Youth and experience of Sunday XI triumph at Napton

On a lovely sunny afternoon, Napton won the toss and decided to bat with their senior team against the development side of Willoughby. Their innings started well with a 50 partnership from the unlucky bowling of Michael Deery and Rees Moor, who both were beating the bat on a number of occasions. A bowling change then forced the first wicket with Mark Fell bowling and the catch taken by 2018 fielder of the year Hassan Nawaz. At the other end senior Deery, Fergus, then started taking wickets with 2 in one over. At this stage Lord Ashley Rayner brought on the 2 most juniors in the side and both of them were rewarded with wickets. Ambrose Deery taking his first and second senior wickets with an excellent spell, one being caught by Rayner and the other being bowled, and at the other end Aiden “Reg” Porter also bowling one out. Fell and Fergus then returned and took 3 further wickets between them, with the home side making a very competitive 155-9. The Deery family bowling all 20 overs between them from one end with Fergus ending up taking 4-21, Ambrose 2-20, Fell 2-25 and Porter 1-21.

In reply Willoughby got off to a steady start until Sam Middlemiss very unfortunately played on to his own wicket. Jimmy Andrews was looking in good touch until he was bowled and Hassan Nawaz was then caught the next over. This brought Reg Porter to the crease who was spectacularly caught out in the covers which then meant Ashley Rayner joined Riggs Perry in the middle. Perry was next to go, being caught behind leaving the game in the balance at 71-5 off 24 overs, with Willoughby needing a further 85 to win from 16 overs. Mark Fell came out to bat with Rayner and the two started making inroads into the total. Both batsmen were putting the bad ball away with Rayner hitting 5 sixes and 5 fours, and Fell hitting 3 sixes meaning the winning score was in sight. With an unbeaten 85 partnership Rayner (72 not out) and Fell (33 not out) steered Willoughby to victory with 6 overs remaining. Development cricket was the winner!