Willoughby 2nds Vs Bugbrooke

It was a scorcher of a day down at The Green for the visit of Bugrooke 3rds. The 2nds were out to avenge the loss in back in June, you never know what you will get with Bugbrooke, they either seem to hammer a team, or get slaughtered themselves. They turned up with a much youthful team than in previous occasions so this was going to be a close game. It wasn't helped with another away game for the 1sts where availability was poor for them so Rees Moor and Matt Sutton were called up late to bolster their batting line up!?

Without any of the normal front line bowlers apart from Fergus it was excellent news that skipper James Culverhouse lost the toss and were asked to field in the blistering heat. Things got off to a terrible start as we were 46 for 4, Sean Thornton giving himself 4 balls before launching the ball into the Palmer estate which was 1 of 2 huge sixes. He perished for 26. It was up to youth and experience to guide the team in a excellent 127 run partnership between Aiden Porter (83) and Martin Nichols (44) Martin falling 6 short of a half century in the 36th over. Aiden departing in the 28th over. The score 198 for 6 off the allotted 40 overs.

Bugbrooke looked sharp in the field and had the batting to chase this total down on a very fast outfield and good batting surface. Bugrooke accumulated runs consistently as Yash Sanghani tucked into the top order with 2 quick wickets. The dangerman from June Harding was the key wicket with Escudier providing an anchor role at the top of the order. It was Martin Nichols who provided the breakthrough dismissing Harding for 16, which was 1 of 2 wickets to swing the result in our favour at 64 for 4 at 17 overs. Aiden Porter was handed the ball and ripped through the middle order with excellent figures of 3 for 8 off 5 overs to all but seal the victory for Willoughby as Bugrooke were eventually bowled out for 104 off 28.2 overs. Yash 3 - 26, Martin 3 - 29, Aiden 3 - 8.

With another home fixture against Great Oakley and a loss for Northampton Saints this puts Willoughby into 3rd and on course for promotion.