Willoughby VS Mears Ashby

Our first away fixture of the season was away to Mears Ashby. Skipper Ben Hollis lost the toss which isn't any surprise anymore and he was asked to bat first on a soft wicket.

Scott Cluley and Callum Hanks opened up the batting, Jack Gardner was straight on the money offering Willoughby nothing to go at. Zaheer Iqbal got a wicket with his ball of his spell to dismiss Hanks for a golden duck. Cluley was battling hard on a very unpredictable pitch trying to soak up the opening bowlers overs. Cluley chipped one up and was caught in the 5th over leaving Willoughby 8-2 off 5. This brought new player Stuart Bonthuys to the crease to join Ashley Rayner. Mears Ashby kept mixing up the bowling but Bonthuys and Rayner put together a 48 run partnership before Bonthuys was bowled. Anshul and young Ambrose both added to the score slowly doing what they had to do supporting Rayner at the other end. Rayner was finally bowled for 70 runs which was a outstanding effort and managed to recover the famous Willoughby batting collapse. Vikas Sangwan and Martyn Norman also both contributed at the end finishing both not out. Willoughby finished on 167-7 off 45 overs.

Vikas and Callum opened up the bowling for Willoughby. Callum bowling some decent in swinging deliveries causing plenty of edges and mis timed shots but unfortunately nothing falling to hand 0-34 off 10. Vikas was bowling a good line and length from the end which didn't get up much, he manage to dismiss one of the openers for 3 with a fine catch from Ambrose Deery. Mears Ashby's captain Alex was set and had his eye in, skipper Hollis gave Nikesh the nod for the next over. Things didn't go to plan at the start with Nikesh bowling 3 consecutive wides however managed to claw it back bowling some slow loopy deliveries 1-31 off 7. New player Bonthuys was passed the ball for his Saturday debut and got to work straight away, slowing the run rate right down and calming 3 victims in total 3-24 off 10.

However the damage was done, defending a below par score was always going to be tough and Mears Ashby made it home with 3 overs to spare. It was a good fight and a great effort but sadly fell short.

A few regular players missing still and it was proven the difference again. Hopefully we turn things round next weekend away against local side Yelvertoft CC.