Rayner century guides Willoughby to second successive NCL success.

After making 85 not out in midweek, Rayner’s ton accounted for the mainstay of the home side’s reply after they had bowled the visitors out for a below-par 157 earlier in the day.

This came after the hosts for the second week running allowed their visitors to get off to a decent start reaching 56 for the loss of one wicket after 12 overs. However a change of bowling and the introduction of Dan Farrow (1 for 18) and Jake Quinney (1 for 34) again in tandem for eight over spells stemmed the initial flow despite Podington opener Coleman still remaining at the crease at the next change.

The visitors then upped their progress off the bowling of Ben Hollis and Mistry and were well placed to kick on and set a 200+ run target with 10 overs to go. That was until Coleman went for 62 to the returning Fell and from there the lack of depth in the visitor’s batting was exposed as they collapsed from 130 for 3 to 157 all out. Fell recording figures of 4 for 33 and Mistry 4 for 31.

Willoughby did not have things all their own way in reply as Chait Kursala went without scoring, but Hassan Nawaz and Rayner settled the innings in the early stages until the former went for 20. Ian Andrews (7) and Hollis (1) also went cheaply but Rayner took matters into his own hands punishing the loose ball to move Willoughby into a comfortable winning position. Fell came and went for 5 in the latter stages with his batting partner approaching three figures and it was a case of whether the hosts would reach their total first before Rayner reached three figures. In the end it was the latter as two boundaries (for a total of 14 along with three sixes) brought up the century and eased Willoughby to their target with over eight overs to spare.