Successful weekend for Audlem's Cricketers

Two victories and a game abandoned due to the weather was the story of Audlem's cricketers last weekend.

The first X1 welcomed Ashcombe Park to the Gorse Croft on Saturday with rain showers forecast for the afternoon. Park won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first and soon had them in trouble and after a 28-run first wicket partnership between skipper, Chris Shenton who top scored with a resolute 38 off 75 deliveries and V. Reddy ( 20 ) the innings went quickly downhill and finishing on 98 all out in the 29th over. Audlem did manage to claim a wicket in Park's response before the rain caused a halt to proceedings as the game was abandoned with the score om 9 for 1 . Simon Swift was the wicket taker. Next Saturday Audlem travel to Oakamoor CC

The seconds had more luck with the weather as they ventured into mid- Staffordshire to the delightful village of Church Eaton.
The toss went against Conor Howard, the Audlem skipper and the visitors were asked to bat first. Opening bat, Hamish Howard (29) held the innings together until the drink break with wickets falling at regular intervals until he was joined by Dave Parkinson in a 48-run fifth wicket partnership that took the score to 86 at the halfway point. The game was effectively decided in the next 18 overs as young Harry Measures (19 ) joined Dave at the wicket in a scintillating 101 run partnership before Dave was eventually dismissed in the 39th over just 3 runs short of his " ton " Audlem's total looked a daunting prospect for the home team as the wicket was not the easiest surface to play on and the visitors had an array of bowlers on display. Church Eaton at no stage of the reply looked likely to challenge the formidable total but seemed capable of batting through the overs but Conor had his players hurrying round and wasting no time in an effort to get more time to attack the batsmen . The ploy worked as the later bats were eventually worn down with the intensity of the deliveries and were all out in the 41st over for 116 . All the bowlers deserve credit for the victory , sharing the wickets between them with Conor, Dave Parkinson and James Cottrell claiming one victim each, Steve Neale and Harry Measures with 2 and Sam Patterson the star man with the ball claiming 3 . Next Saturday Audlem seconds welcome local rivals, Wistaston to The Gorse Croft ( 1.00pm start )

The Sunday team were scheduled to play Market Drayton, but the fixture secretary was informed during the week that they would be unlikely to field a team for the fixture, so alternative opposition was arranged. Whalley Range CC from Manchester came to the rescue and provided a stiff challenge on the day. Conor again took charge and promptly lost the toss for the second time of the weekend, but this time the visitors elected to bat first. A 35 over game was agreed upon. The total of 169 for 7 set at the halfway stage looked a decent challenge and so it proved with Audlem's winning runs coming with 8 balls and 3 wickets to spare. Stand out performers were Andy Jackson (13 ), Ryan Anderton with a fine 11 not out in a pressure situation and also bowled beautifully with no luck at all, Captain Conor who was there at the end to hit the winning runs and earlier in the day claimed a couple of key wickets. Special mention to the Hardy brothers who did a magnificent job in setting up the victory with a huge mid inning partnership with Alfie retiring on 51 not out and brother Bertie with an unbeaten 52 to his name after also claiming a wicket earlier in the day. Dave Parkinson was the star bowler with fine figures of 3 for 26 off his 6 overs.

A big thank you to Whalley Range for stepping into the breach at short notice and gave a fine account of themselves in a fine entertaining game of cricket which was always in the balance until the final few deliveries.

Next Sunday Audlem welcome Hodnet and Peplow to the Gorse Croft with a 1.00pm start