Willoughby 2nds Vs Northampton Saints

Another gloomy and wet day was on offer as the 2nds travelled to Collingtree to face off with Northampton Saints who have been in good form and currently sit in 2nd position. It was an artificial pitch with the dull sound of the M1 in the background as well as quite small boundaries so anything under 200 would be a good score to chase down.

The skipper won the toss and decided to field with a lot of rain due. It started well as Ryan Lines and Fergus Deery opened up from either end. Fergus, who bowled his worse delivery of the day dismissed Hellan for 4 and it wasn't long before the opposition skipper Shardlow (who hates Ferg's bowling!) was also dismissed chopping the ball up to gully for 7. Both bowled excellent and as the reverse fixture Saints found runs difficult to come by with the score 61 for 4 off 20 overs. Deery 3 for 37 and Lines 1 for 23 off 10 each. The experience of Martin Nichols and Matthew Sutton broke a key partnership of Jackson 24 and S Shardlow 20 in the space of 2 overs and Saints were on the back foot again. Saints bowled out in the 40th over for 128. Nichols 4 for 30 and Sutton 2 for 31.

After a brief rain break Anshul Satsangi on his return looked solid and scored a quick 43 who was well supported by Martin Nichols 28. On the artificial which favoured the Willoughby batters runs came quickly and after a well made 18 from Aiden Porter who was caught by some additional bounce the father son due of Ian and James Andrews saw the team home without any fluster in the drizzle. 130 for 5 off 25.4 overs.