chris Barlow for 1 with a baffling slower delivery.  Next to go was the obdurate Kevin Wood for just 2 hard fought runs, caught by Shenton off the bowling of Swift.  The score rose to 21 before Elkes joined the party having Makhyoum Hussain caught brilliantly at slip by Rothwell for 8.  This was to signal the beginning of the end for the home team as Elkes and Swift, with the help of wicketkeeper Leese took three quick wickets to reduce HMV to 31 for 6.   Four runs later Shenton ran out Alan Stones.  Skipper Adjit Phadke and Anish Nambiar then staged a mini recovery and took the score up to 53 before Phadke was caught Banfield bowled Humphries for 13.  Nambiar was trapped lbw by Humphries for 8 on the same score.  The Innings was wrapped up when Stuart Elkes trapped Wasif Siddiq four runs later.

Audlem gained the maximum 25 points and HMV 5.  The win moves the 1st XI into joint fourth place in Division 2 with HMV.

On Saturday, the 1st XI host next-to-bottom Offerton at the Gorse Croft.  The match starts at 1.30pm.

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