Swift-Elkes demolition job

The 1st XI ended their season on 14th September with a thumping 117-run win over bottom-of-the-table Mossley, who were demolished by quick-bowlers Stuart Elkes and Simon Swift. The 25-point win meant that they finished in fourth place in Division 2, one place higher than in 2012.

Skipper Callum McIlveen won the toss and decided to bat. Opener Andy Rothwell was out with the scoreboard on 6, having scored all the runs. Chris Shenton and Rich Wilson took the score to 43 before Wilson was out for 10. Dave Morris joined Shenton, but soon lost his partner for 29 and Tom Kural for a duck, leaving the home side on 49 for 4.

Morris and Qhama Matthews added 23 for the fifth wicket until Matthews was bowled for 12. Toby Banfield and Morris steadied the ship, but with the score on 94 Morris fell for 27. McIlveen (3) became Mossley skipper, Tony Brown's fourth victim leaving Audlem on 110 for 7.

Banfield and Swift took the score to 134 when Banfield was trapped lbw for 31. Neil Humphries and Swift added a further 13 for the ninth wicket until Humphries was out for 11. Swift was last man out for 11 with the scoreboard showing 153, leaving Elkes 0 not out.

For Mossley's reply Audlem opened with a mixture of speed by Elkes and spin by Humphries. Speed prevailed and soon Swift joined Elkes. Together they demolished the visitors as Elkes took 5 for 12 and Swift 4 for 19 as Mossley capitulated for a meagre 36, gaining just 5 points.

Congratulations go to Port Sunlight and Holmes Chapel, the two promoted teams. Styal and Mossley were relegated.

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