Cricket:
Promotion hopes hit by defeat

WILLOUGHBY’S hopes of securing promotion out of South Northants Cricket League Division One were dented on Saturday when they suffered a four-wicket defeat at Barby A.

The reverse does not rule Willoughby out of the promotion picture but makes this weekend’s visit from second in the table Afro Caribbean all the more important.

In fine conditions at one of the league’s more desirable grounds to visit and play at, the visitors batted first and saw Nikesh Mistry (43) and Ian Hughes (21) get them off to a bright start.

Rob Oliver changed the course of the game though as he ripped through the middle order, taking 6-19, to restrict Willoughby to 175-9 at the end of their innings, a total that seemed 20 runs short of par at the halfway stage.

And so it proved to be, particularly as similar to the reverse fixture at The Green, Byfield came out all guns blazing.

In a whirlwind start they reached 60 off their first four overs, before the bowling of David Alcock (3-47) and Marcus Fleming (2-24) held up the initial charge.

However, Byfield’s early damage proved decisive as they got home with seven balls to spare thanks mainly to Martyn Bannister (46) and Andrew Wheeler (38).

THERE was also defeat for the 2nds although their ten men can take great credit for ironically one of their better performances of the season against champions Towcestrians.

Overnight withdrawals left the hosts a man light so it was no surprise when having won the toss, and given their record with the willow this term, Towcestrians opted to bat.

What they did not bargain for was the early wicket of opener Jones for a duck with Trevor Eadon taking another fine catch at slip off Karl Quinney.

That brought the visitor’s Tom Sheppard to the crease who, having chanced his luck to survive in the early stages, showed some fine drives to top score with 71. Ollie Drage, in at five was at times equally as fortunate with several edges missing the stumps and Willoughby hands, before finding runs and eventually making 54. Willoughby’s persistence was eventually rewarded with a flurry of wickets through the middle to late order, Quinney finished with 4-52 off 12 overs and Sean Thornton returned 3-47 as Towcestrians set a challenging target of 215-8.

That target became even more distant in reply with the visitors opening attack accurate and true, although Willoughby openers Ben Hollis and Badj Rehman showed good discipline before falling in quick succession.

That brought Eadon to the crease and with batting points the real target he went onto make a well crafted 28, backed up well by firstly young prospect Hassan Nawaz and then Pete Reynolds.

Thornton’s late blows took Willoughby into three figures and although Willoughby closed on 110-8, the points yielded and more so the manner of their performance will hopefully stand them in good stead for their crucial final three matches beginning a week on Saturday.

DUNTON’S RUN IS ENDED: DUNTON Bassett 2nds’ good run of form came to an abrupt end at Croft on Saturday when they were beaten by five-wickets.

Batting first, Dunton were dismissed for 201 with Neil Popat’s 62 the top score. Malc Butcher and Ash Voss also contributed with 45 and 40 respectively.

Croft kept up with the run rate in reply before charging home when Manship blasted the bowlers all around the park to finish unbeaten 87 as victory was reached with eight overs to spare.

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