Cricket:
Big success for Willoughby

WILLOUGHBY recorded one of their biggest wins of the South Northants League season on Saturday when overcoming Grange Park by 148 runs.

Batting first, the hosts set a challenging target of 214-5 in which Nik Mistry (53) and Stuart Hall (48no) top scored.

Grange Park had no answer to the opening bowling of Marcus Fleming and James Barnwell in reply and the visitors were skittled for just 66 with Fleming taking 5-27 and Barnwell 3-28.

THERE was also success for the A team in Division Four as they won by four wickets at Chipping Warden.

The omens looked favourable for the visitors from the off for having won the toss and asking the home side to bat, they grabbed a wicket with the first ball of the match - a Diamond Duck, when Karl Quinney’s first delivery found the edge and was gleefully taken by Ben Hollis.

Thereafter wickets fell at regular intervals with the only resistance coming from Warden skipper Tim Fearnbank in at three making 39 and tailender Ian Burston making 21no; their ninth wicket stand of 35 proving frustrating before eventually ended by Martin Nichols in his typically economical return of 3-31.

Matt Mitto took 3-33 in the middle order, with Quinney returning 2-27 off his 12 overs; Sean Thornton chipping in with 2-31.

The visitors began their reply in confident fashion with Matt Goss setting them on the road to success with a series of early boundaries.

His departure only saw the arrival of Hollis to the crease to continue the momentum and his knock of 41 (five boundaries, three sixes) pushed Willoughby away from any early danger and alarms into a winnable position.

Mittoo supported Hollis, making 23, before Pete Reynolds followed the lead of the top order making 22 which to the delight of the visitor’s contingent contained five fours; his eventual departure coming with the scores level.

With the damage done, it was then left to Nichols then tickle away the single needed to give the visitors a much-needed and well-deserved victory.

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