2nds seal promotion with comfortable success over Weldon

Northamptonshire Cricket League Division 13
Willoughby IIs v Weldon IIIs

Willoughby 172 for 9
Weldon IIIs 57 all out

Willoughby II won by 115 runs

Willoughby’s Saturday second XI made sure of securing promotion from Division 13 at the first time of asking with a comfortable 115 run victory over visitors Weldon.

The hosts lost the toss and having been asked to bat saw Matt Goss depart inside only the second over. However fellow opener Ian Andrews remained stabilised things with first James Goodwin (18) and then Derek Middlemiss (20) as Willoughby made cautious if not spectacular progress. Andrews was run out for a top score of 39 which then saw skipper Badj Rahman make a quick-fire 25. Some late hitting down the order saw the total push on to the extent Willoughby closed on a decent 172 for 9 Joey Harris took 3 for 30 for the visitors.

That total was put into context with Weldon’s reply which was on the back-foot from the beginning as the pace duo of Archie McMillan (1 for 6) and Jake Quinney (1 for 10) proved too hot to handle. Having caused all sorts of problems and softening up the visitor’s openers. they both took a deserved wicket in successive overs with the score at 19 to begin the downfall that followed.

Fergus Deery and Karl Quinney came on to replace the youngsters after their mandatory six overs limit spells and they proceeded to rattle through the remaining Weldon batting line-up. Deery took 3 for 11 but it was Quinney who took the honours with the ball finishing with figures of 5 wickets for 16; the last of which came with the score at 57.

Victory secures promotion for Willoughby’s seconds in their first season, which can be capped off by divisional champions if they prevail in this Saturday’s final outing of the campaign at Stony Stratford IVs.