1st XI retain top spot with win over HMV

Despite an early scare, Audlem 1st XI retained top spot in Division 2 of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance with a 57-run victory over visitors Heaton Mersey Village.

For the first time this season skipper Chris Shenton won the toss and he duly elected to bat. His decision soon appeared to backfire as both he and fellow opener Andy Capper were back in the pavilion with the score on 4. Prolific run-scorer Richard Wilson was joined at the crease by Tom Measures as Audlem looked to recover. However, when Wilson was caught and bowled to become Makhyoum Hussain's second victim Audlem were reeling at 14 for 3.

Paddy Leese joined Measures and a healthy partnership developed, Leese scoring freely as Measures batted obdurately at the other end. They took the score to 55 before Leese was dismissed, caught and bowled by Ravi Nagarkar, for a well-made 31.

Oliver Burney and Measures added 24 for the fifth wicket, when Burney became Nagarkar's second victim having scored 14. Kemal Toraman and Measures took the score to 96 before Toraman was trapped lbw for 9 by Hussain. Big hitter Tim Ruscoe strode out to the crease to join Measures. However, after swinging across the line of his first delivery he was making a u-turn back to the pavilion as his stumps lay strewn across the pitch, much to the delight of Hussain.

With Audlem's innings in disarray, Simon Swift went out to steady the ship with Measures, who was now starting to express himself. Swift batted sensibly as the pair added 44 for the eighth wicket but was eventually dismissed by Mo Khaliq for 9. Six runs later Measures was caught having scored 52 valuable runs. This was a brilliant innings by any measure – stoic defence, intelligent running, punctuated by sumptuous drives and cuts.
Lyndon Woodcock was last man out, caught by keeper Kevin Wood off Bailey's bowling with the scoreboard registering 148. Hussain (4 for 32) and Khaliq (3 for 23) were HMV's best bowlers.

When the visitors went out to bat, Swift got the home team off to a flyer in the first over by trapping HMV opener Paul Hallion. Hussain and Khaliq took the score to 46 before Elkes had Khaliq caught at square leg by Richard Wilson for 14. HMV's most dangerous batsman, Dave Padbury, was run out without scoring by Measures after a terrible mix up.

Woodcock then got his revenge on Wood, trapping him lbw, to reduce the visitors to 65 for 4. Hussain went onto to make 45 before being dismissed by Oliver Burney to a fine catch from Kemal Toraman at mid off, making it 72 for 5.

Woodcock now tasted blood and, with an incredible display of spin bowling, ripped through the remaining batting line up claiming four more scalps. His wickets, together with a further run out, this time by Leese, meant HMV were dismissed for 91 in the 28th over. Woodcock finished with 5 for 14 off 8.3 overs to share the man-of-the-match accolade with Measures. Audlem gained 25 whilst HMV gained 6.

On Saturday the 1st XI travel to Holmes Chapel, hoping to consolidate their top spot

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