Audlem Cricket Report

Saturday's Match

Audlem’s curtain opener to the season got off to a winning start on Saturday in a cliff hanger of a game against Moddershall and Oulton in the North Staffs and South Cheshire League played at a sun baked Gorse Croft.

Moddershall won the toss and inserted the hosts on what looked a decent batting track.

Hosts' Innings

This proved to be the case with prolific openers Chris Shenton and Dan Butler putting on 78 for the first wicket in good time.

Another productive partnership then developed between young Luke Harding and Dan taking the total to 170.

But then the introduction of young spin bowler Elliot Harris into the attack spread panic amongst the Audlem middle order dismissing 5 batsmen for 23 runs in his 5 overs.

However a 29 run partnership between Callum McIlveen and Howard Jones turned things round and the home team were able to post a respectable but not insurmountable target of 227 to win.

Visitors' Innings

It all looked like plain sailing for the hosts with the visitors in all kinds of trouble at 5 for 3 but the middle order were made of sterner stuff and took the fight to the home team especially captain David Housley who managed to get his team to within 14 runs of their target stroking a magnificent 117 before becoming the third victim to the lively paceman / allrounder, Dan Butler and last man out with the score on 213 with 10 balls left.

Sunday's Match

The Sunday game developed into another ‘runfest’ against the visitors from Colwyn Bay who racked up an imposing 252 for 8 off their 40 overs with only Toby Edgerton 0 /29 . Usman Ghani 3/22 and Dave Parkinson 1/38 being able to exert some kind of control over the proceedings.

Audlem set about their run chase with gusto with young opening batsman, Shioab Ali and allrounder Usman Ghani scoring runs freely to all corners of the ground but the real entertainment came when teenagers Toby Edgerton and Tom Sadji brought the game to life and got the hosts to within striking distance of their formidable target.

The total proved tantalisingly out of reach with the last two batsmen at the wicket settling for an honourable draw on 233 for 9 against the illustrious visitors from North Wales.

A great weekend of cricket at The Gorse Croft with over 900 runs scored 34 wickets taken. This Saturday the league eleven are away to Kidsgrove and the Sunday team are at home to Burton (Chester )

All the scores and fixtures are on the club’s play-cricket website.

John Wainwright
Audlem Cricket Club