Willoughby VS Northampton Saints

The final league game was here and we welcomed top of the table Northampton Saints to The Green a win here secured promotion. The energy was super high and everyone was buzzing for the game. Skipper Ben Hollis lost the toss and was stuck into bat on a fresh wicket which looked like it had something in for bowlers and batsmen.

Things got off the flyer for Hassan Nawaz and Callum Hanks with the bat, comfortably smacking Saints first team ringers around Hanwell and Freeman including some big shots. We cruised to 65 off 11 overs before Nawaz edged behind for a well made 37. Rayner (22) joined Hanks in the middle and kept things going along nicely scoring quickly and making the most of there poor fielding and over throws. Hanks was dismissed for 55 and brought Chait Kurusala to the middle. Rayner had his eye in and looked set before before given out LBW which he was disgusted the decision from their umpire. Michael Deery joined Kurusala and put together a nice partnership and saw us to 184-4 off 36. The platform was there for us to have a go and accelerate and try and reach 250. Wickets fell quickly , however everyone added to the score and we reached 230 all out off 43 overs.

Northampton Saints were already promoted and guaranteed top spot, however that didn't stop them bringing some first teamers down and tried to finish the season with a bang. Mark Fell and Callum Hanks were given the new ball and bowled really tight and gave the batsmen nothing to go at bowling. Fell removed Brown in the third over for a duck which brought a Ahmed to the crease. Fell (2-24) got his name in the book again getting a edge with a fine catch from Rayner removing Ahmed for 1. Bonthuys (2-29) and Farrow (3-62) were brought into the attack and made light work of their middle order with wickets tumbling. Yakub (61) and Ex player Hughes (34) only batsmen who put up a fight but wasn't enough. Yakub was bowled by Farrow with a excellent delivery hitting top of off stump, Hughes spooned one straight in the air and straight into hands of Bonthuys. Hanks (2-39)was brought back into the attack to wrap the game up picking up two wickets quickly and finishing off the game.

Overall our performance with the bat was superb, our energy in the field was excellent and the best team won. A fantastic way to secure promotion beating top of the table in the last match of the season. A very competitive season throughout a few narrow losses but our recent form winning 11 games in succession saw us finish second in the league.