1st XI win again to stay top, but 2nd XI well beaten

Audlem's cricketers had mixed fortunes on Saturday. The 1st XI had a comfortable victory to keep their unbeaten record in Division 3 of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance. Unfortunately the 2nd XI were well beaten as their bid for promotion from Division 5 stalled.

Visiting Audlem's picturesque Gorsecroft ground for the first time, Offerton won the toss and elected to bat on a good track. Despite having a weakened team, Audlem's 1st XI soon had the visitors in trouble as Andy Capper and Stuart Elkes took a wicket each with just 12 runs on the board. When Elkes took his second wicket, with the score at 34, Audlem were in control of the game. However a stand of 27 between Mike Barlow and Tim Thelwell gave Offerton some hope, until Barlow was run out by a superb throw from the third-man boundary by youngster Phil Backes. Lyndon Woodcock took two wickets with the score on 71, the first being Thelwell, bowled for 27. A gutsy innings of 26 by Steve Barlow with wickets falling around him at regular intervals saw Offerton reach 120 as Woodcock and John Jeeva mopped up the tail. Woodcock finished with 4 for 53.

In their reply Audlem's batsmen got off to a flyer as Capper and skipper Chris Shenton took the score to 38 before Capper was out for 9. Shenton continued to attack the visitors' bowlers when he was joined by Backes. They added a further 55 runs for the second wicket, when Backes, who had played the anchor role, was bowled for 11. Shenton just reached his half century before being caught going for another big hit. Rob Johnson (26 not out) and Tom Measures saw Audlem safely past the post in just 18 overs, with Johnson hitting two fours and a six off consecutive balls to seal the win by 7 wickets. Audlem gained 20 points to remain top of the division and Offerton 6.

Stand-in skipper Norman Hindle lost the toss as a much-weakened 2nd XI travelled to Appleton. The home team got off to a good start, reaching 70 for the loss of one wicket before spin kings Roy Wild (5 for 45) and John Chadwick (3 for 28) pegged them back. Appleton were eventually all out for 138.

Audlem's reply got off to the worst possible start and they were soon three wickets down before reaching double figures. Things didn't improve and Audlem were all out for 45 in just 15 overs. Appleton gained 25 points to move into third place and Audlem 5 points to remain fourth.

On Saturday the 1st XI entertain fifth-placed Eastham in their Division 3 clash, whilst the 2nd XI travel to Kerridge in a bid to revive their Division 5 promotion hopes.

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.