2nd XI's stylish cup win

On Sunday, Styal were the visitors to the Gorse Croft for the second round of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance 2nd XI Knockout. Audlem easily won the match by 119 runs to progress to the quarter finals.

Skipper Danny Thorburn won the toss and elected to bat first. The home team started poorly as Rob Chadwick was caught with the fiirst ball he faced to make it 6 for 1. But Andy Capper and Zar Ahmed then put on an impressive and rapid partnership of 62 before Capper departed for 32. There then followed a succession of wickets. as Danny Thorburn (9), Zar Ahmed (32) and Paul Thorburn (7) all fell, leaving Audlem on 101-5 and the innings in danger of capitulation.

Leo North then joined Tom Sant at the crease with the task of rebuilding the innings. The pair added a crucial 57 runs before Sant fell for a classy 51, full of superb shots all round the wicket. This bought Majid Ullah to the wicket who then shared another 50 partnership with North. Ullah was out for 37 including one of the largest sixes in memory – the ball landed beyond the road and into a neighbouring house. This left Audlem on 214 for 7. North then continued his excellent innings, reaching a deserved half century before being the last man out, adjudged lbw. However, his innings had helped resurrect Audlem at a crucial stage and the home team ended up on 247 all out in 38 of the allotted 40 overs.

In response, Styal were never in the hunt and were dismissed for just 104. The main contributors were Chris Mountford (31) and Andy Mountford (41). For Audlem, Roy Wild and Abbie Adams bowled tidy opening spells, but the main destruction was carried out by Sant, Lyndon Woodcock and Ullah. Whilst Ullah and Sant bowled with pace and venom and took three wickets each, Woodcock bamboozled the batsmen in his spin and took two wickets.

Victory was never in doubt and the 119 margin did not flatter the home side. The man of the match was adjudged to be Tom Sant for his all-round performance. A great day for Audlem and, for the first time in several years, the home team have advanced to the quarter finals.

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