CRICKET - Willoughby remain in promotion mix with four-wicket win - The Rugby Observer

CRICKET - Willoughby remain in promotion mix with four-wicket win

Rugby Editorial 27th Jul, 2022   0

WILLOUGHBY CC remain in the Northamptonshire Cricket League Division Seven promotion mix after securing a four-wicket win against Stony Stratford thirds.

Stony set an imposing total of 273-7 from their 45 overs with Oscar Watson (76), Simon Chapman (49) and Deepak Ravikumar (95 not out) doing the damage.

Stuart Bonthuys (2-63), Callum Hanks (2-65), Dan Farrow (1-31) and David Alcock (1-47) took the wickets.

However, Willoughby attacked the total from the outset in reply as Hassan Nawaz (77) hit 14 boundaries including four maximum’s and was supported superbly by Chaitanya Kurusala (97) who himself found the rope 14 times, clearing it on five occasions.




That saw Willoughby reach three figures inside 12 overs which meant that, despite a mid-order wobble, Bonthuys (35 not out) and Scott Cluley (24 not out) were able to guide the home side to victory on 274-6 in 43.1 overs.

Willoughby are now 14 points behind second placed Mears Ashby who currently occupy the final promotion spot.


And Willoughby’s 2nd XI endured a similarly nervy encounter in Division 13 as they claimed a 12-run win against St Crispin and Ryelands.

Willoughby were put into bat first and were made to pay for losing the toss as they slumped to 68-5 with Anshul Satsangi (28) providing the only top order resistance.

Young Aiden Porter (43) revitalised the Willoughby innings with a 61-run sixth-wicket partnership alongside James Andrews (17) as the visitors recovered to 151-7 from their 40 overs.

Willoughby also struck early with the ball to leave their opponents on 96-6 which included Fergus Deery (1-20) taking the wicket of the division’s leading run scorer Danny Carter (12).

Other wickets went to Matthew Sutton (2-23), Rees Moor (2-29) and Ryan Lines (1-25) as middle order pair Luke Hurle (17) and Neil Blackwell (21) set up an exciting finish.

Willoughby bowled 13 maiden overs after the drinks break, which included a 10-over period where they conceded just 25 runs.

And this would prove crucial as despite Bob Smith’s late knock of 24, Willoughby saw out the game to win by 12 runs thanks to some extremely economical bowling.

The win means Willoughby still occupy the division’s third and final promotion place, six points ahead of nearest challengers Old CC.

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