Victoria 'not amused' by defeat

On Saturday 21st June an impressive all-round team performance saw Audlem 1st XI convincingly beat league leaders Tranmere Victoria at the Gorse Croft by 84 runs to continue their excellent recent form and make it three wins on the bounce.

The visitors won the toss and put Audlem in to bat. Openers Andy Capper (14) and Chris Shenton put on 34 for the first wicket. Shenton and skipper Wilson took the score to 53 before Shenton was out for 36. When Stu Stanway was out for a duck, Audlem were 58 for 3.

The crucial phase of the match rested on a 66-run fourth wicket partnership between Dave Morris and Wilson. Morris particularly looked in fluent form as he found the boundary with regularity. He made 38 until he became Ben England's third victim, as they moved the side onto 124.

Wilson's dismissal for 28 at left Audlem at 132 for 5. Callum Mcilveen (20) and Toby Banfield (19) then took up the cudgels with a 45 run before they both fell in successive England overs, leaving the total at 181 for 7. Neil Humphries' 23 not out from just ten balls proved the catalyst in the final overs. He smashed two fours and as many sixes, propelling Audlem up to 219 for 9. England was the pick of the bowlers for the Merseyside outfit, bowling well and gaining figures of 4 for 59.

In the absence of Stuart Elkes, Simon Swift was given the new ball with Mcilveen. Swift bowled a hostile opening spell, finding appreciable lift from a surface that seemed to offer little if anything for the faster bowlers all day in the way of seam movement or bounce. His two early wickets of Mark O'Brian and Gary Francis, combined with the dismissals of Hannon and Edwards, reined Tranmere in at 20 for 4, as Audlem sensed an opportunity to get an all-important win against the current table-toppers.

Two wickets before drinks split between Humphries and Mcilveen, aided by a stumping from Stu Stanway, put Audlem fully in control as they continued to turn the screw, as the Vics struggled at 59 for 6. The wicket, which was starting to crumble, was continuing to aid Humphries, Audlem's left arm spinner, allowing the fast bowlers to be rotated from the other end.

However, the home side met some resistance in the form of skipper Richard Baker, who hit a quick-fire 54 as he carved a number of deliveries through and over the offside field. He kept the scoreboard moving as Audlem continued to hunt for wickets. His dismissal signalled the near-end of the contest as Swift picked up his third wicket of the day e. Mcilveen bowled Dave Hamm with an off-cutter a few overs later, as Tranmere's innings ended on 135, giving victory to the home side by 84 runs.

Audlem only used three bowlers, with McIlveen finishing with 4 for 53, Swift 3 for 42 and Humphries 3 for49.

Audlem picked up 25 points and Tranmere Victoria 7, which put Audlem in fourth place and Tranmere down to second as Knutsford leapfrogged them in the Cheshire Alliance Division 2 standings.

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