Spin twins seal win for 1st XI at Norbury

The 1st XI travelled to Norbury on 9th July for a Cheshire Cricket Alliance Division 2 match sponsored by Audlem Physiotherapy Clinic and came away with a 47-run victory.

Skipper Chris Shenton won the toss and elected to bat on a track that was green and moist.  However things looked bleak early on as the visitors lost both Neil Humphries and Andy Capper with only five runs on the board.  This brought Paddy Leese and Tom Measures to the crease, and the need for solidarity.  The pair started patiently and were lucky to survive on no less than five occasions.  However, they started to accelerate, upping the run-rate with boundaries, doubles and quick singles. 

It was not until a bowling change bringing Matt Sharpe into the attack that Audlem were undone; Leese was caught behind for 42 with the score on 75 and, thirteen runs later, Measures was similarly dismissed for 33.  Andy Rothwell was soon out, but a 38-run partnership between Rich Wilson and Chris Shenton took the score to 132 when a mix up saw Wilson run out for 20.  Quama Matthews was the next man to accompany the skipper as the pair put on a further 17 runs before Shenton was bowled out having stroked 32 off 36 balls.  The score had now moved on to a reasonable 149 for 7.  Matthews continued with new partner Oli Burney to take the score up to 163 before Matthews was caught behind.  The last three wickets fell for just 10 runs, leaving Audlem 173 all out.

Norbury’s reply got off to a stuttering start with Burney taking two early wickets.  However, Graham Robinson and Chris Twibell staged a recovery until left-arm spinner Humphries was introduced in to the attack.  He took three quick wickets, including Robinson for a defiant 25.

Lyndon Woodcock was brought on to make it an all spin attack as he and Humphries .  operated in tandem with a lethal cocktail of temptation and second guessing to spike the batsmen.  Woodcock eventually got his man, tempting Chris Twibell (28) into letting loose only to loop one to Rothwell at slip, who took the catch one handed behind his head with aplomb.  The next four wickets fell to Woodcock as he ripped through the middle order and tail as Norbury finally capitulated on 126.  Only Andrew Deplitch offered any resistance, until he was stumped by keeper Tim Ruscoe as Audlem completed a 47 run victory.

Woodcock finished with 5 for 43, Humphries 3 for 32 and Burney 2 for 25.

Audlem gained 25 points to remain in fifth place and Norbury 8.

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