CREWE CC gave a much improved display when they picked up a useful six points in their draw against Audley on Saturday.

Audley batted first and lost their first wicket for 11 runs, Price bowled by Nick Lange for four.

This brought in West Indian star Keith Semple, leading runscorer in the league, and along with Fairbanks he took the score to 52 before Fairbanks was caught and bowled by Kashi Rao.

Semple was beginning to show his immense talent when Alan Clarke picked up two wickets to reduce Audley to 61 for 4.

Dawson took over bowling in tandem with Rao to halt the run rate with Rao dismissing Joynson and then picking up the vital wicket of Semple for 49.

A Fowles stumping left Audley on 98 for 7 but when Clarke returned to the attack Powner set about him as Audley reached 147 for 9 off 60 overs.

Rao finished with 4 for 15 off 23 overs with Clarke 3 for 82 off 19.

In reply Crewe lost opener Simon Walton for just 3 and were unable to force the pace struggling to 20 runs in the first hour.

Three quick wickets then fell to leave Crewe on 25 for 4 before Gower and Waddington started to attack the bowling making 36 before Gower was caught by Semple for 23.

That ended any hopes of a Crewe victory and when Clarke and Fowles were dismissed with the score at 74 for 7 Waddington and Rao put the shutters up and batted out the final six overs.

This weekend Crewe have two home games facing Knypersley and Colwyn Bay.

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