Willoughby VS Stoneleigh CC

On an unusually sunny and warm April day we welcomed our friends from Stoneleigh CC. Willoughby’s development team captain Ashley Rayner won the toss and elected to bat first .

A steady opening partnership from Martin Nicholls (25) and Matt Cartridge (18) put on 50 runs before losing the first wicket . Willoughby’s youngsters Ambrose Deery (20) and James Andrews kept the scoreboard ticking before an explosion of runs in the last 10 overs from the ‘old timers’ of Mark Fell and Ashley Rayner (44 not out) took the score to a very respectful 184.

Callum Hanks (2 for 23) and Mark Fell (1 for 14) kept the Stoneleigh openers quiet before wickets steadily tumbled . Nikesh ‘Wilma’ Mistry (4 for 19) and the youngster Aiden ‘Reg’ Porter (2 for 26) took out the middle order before groundsman Fergus Deery ( 6 overs for 4 runs) kept it very tight alongside Justin Hanks (5 overs for 10 runs). The return of Callum Hanks and Aiden Porter finished off the Stoneleigh lower order for a total of 101 runs.

A lovely day was had by all and the Willoughby youngsters continued their successful development in adult cricket .