Another double win for cricketers

Audlem's cricketers had another double success as both teams won their Cheshire Cricket Alliance games yesterday. In the top-of-the-table battle in Division 3 the 1st XI demolished Sandbach to win by 126 runs, whilst in Division 5 the 2nd XI beat Port Sunlight by 4 wickets with one over to spare.

1st XI skipper Chris Shenton won the toss and decided to bat against Division 3 leaders Sandbach. Unfortunately Audlem got off to a bad start as Shenton was run out with the score at only two. A second wicket stand of 83 between Andy Capper and Paddy Leese soon put the visitors back on track before Capper was trapped lbw by Adam Copnall for 47. Leese and Tom Measures then took the score to 151, when Martin Metcalfe bowled Measures for 26. Both Warner Baxter and Rich Brown fell victim to Saffi Jaffer as Audlem went for the runs. Leese continued to score freely and, with support from Gareth Pritchard and youngster Philip Backos, took the score to 196 before he was run out for 73 trying for a quick single. The innings ended after 48 overs on 199 for 6.

In their reply Sandbach were soon in trouble with opening bowlers Rich Brown and Stuart Elkes running riot as the first 6 wickets tumbled for just 19 runs. Solid defence from Copnall and youngster Callum Wood kept the bowlers at bay until Brown struck again to remove Copnall with the score at 48. Wood, making his debut, was eventually bowled by Brown for 17. Baxter, playing his first game of the season, took two more wickets before Brown wrapped up the innings as Sandbach were all out for 73. Brown finished with 7 for 18, Baxter 2 for 18 and Elkes 1 for 20. Audlem took 25 points to go top of the table and Sandbach 3.

Stand-in skipper of the 2nd XI, James Hindle, won the toss and asked visitors Port Sunlight to bat in poor conditions with the ever-present threat of rain. His decision soon paid dividends as youngster Ollie Burney and wily Roy Wild had the first four batsmen back in the pavilion for just 10 runs. A recovery was staged by middle-order batsmen Tim Neilson-Scott and Craig Hatton. Once Neilson-Scott was dismissed for 30, the lower order fell away. An untimely break for rain halted Audlem's progress with the score on 64 for 8. On the resumption the wet ball proved difficult for the bowlers to control and belligerent knocks from tail-enders Phil Burkey (11) Chris Heller (27) and Ryan Davies (30 not out) took the score to a respectable 142 all out in 45 overs. Burney, who took 5 wickets for 19 in 12 overs and Wild with 3 for 19 in 17 overs, were the pick of the bowlers. John Chadwick and Geoff Seddon took the other wickets. The home side's task was made much harder when a slip on the wet grass by Terry Tynan early on in Port's innings caused him to pull a hamstring and take no further part in the game. Furthermore, repeated journeys home by farmer Steve Ellsmoor to retrieve a runaway cow meant that Audlem fielded for a large part of the innings with just nine players and managed just one over with a full team.

Audlem's reply was always up with the required run rate as all the early batsmen went after the runs. Wainwright was soon caught behind, but Tony Morris (13) Hindle (16) took the score to 41 for 3. A stand of 56 between Burney and Ellsmoor set the platform for the final assault for victory. Ellsmoor was bowled for 16 and Burney eventually was caught behind for a fine 36. Seddon (31 not out) and Pete Harding (11 not out) shared a seventh-wicket stand of 43 to see Audlem pass the finishing post at 145 for 6 with one over to spare. Audlem took 20 points to move into fifth position and swap places with Port who gained 11.

Next Saturday the 1st XI play host to Capenhurst whilst the 2nd XI travel to Bramhall to play Trinity. Both games start at 2pm.

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