AUDLEY HOLD NERVE TO END PORTHILL PARK’S FINE START TO SEASON
AUDLEY thirds inflicted a first NSSCL Division Seven defeat of the season on Porthill Park fourths in a thrilling encounter. Porthill Park had won all six encounters heading into the weekend clash, but Audley held their nerve to secure a one-wicket win. Set 133 for victory, Ben Forster (43) and Thomas Boundy (30) made key contributions to help Audley over the line, despite two wickets apiece for Ethan Plummer, Calum Bilton and Nathan Price. Porthill Park had earlier been indebted to Craig Chorlton for seeing them to 132 all out. Chorlton made 71, which contained 16 fours, while David Cooper (3-18) was the pick of the Audley attack. Oliver Palmer, Huey Nield and Thomas Mason shared six wickets. Cheadle thirds are now out on their own up top after winning on their visit to Kidsgrove.
It’s now seven successive wins for the Moorlanders as they showed off their form with both bat and ball. Ahsan Shahid top-scored with 99, including 16 fours and one six, 30 from Joshua Jackson and 20 from Paul Shaw helped Cheadle to 228-8 from their 40 overs.
Ian Bailey claimed 3-55 for the home side, while Kane Lowton struck twice. Kidsgrove slipped to 13-3 in their reply, before James Green (44) and Ian Bailey (25) attempted to put the chase back on track. But Sam Akram’s 5-46 was integral to Kidsgrove being restricted to 155-9 when stumps were drawn. Wood Lane seconds raced to a 100-run success in their home clash with their Endon counterparts.
Ian Wain hit 11 fours and five sixes in his 99 to instigate Wood Lane’s progress to 230-6 from their allocation.
Ash Porter lent support with 44, while Ethan Wood and Philip Reynolds took a couple of wickets apiece. Porter then showcased his bowling skills with 4-30 and there were two victims for Wain - as Endon were bowled out for 130 on the resumption.
Elliot Merchant (27), Liam Clow (26), Steven Joddrell (18) and Elliot Simcock (14) made the most progress with the bat. Sandbach seconds were five-wicket winners on their trip to Rode Park &
Lawton. Double strikes from Ethan Jackson and Paul Jackson limited Rode Park & Lawton to 134-7, despite Paul Chadwick making 46. Sandbach had almost 10 overs in the bank when they crossed the line after tea as Paul Jackson made an unbeaten 50, which contained four boundaries. Jack Taylor played his part with 40, with Sam Marshall striking twice for the home side.
Audlem had few concerns in defeating Woore seconds in their weekend meeting. Half-centuries from Michael Griffiths (63) and Michael Burton (56) were the eyecatching efforts in Woore’s 176-7.
Griffiths hit eight fours and Burton found the boundary 11 times as the pair put on 99 for the second wicket. Callum Mcilveen claimed 3-39 for the home side. Azaan Maroof picked up two wickets in reply but they were the only successes for Woore as Audlem showed off their batting prowess.
Chris Shenton caressed seven fours and three sixes in his 61 not out, with Dan Butler’s 38 and 32 not out from Dave Parkinson sealing an eight-wicket triumph.
Checkley thirds secured the points from their game against Onneley seconds. Michael Knowles’ 56 was key to Onneley posting 131-7 from their 40 overs. Edward Mayne took two wickets.
A third-wicket stand of 96 between Jack Farrington and Joseph Lawton soon had Checkley on the path to victory.
Both played his seven fours with Farrington making 55 and Lawton chipping in with 50 as Checkley eventually secured a sixwicket win. Mohammed Razaq and Ash Hall shared the wickets to fall.