Zar's the star

Audlem 2nd XI gained their fourth successive victory with a 6-wicket home triumph over Stretton on Saturday 17th May. Zar Ahmed was the star as he scored an unbeaten 33 to cement victory.

After winning the toss skipper Danny Thornburn asked the visitors to bat first and, after a stand of 34, Reggie Farnell (1 for 22) made the breakthrough when he trapped visiting skipper Richard Taylor lbw for 17.

Thereafter Stretton struggled on a well-prepared pitch that had a tendency to keep low after the recent bad weather and wickets fell at regular intervals. Dave Parry produced another excellent 15-over spell to return the figures of 4 for 37 and Rich Brown, well rested after a two-year break, displayed a master-class of line, length and accuracy to finish with a well-deserved 4 for 18.

Good catches were held by Paul Thorburn, Rich Brown (two), Danny Thorburn and Reggie Farnell. James Hindle's diving effort at silly-mid-on would have been in the running for catch of the season had he not dropped the ball in his ensuing celebration.

An indication of the effectiveness of the bowling was that mainstay Roy Wild and the prodigal Lyndon Woodcock were only required to bowl a couple of overs at the end of the innings. Wild took the final wicket, forcing keeper Leo North to dive sharply to his right to dismiss the stubborn Will Metcalf for 13 and Stretton were all out for 86.

With 55 overs to win the match, the Audlem reply started concurrently with the FA Cup Final at Wembley. Ten minutes into the innings Hull City had scored more goals than Audlem had scored runs and it was clear that Zar Ahmed was of a mood not just to bat, but to set like concrete drying in the sun.

Scoring was proving difficult on the low, slow wicket and, in addition, Stretton's opening bowler Geoff Stone had observed the value of Parry and Brown's tight bowling. A veteran who makes Audlem's own old-timers look mere striplings, Stone conceded only six scoring shots in his ten overs.

Proceeding at a pace that would have made Boycott or Tavaré seem positively skittish, by the time drinks came after 18 overs the score had crawled to 24. In his inimitable way, Zar was, rather than scoring, smuggling his runs out by stealth. The value of his efforts was all too obvious, however, as he lost his partners Chris Shenton (1), Danny Thorburn (9) and North (1), all bowled.

It was not until the emergence of Hindle from the pavilion with the score at 32 for 3 off 25 overs that the innings gained the momentum it needed. He quickly made a hard-hitting 17 before falling lbw, leaving the hosts at 62 for 4.

It was now that Zar was able to profit from his patience with several beautiful boundaries, a caressed four through the covers being the shot of the day. Zar reached his century (of balls received) shortly before the required total was reached and it was left to Paul Thorburn (1 not out) to hit the winning run.

Zar finished on 33 not out, a valuable match-winning innings all too seldom seen these days and once again extras provided a considerable contribution with a valuable 25 as Audlem eased past the winning post with 18 overs and six wickets to spare.

Audlem gained 20 points to go third in Division 4, while Stretton gained 4.

Last Saturday the 2nd XI's visit to Knutsford was called off due to the weather. On Saturday the 2nd XI welcome mid-table Stalybridge St Paul's to the Gorse Croft. The match starts at 1.30 pm.

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