Superb Stanway smashes Norbury

Audlem 1st XI were led to victory on Saturday by a superb first-day hundred by Stu Stanway as they beat visitors Norbury by 159 runs to gain 25 points.

With sunny skies and what appeared to be a flat track at the Gorse Croft it was no surprise that when Richard Wilson, leading the club in his first full season as captain, won the toss he decided to bat first.

Andy Rothwell and Stu Stanway opened and Rothwell started ominously by smashing the first ball of the season for six back over the bowlers head! Unfortunately he was unable to continue in the same vein as he was dismissed for 10 with only 12 on the board.

Skipper Wilson joined Stanway and they both continued on in the same positive mind frame. Stanway especially looked great, finding the boundary with regularity. The pair took Audlem serenely to 105 for 1 after just 17 overs before Wilson missed out on a full toss that he skied, sending him back to the dressing room for 35.

Dave Morris came and went for 1, bringing Kemal Toraman to the crease. He and Stanway kept the score ticking over as the two manipulated the field superbly and continued to find the boundary.

Despite being dropped three times, Stanway smashed the bowling everywhere and brought his 100 up off 98 balls. Toraman was eventually caught for 56 to leave Audlem at 252 for 4, the pair having put on 137. Stanway finished on 119 not out as Wilson declared the innings, leaving Norbury 49 overs to chase down the target.

Norbury's reply got off to a bad start as an early wicket for Stu Elkes with score at two set the wheels in motion for Audlem. However stiff resistance from Rick Lomas and Phil Holland took the visitors to 48, before last year's leading wicket taker, Neil Humphries, came into the action. He responded with a double wicket maiden as Norbury slipped to 48 for 3. Fourteen runs later, the important wicket of Lomas was snared by Mcilveen as he departed for 43.

Simon Swift replaced Mcilveen and bowled economically, hitting a consistent line and length, as he himself got a wicket, bowling four overs for just three runs. Qhama Matthews replaced Humphries and turned in an impressive display as he removed the tail in conjunction with Swift. The visitors eventually capitulated with the scoreboard on 93.

Matthews returned figures of 3 for 13, Humphries 3 for 15 and the rest of the wickets were shared by Mcilveen, Elkes and Swift.

The 1st XI travel to Warrington to play Rylands on Saturday as they look to continue the positive start to the season.

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.