Cricket Report Sunday June 22nd

Sunday June 22

Audlem Sunday X1 . V Burton CC ( Chester )

Audlem welcomed their old friends from the Wirral to The Gorse Croft last Sunday for the return fixture after a close encounter in the away leg a few weeks ago.

With the threat of rain around skipper Ollie Banfield had little hesitation in batting first on a decent looking track which the previous day had yielded approximately 450 runs . Both openers took advantage of the favorable conditions to claim their maiden half centuries for the club before retiring . Alex Livingstone was the first to reach the milestone with a stylish 53 not out followed by Conor Howard with a more circumspect 50 not out. Andy Jackson ( 11 ) and Bertie Hardy ( 20 ) made decent starts before being bowled by Burton's top bowler, Richard Glendinning who finished with 3 for 34 off his 8 over spell. Jake Topping stroked a classy 41 and young Alfie Hardy made it a trio of Audlem debutantes to reach the 50 mark before retiring not out. Audlem closed their innings at tea on 247 for 5 and were the happier of the two teams at the break.

The rain that was promised did eventually arrive and delayed the visitor's reply for enough time for the captains to agree for a reduction in overs which meant that a 30 over response with a revised target based on run rate to 180. It was always going to be a tall order with a slower outfield due to the rain and Audlem's varied bowling attack. Steve Neale led the way with 3 for 16 off his allocation of 6 overs with Richard Irvine claiming 1 for 14 off 6 and a runout accounting for the 5 wickets to fall as the visitors closed on 131 for 5 off their reduced overs. Steven Tate top scored for Burton with 25 not out.

Next week Audlem welcome Lichfield Nomads CC to the Gorse Croft with the game scheduled for a 1.00pm start