1st XI taste defeat and slip to second place

Top-of-the-table Audlem 1st XI travelled to Stockport-based Norbury hoping to continue their promotion push with another win. Unfortunately, despite scoring almost 200 runs, they lost by two wickets and slipped to second place in Division 2 of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance.

Skipper Chris Shenton lost the toss and Norbury invited their visitors to bat. Shenton and fellow-opener Rich Wilson put on 31 before Wilson was caught off Phil Barlow's bowling for 16. Ollie Burney joined Shenton and they took the score to 56, when Shenton was caught for 34 to become the first of Rick Lomas' victims.

This brought in-form Tom Measures to the wicket, but Burney was soon out having scored 11, again caught off Lomas' bowling. Paddy Leese was bowled by Lomas for a duck as Audlem, after a good start, slumped to 63 for 4. All-rounder Rich Brown joined Measures and the two wrested control back as they started to score freely and added 77 for the fifth wicket, when Brown stumped by keeper Andrew Deplitch off Barlow's bowling for 32.

Andy Capper joined Measures as Audlem looked to score quick runs. Capper was next out for 13, bowled by Steve Lomas, leaving Audlem at 181 for 6. Andy Rothwell soon followed him back to the pavilion trying to force the runs, caught for 6 off Mike Holtom. Lyndon Woodcock and Measures took the score to 194 for 7 off the maximum 48 overs. Measures finished 59 not out.

Audlem got off to an excellent start when Brown trapped Rick Lomas lbw with just 7 on the board. Chris Twibell and Holtom added 40 valuable runs before Holtom was snapped up by Measures off Brown's bowling. The same partnership immediately accounted for Steve Lomas, leaving Norbury at 47 for 3.

Twibell and Matt Clarke took the score to 73 before Clarke became Brown's fourth victim. Woodcock then got in on the action, trapping Twibell lbw for 49, making it 107 for 5. Deplitch was bowled by Brown at the same score. Audlem gained the initiative when Woodcock had Andy Downs stumped by Tim Ruscoe twenty runs later.

Unfortunately for Audlem, Dale Deplitch and Mike Barrett dug in and then wrested control back , taking the score to 169. Brown then claimed his sixth wicket, bowling Barrett. Deplitch (49 not out) and Dave Overbury saw Norbury home, with just nine balls remaining. Brown, bowling unchanged, finished with 6 for 58 and Woodcock 2 for 36.

Audlem gained 14 points and Norbury 20. The points were not enough to keep Audlem top, slipping to second, 5 points behind new leaders Glazebury, who had an easy 9-wicket win.

On Saturday Glazebury are the visitors to the Gorse Croft for a top-of-the-table clash. The match starts at 2.00 pm.

The 2nd XI didn't have a game, but on Saturday they travel to third-placed Sandbach for their Division 5 promotion battle.

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