WILLOUGHBY’S winning streak was stretched to three games last weekend, after a fine 174-run win over Earls Barton Seconds in Northamptonshire League Division Six.
Led by half-centurions Scott Cluley (98) and Ashley Rayner (86), the visitors ran amok to set a target of 253 runs at The Grange Sports Field, before capping off their impressive display by skittling out their opponents for just 78 runs.
It looked momentarily as if it could be a tricky afternoon when opener Chaitanya Kurusala was bowled out by Laurie Carter (2-28) at 15-1, before a stand of 167 between Willoughby’s two hot-shot batsmen saw a dramatic upturn in fortunes.
Recording 24 shots into the boundary in all, the pairing were both gone for the third wicket with just over 200 runs scored by their side.
But with Manny Sidhu (19), skipper Ben Hollis (15, no) and Mark Fell (15) adding useful runs, the away side had every right to be confident of securing maximum points.
And so it proved as Earls Barton’s reply quickly went up in flames, led by the imperious Mark Fell’s (5-9) five-for.
Only opener Chris George (21) and middle-order batsman Carter (20) could record double figures for their side, on an afternoon when Willoughby’s bowlers and fielders were on top form once again.
Next up, Hollis’ fifth-placed side host Rothwell Town Seconds, who are eighth.
THERE was a similarly emphatic result recorded by Bourton & Frankton at home to Bishops Tachbrook, as the club’s Sunday XI stormed to a nine-wicket success.
In a reduced-overs encounter, B&F bounced back from their previous defeat at Everdon to limit the visitors to a 147-6 score, before Daniel McManus (38) and Dale Coles (73, no) led their side to victory with just over four overs remaining.
Mick Waller (2-33) was the hosts’ most successful bowler, and, with his teammates recording economical scores, helped limit the danger that Bishops Tachbrook were able to offer.
Then, with a confident reply issued by their opening batsmen, Bourton and Frankton were helped over the line by number three George Smith (26, no) to seal a fourth win this term.
On Sunday, B&F play host to Crick Lions.
