Willoughby 2nds V Northampton Saints

It was a welcomed return to some kind of form as the cricket club are now welcoming the youthfulness of the team with the return of players from exams and university. This will have a positive impact in the coming weeks but players are starting to treacle back into availability.

It was the home fixture against Northampton Saints who always look a dangerous team with the youthful philosophy they have in their 3rd team. Both skippers wanted to bat and Dave the opposition skipper had no hesitation to pad up. Things got off to a slow start for Saints as Archie McMillan and Ryan Lines produced an excellent opening spell with Reg Porter running out the dangerman Jack Bates (25) who scored 90 against the firsts a few weeks prior. At the 20 over mark Saints were 50 for 1 and after the slow start struggled to up the run rate, Fergus Deery and Matt Sutton bowled 10 through to keep Saints at 125 for 7 off 40 overs. The main resistance Wake (25) and Shardlow (27*) Fergus Deery 3-37 Matthew Sutton 2-23.

Although 180 plus would be a par score at Willoughby these days Saints had some firepower in the locker and after a unfortunate LBW to Martyn Norman, Ian Andrews and Sean Thornton put on 56 for the 2nd wicket with Sean taking the opener Wake out of the attack. Sean a quickfire 32 and Ian Andrews securing a 50. The total was reached with Matt Sutton (8*) and Reg Porter (6*) 128 for 4 in just 22 overs.