Willoughby VS Desborough

Willoughby's first X1 welcomed top of the table Desborough to the green, this was the last fixture before the half way stage of the season. Everyone arrived nice and early for a early net session and some catching practice as we looked to continue our winning form and looked to make it 4 wins from 4. Captain Ben Hollis won the toss with help from Ashley Rayners lucky two pound coin, Hollis elected to bowl first on a fresh slightly green wicket.

Confidence was key and early wickets was needed, Callum Hanks and Dan Farrow were the opening bowlers and got to work from ball one. Hanks had Desborough's opening batsmen playing and missing on numerous occasions early on, Farrow had lovely shape and removed there number two for only 1 run scored. Desborough's big hitter Moody finally played the wrong line and nicked off which Ashley Rayner made no mistake with the gloves. The two fresh batsmen seen off Hanks and Farrow in their last over of their spells. Vikas Sangwan and Stuart Bonthuys caused all sorts of problems, Vikas picking up his first wicket in this third over removing Lee Pollard with a good catch again behind the stumps with the gloves and then removing J Peel clean bowled, Sangwan 35-2 off 8. Bonthuys bowled a super line and length once again missing the bat with his pace and swing slowing the run rate right down before picking up his first wicket witch a fine catch from Nawaz fielding at deep point on the boundary removing their number 4. Bonthuys picked up one more wicket with a plumb LBW finishing his 10 overs 8-2 off 10 overs with 5 maidens. Archie McMillian came on to bowl and looked to use the weather conditions and bowl Desborough's tail end out, he managed to claim one victim to his name and finished his fine spell 20-1 off 7 overs. Farrow and Hanks were brought back on and Hanks picked up 3 quick wickets including a one handed catch from Farrow to wrap Desborough's innings up and were all out for 142.

Callum Hanks and Hassan Nawaz opening up the batting and looked sharp from the first ball, putting some good deliveries away to the boundary along the floor with no risks taken. Their aggressive start to the chase caused a early change in the bowling attack with captain Peel taking himself off after only bowling 4 overs. The opening pair carried on their fine form with the bat and looked like they were both cruising before Nawaz (24) chipped one up and was caught and then Hanks(20) in the same over did the same. Chait Kurusala and Ambrose Deery were next in and Kurusala got off the mark straight away with a beautiful looking shot through the covers along the carpet for four. Deery got a gaffer 7th ball and dismissed without troubling the score. Scott Cluley had to dig in and defend his wicket and steady the ship for Willoughby which he did well, Chait (14) was dismissed on the boundary going for a big shot. Ashley Rayner joined Cluley in the middle and put together a slow well made 31 partnership before Cluley was bowled by their spinner Pollard. Captain Ben Hollis joined Rayner in the middle and kept the strike rotating and kept the score board ticking. Hollis took the game away from Desborough with some big shots, including a huge six over the sight screen to win us the game inside 34 overs. Rayner 39* Hollis 29* Willoughby finished on 145-5.

A massive result beating top of the table, that's 4 wins on the bounce beating the top three teams in the division at the time we played them. Thrapston at home, Stony Stratford Away and now Desborough at home. We should be all full of confidence espically going into next weekend when we welcome Rushton to the green. Superb effort all round in the team which is really good to see.