A win, a defeat and no play for cricketers

Last Saturday the 1st XI entertained recently-relegated Bowdon Vale. After the previous week's washout, they continued the winning streak in the league, beating the visitors by 98 runs.

Skipper Callum McIllveen lost the toss and the hosts were inserted on a damp, green surface which was a victim of the week's atrocious weather. Openers Andy Rothwell and Chris Shenton made a cautious start until, with the score on 24, Rothwell was dismissed for 10. Shenton however continued his blistering early season form, dispatching the visitors' bowling attack for several sixes and making light work of his quick fire half century. With new partner Paddy Leese the score rapidly moved on to 63 when Leese fell lbw. Dave Morris joined Shenton and scored a rapid 18 until he was caught with the scoreboard showing 106. When Shenton dismissed two runs later for 62 Audlem were a healthy 110 for 4 from 25 overs with a very large score looking entirely feasible.

What followed was an embarrassing collapse from the middle order which saw the next five wickets fall for just 8 runs. At 118 for 9 it appeared McIllveen's side had thrown the game away. However, batsmen 10 and 11, Neil Humphries and Simon Swift had other ideas. They added 46 runs for the last wicket with some superb stroke play. Swift was finally out for 19 and Humphries was not out 21 as the home team were all out for 164.

In their reply Bowdon got off to a good start with Mark Nicholas and John Ryan putting on 38 for the first wicket before Swift had Ryan caught behind by wicketkeeper Leese. Once Swift had dismissed Nicholas for 25, the visitors' batsmen crumbled under the pressure of Swift and Humphries' bowling. Only one other batsman scored double figures as Bowdon were all out for just 66. Swift took 4 for 35, whilst Humphries returned the remarkable figures of 5 for 8. McIllveen was the other successful bowler.

Audlem gained 25 points and Bowdon Vale 5. As a result, Audlem moved up to fourth place in Division 2. Tomorrow the 1st XI travel to sixth-place Knutsford.

1st XI Knockout

On the following day the 1st XI were knocked out of the cup by Norbury. On a pudding of a wicket Mcilveen chose to bowl and dismissed the hosts for 206. Audlem could only manage 136 in reply. Shenton and Qhama Matthews both claimed four wickets and McIllveen two. Shenton's 49 and Tom Kural's 29 were the visitors' only real show of resistance on a glum day in Stockport.

2nd XI

For the second week in a row the 2nd XI's match was cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch at Mellor. They have now slipped to seventh in Division 4. Tomorrow tenth-place Appleton are the visitors to the Gorse Croft. The match starts at 1.30 pm.

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