Gloomy outcome from Saturday 1sts trip to Sun Hardingstone

A disappointing away trip for Willoughby saw them eventually fall to a two wicket defeat at Hardingstone in a game where an interesting pitch played a significant part in the day's proceedings.

The newly-promoted side hosts have worked their way through the divisions in recent years but the two sides missed out on the opportunity to play each other last term so this was always going to be an intriguing test for both, and so it proved.

Blazing sunshine and a very green pitch greeted both sides and it was perhaps no surprise that having lost the toss that Willoughby were asked to bat first on a track which was to vary with the ball slow to come through and popping up one minute to staying low the next.
Neverthless the visitors started reasonably well until the first wicket fell when Scott Cluely was unfortunate to see a well struck drive well caught inches from the turf.

This was to start a steady procession of wickets as fellow opener Anshul Satsangi then followed for 14 and the middle order came and went for single figures when preservation and patience were needed. Only Ashley Rayner in at three applied the necessary graft and diligence under the circumstances making a top score of 42 and with Callum Hanks (11), Jake Quinney (10 not out) and Nikesh Mistry (9 not out) adding runs in the bottom of the order Willoughby ended their 45 overs by mustering a total of 122 for 9. Ben Miller’s 3 for 14, Richard West taking 3 for 31 and Harry Rowe’s 2 for 8 all off 10 over spells reflective of the tight bowling and inconsistent pitch.

On paper a target well below par but by their own admission the host’s suggestion that anything into three figures would be interesting was not far off the mark as they too struggled when they came to bat. A fine opening burst from Dan Farrow saw the Hardingstone fall to 11 for 2 and 20 for 4 with the 18 year old taking all four wickets. Had a slip catch been taken shortly after to make it five down, then who knows what may have happened. As it was that reprieve saw Hardingstone stabilise and see off the initial storm as Alex Piper and then the partnership between Gavin Mobley (41) and Harry Middleton (29) took the game away from the visitors.

There was a potential late twist as Middleton’s departure with the scores level and eight wickets down. The host’s number 10 skied an opportunity for a catch which if taken would have given a shot at the last man and a tied match. However the relatively straight forward chance close into the wicket was grounded, the batsmen scampered a single and that opportunity and the game and points were gone.

Having only played two of their scheduled four games (two being hit by the weather), it leaves the Willoughby in seventh place in the table going into June with a bit of ground to make up and quickly on the early pace setters.

Next up for the Saturday 1st XI, a home meeting with S and L Corby on Saturday, 12:00 midday start.