Over 450 runs scored at the Gorse Croft

A warm summer's day at Gorse Croft saw the 2nd XI take on Knutsford 2nd XI. The away team had their 1st XI fixture cancelled and decided to strengthen their 2nd XI by including a string of first teamers. In a match where fortunes swung, over 450 runs were scored as the teams fought out a high-scoring draw

Skipper Danny Thorburn won the toss and decided to bowl first. As expected, the strong Knutsford batting line up went on the attack and the scoring rate was going along at 7 an over before Roy Wild snared Arshad for 28.

This started an extraordinary passage of play where the Knutsford batsmen attempted to go on the attack but kept falling to the wiles of the Audlem spin duo, Wild and Lyndon Woodcock. Both bowlers snared a couple of victims each and suddenly Knutsford were 96 for 6 and Audlem were well in the game.

However, Ross Williams then joined Amir at the wicket and began a huge partnership that took the game away from the home team. Both batsmen gave difficult chances but they took full advantage of the misses and propelled Knutsford to 256 for 6 declared off 40 overs.

Williams struck a magnificent 100 not out and Amir made 61 not out. Their onslaught was ruthless and impressive and they launched the Audlem attack to all parts of the ground. The Audlem bowlers stuck to their task manfully with Wild taking 4 for 54 and Woodcock 2-51.

When Audlem began their reply and Andy Capper was dismissed for a duck in the first over, things looked ominous. However Zar Ahmed and Rob Johnson then shared an excellent partnership of 119 before Johnson was dismissed by Neil Banks for a classy 60. Paddy Leese and Ahmed took the score to 146 before Ahmed was dismissed for 44 by the same bowler.

Suddenly Audlem were on the back foot as Banks ripped through the middle order. Paddy Leese was the only batsman to cope with the bowling with an excellent 39. However, when he fell, the score was 196 for 8 with one over left.

An injured Woodcock joined Abbie Adams (4 not out) at the crease. Nine fielders gathered like vultures around the bat. What would happen? In most cases such as this, you would see six balls blocked – forward defensively. However, Woodcock had other ideas. He blasted three classic boundaries as the over was survived with ease and style and Audlem ended up 208 for 8. Banks finished with 5 for 48.

Knutsford gained 14 points and Audlem 8. As a result the 2nd XI dropped two places in Division 4 to fourth, just eight points behind second-place The Groves and two points above Knutsford. On Saturday the 2nd XI travel to play Stalybridge St Paul's who sit in sixth place.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.