Cricket – another nail-biter

Silverdale CC .v. Audlem CC Saturday 24 May

Audlem managed somehow to claw a victory from the jaws of defeat and for the second successive week came away with maximum points from a game that appeared lost. This time the hero of the hour was Ben Salisbury who stroked his way to a magnificent 45 not out to guide the team to another 1 wicket triumph. Ben went into bat at number 8 in the order with the score on 72 and the team in real trouble chasing Silverdale's total of 171 for 7. 72 for 6 rapidly became 87 for 8 after the dismissal of last week's savior, Vijayan Rahul. With 84 runs still required and only 2 wickets remaining Audlem's aspirations of victory seemed out of the question but with Silverdale's star bowler now out of the attack after completing his allocation for a magnificent 8 for 20 a glimmer of hope was still there. The veteran Glynn Moore who has been a stalwart for Silverdale for many years surely didn't deserve to be on the losing team after such a performance but that is what transpired as Ben with his very capable partner Jake Topping ( 25 ) set about trying to repair the damage inflicted by Mr. Moore. The pair inched ever closer to the target but 20 still required Jake was run out bringing the last man to the wicket but no panic was needed as Simon Swift is undoubtably the best number 11 in the league and at the end of the 37th over the scores were level. With Ben facing the first ball of the 38th over against Silverdale's Ben Stokes he scored the boundary required off the first ball to bring up another remarkable comeback victory.

Earlier in the day Captain Chris Shenton had won the toss and inserted the hosts due to the threat of the inclement weather that was forecast later in the day. The decision seemed a good one as all of Audlem's bowlers made good use of an unpredictable wicket which gave them all good assistance. Wickets were shared between Ahbijith Jayan. Jake Topping, Simon Swift, Bertie Hardy & Dave Parkinson with Vijayan Rahul claiming a brace but probably the home team were the happier of the two at the interval given the gremlins in the track.
This fear proved correct, but we had to wait for the introduction of Glynn Moore into the Silverdale attack as openers Dave Blatherwick ( 18 ) and Chris Shenton (17 ) compiled a useful and rapid 40 run opening partnership before the drama that was to follow.

Audlem will be sampling home comforts next Saturday when they host Stafford CCat The Gorse Croft. The game has a 1.00pm start time

Burton CC v. Audlem CC Sunday 25 May

Audlem made their way to picturesque Burton on the Wirral the following day and due to the distance of travel and a number of youngsters in the visitor's team playing junior cricket during the morning which would facilitate them arriving late the Burton captain very kindly offered Audlem the chance to bat first on a nicely prepared wicket. Openers Conor Howard ( 16 ) & Alfie Hardy ( 26 ) made good progress and were followed by good contributions from Bertie Hardy ( 47 ) , skipper Jake Topping ( 34 ) , Dave Parkinson ( 34 ) & Marcus Taylor ( 18 not out ) before closing the agreed 35 overs on 184 for 6. P. Fleetwood was the pick of the home bowlers with 3 for 44.

Burton's reply didn't get off to the best of stars as they found themselves at 13 for 2 in the 6th over with Richard Irvine claiming both victims who was opening the attack alongside his son Ruben( 1 for 22 ). Burton's Tom Giles got things back on track for the hosts with a fine knock of 52 not out but a steady flow of wickets at the other end kept the game in the balance. Wickets were shared between Conor Howard, Alfie Hardy, Steve Neale, Bertie Hardy and Dave Parkinson with Sam Thompson claiming a brace. Young Ruben was now brought back into the attack as the game reached it's conclusion with Burton well in the game and big hitting A. Frampton ( 57 ) the danger man. Ruben bowled his best spell for the club and his heroics restricted the hosts to 181 for 9 to give Audlem victory by just 3 runs.

Audlem are back at home next Sunday when their opponents are Liverpool Barristers CC with a start time of 1.00pm