Match Report – Audlem CC vs Church Eaton CC
Saturday 13th September 2025 – NSSCL Division 4
Church Eaton CC won by 89 runs

The penultimate game of the 2025 season saw Church Eaton CC travel to top-of-the-table Audlem CC, who needed just four points to confirm promotion. Earlier in the season, Church Eaton had defended a modest 130 at home to beat Audlem, and they arrived determined to make life just as difficult for them again.

Audlem’s ground was every bit as picturesque as promised — a beautiful rural setting surrounded by rolling Cheshire countryside, with seating all around the boundary and a bar open for spectators. The weather, however, was anything but tranquil: strong winds blew throughout the afternoon, heavy showers interrupted play several times, and even the odd rumble of thunder threatened in the distance. With the evenings drawing in, the start time was brought forward to 12:30pm.

Church Eaton Bat First

Audlem skipper Chris Shenton won the toss and chose to bowl first. Jay Arnold and Jordan Talbot opened the batting, with Talbot looking to continue his rich vein of form after passing 1,000 runs for the season last weekend. Arnold got off to a flyer, finding gaps through the ring and lofting the ball over the infield during the powerplay. Talbot, though, nicked off to second slip for just 1, Shenton taking a good low catch off A. Jayan to leave Church Eaton 17-1.

Matt Burslem joined Arnold but, after just two balls, the players were forced off for rain. What followed was a frustrating hour of stop-start cricket, with three separate interruptions breaking momentum. Despite that, Arnold and Burslem rebuilt well and added 53 before Burslem was caught and bowled by Jayan for 13 – much to the frustration of Arnold, who was convinced he would of scored a ton inside 15overs if Burslem could run.

Dan Smith came in next and looked like his old self after a tough 2025 season, scoring freely and running dreadfully without plenty of drama. First, he drove straight to short cover and set off, leaving himself a full 10 yards short of the crease, only for the fielder to miss with his throw. Then, an over later, he pushed to midwicket, charged down the track, was sent back, skidded to a halt, slipped, face-planted the turf, scrambled up, slipped again, and was still short of his ground as the throw missed the stumps. Somehow he survived, but his whites were no longer white.

Arnold soon brought up his 50, and together the pair put on 64 for the fourth wicket before Smith was caught brilliantly on the cover boundary by J. Topping off S. Swift for 29. Arnold followed soon after for a superb 83 off 78 balls, chipping tamely to mid-on — denying himself a century and earning himself the traditional post-match jug-fine from his teammates for bottling another century.

At 157-5 after 30 overs, the innings was finely poised, but skipper Matt White (23 off 17) and Rob Hogarth (31 off 31) counter-attacked to push Church Eaton towards a strong total. Late cameos from Rob “Big Dinner” Austin (13* off 12) ensured the visitors finished on a respectable 220-8 from their 40 overs — a very competitive score given the interruptions and conditions.

Crucially, Audlem had taken the eight wickets they needed to confirm promotion, sparking celebrations before the chase had even begun.

With promotion secured, Audlem turned their attention to chasing 221 to effectively seal the league title. Captain Chris Shenton opened with V. Reddy, playing a couple of stylish straight drives early on before Ross sent his off stump cartwheeling with a ball that 1.5mm at best. Ross carried on well to remove I. Shaik in similar fashion and then having wicketkeeper Wilson caught behind for a duck to leave Audlem reeling at 34-3.

But Reddy counter-attacked ferociously, punishing young seamer Archie Wilkes with four enormous sixes into the cow field, one of which reportedly landed in a cowpat. At 90-3 off just 11 overs, Church Eaton were feeling the pressure — until a moment of brilliance changed the game.

Fielding at short fine leg, Rob Hogarth reacted quickly when Ade Melbourn’s throw slipped through wicketkeeper Austin’s legs and fired in to run out Hardy, leaving the batter stranded halfway down the track.

Melbourn then struck the decisive blow, having Reddy caught on the deep square boundary by Ross for a blistering 62 off just 42 balls — a huge moment that left Audlem 95-5. Hogarth soon got in on the act with the wicket of Measures, whose edge nestled securely in Jay Arnold’s now-famous “cleavage” at slip. A "Tape.Measure " was asked for from the umpire to confirm Jay Arnold’s cup size at this point.

From there, Church Eaton’s bowlers suffocated the chase. Arnold had Parkinson caught and bowled, Melbourn removed Rahul gloving to the keeper, and Arnold struck again to dismiss Topping. Fittingly, it was Melbourn who had the final say, producing a beautiful wrong’un to bowl Jayan and seal the victory.

Audlem were bowled out for 131 in just 24.3 overs, giving Church Eaton a resounding 89-run win and taking the title race to the final weekend.

Key Performers Jay Arnold: 83 (78) with the bat, 2-10 with the ball — a superb all-round performance Will Ross: Devastating new-ball spell of 3-23, including two bowled Ade Melbourn: 3-26 and the key wicket of Reddy at a crucial stage Rob Hogarth: 31 (31) with the bat, brilliant run-out, and 1-25 with the ball

Church Eaton’s victory means that the destination of the Division 4 title will be decided in the very last match of the season. A brilliant team performance, played in great spirit, and a day that perfectly summed up what grassroots cricket is all about.