1st XI thrash Didsbury

Following their heavy defeat the pervious week, the 1st XI travelled to Didsbury last Saturday for the penultimate match of the season.  The rainy week cast uncertainty on whether the game would go ahead, but it did and Audlem came away with an eight-wicket victory.

Skipper Oli Burney won the toss and decided to field.  He opened the bowling and took two early wickets, both bowled, before Didsbury rallied playing the spin of Neil Humphries and the swing of Stuart Elkes well.  An audacious bowling change by skipper Burney brought about the vital breakthrough for Audlem when Chris Shenton was introduced into the attack – we are not yet sure if the batsman got out through fear or laughter!

However, Burney was to claim the next victim caught behind by Paddy Leese and the introduction of Tom Kural saw Didsbury's danger man stumped by Leese after a dipping delivery.  From this point on Didsbury collapsed. Valuable runs were added taking advantage of the poor deliveries from Audlem, but Humphries, Kural and Burney wrapped up the innings to leave the hosts finishing on 129 all out.

Audlem were set a small total, but they were not taking anything for granted on the basis of recent sub-par batting performances.  Openers Rich Wilson and Andy Capper looked assured until Capper was bowled.  This brought Leese to the crease.  Leese and Wilson dug in, surviving LBW shouts and dropped catches.  The pair played attractively and solidly to notch up a hundred partnership and take Audlem within grasp of victory.  The chance of an unbeaten partnership was ended when Leese was out lbw for 32.  New-to-the-crease Quama Matthews saw out the chase with Wilson, with a few scares along the way, to see Audlem home.  The final score was 130 for 2, with Wilson 81 not out.

Audlem gained 20 points to remain in sixth place and Didsbury 7.

On Saturday the final match of the season sees the 1st XI entertain promotion pushers Saughall, who currently lie second and need to gain at least 13 points to ensure promotion.  The match starts at 1pm and is sponsored by Ladbrokes Sandbach.

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