With visitors Audley on 100 for 7 chasing 180, victory looked on the cards for Stone 1st XI. However, Mustaf Bashir with an undefeated 58 blew away the Stone attack to secure victory for league strugglers Audley.
Richard Harvey lost the toss and was asked to bat. Not for the first time this season Luke Cheadle with 73 and his 10th 50 of the season put Stone in control. Although no other batter settled in, Stone reached 180 in their allotted 55 overs; Thomas Perkin with 5 for 41 starring for Audley
In reply, Spinner Dries Nell (3 for 37) and Russ Ballard (3 for 44) put their side in control. Bashir then came in and made the bowling look at best mediocre. He saw his side home with 2 wickets and a number of overs to spare
Defeat sees Stone drop to 7th in the tight Premier Division table and searching for a return to winning ways when they host bottom of the table Elworth this Saturday.
In the reverse fixture, Stone 2nd X1 welcomed back Captain Oliver Perry from a tour of the Caribbean. Whilst Perry was in form with 2 for 28 with the ball and a top score of 45 with the bat, it was not enough to bring his side a victory. Audley batted first and racked up 220 for the loss of just 6 wickets. In reply, Stone struggled to a disappointing 154 all out. Other than Perry, only Ash Jones with 32 and Lee James 25 had runs in them. With a visit to Elworth this week, they are perilously only two places above the drop zone.
At Swynnerton, Stone SP 1st X1 were outclassed by 3rd division league leaders Eccleshall. Their visitors were put into bat and runs came easily as they reached 236 all out in the 55th over, Dave Hibbert with 66 and Myles Coughlan 50 topping the scoring. Adam Pursell (4 for 63) and Wasim Khan (3 for 54) were pick of the Stone attack. In reply, Stone were skittled for 93, with Cameron Sinclair picking up 5 for 23 and Coughlan 3 for 13. This week they travel to Oakamoor.
In the reverse fixture, Eccleshall were again the victors but Stone SP 2nd X1 put up more of a fight. Batting first they were dismissed for 162 in the 46th over, with youngster Archie Davidson top scoring with 42. Gareth Jones 31 and Hylton Bennett 32 were also amongst the runs. For Eccleshall, Sam Buttery took 4 for 18 and Tony Mansfield 3 for 31. Eccleshall lost 6 wickets in the chase but crossed the line in the 57th over, Andrew Parton top scoring with 30. Bennett with 2 for 14 was Stone’s best bowler.
