| Maidwell (144 for 4) |
Wellingborough (152 for 4) by 8 runs |
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Wellingborough deserved the win because they were stronger in all departments but they were pushed all the way by a plucky young Maidwell side for whom there were plenty of positives.
Our visitors won the toss and batted. They had some powerful hitters and it was hard work in the field. Our bowlers stuck to their task, Guy Seddon taking two wickets and Lochie Payne two great catches but we would later rue too many byes and misfields.
Chasing 153 to win off 25 overs was a tall order but the fact that we came so close illustrated the attitude and commitment of the team. Wellingborough’s opening bowlers kept it tight which meant we were always behind the run rate. Guy batted very well for his 41, supported by Lochie (15) but by now we needed over ten an over. Max Weatherby hit a quickfire 14 and Alexander Webb an even more rapid 19. Suddenly our opponents were a little rattled, conceding byes and overthrows. Needing 24 off the last two overs, Alex and Harry McGrath managed 15 of them. It was a valiant effort.
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| Maidwell (107 for 7) won by 3 wickets |
Spratton (106 all out) |
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This was a real nail-biter, a thrilling spectacle, played in a good spirit from which Maidwell thankfully emerged the victors with a single off the last ball of the match.
Spratton were asked to bat first and things were looking bleak for them at 37 for 6, captain Rufus Hall having brilliantly run out their captain to spark a mini-collapse. One expensive over, however, was the catalyst for a lower-order revival and the next two partnerships added 60. Our bowling and fielding were an improvement on Wednesday. George Pease was the pick with 4 for 11 and Max Weatherby only conceded 8 runs off his 5 overs.
On a damp outfield runs looked hard to come by and we knew that a target of 107 off 25 overs would be no easy task. Rufus and my man-of-the match Joseph Ayoub, who also kept wicket beautifully, put on 50 for the second wicket, while the run-rate hovered around the 5-an-over mark. After Joseph had departed for an excellent 42, the game ebbed and flowed, a wicket here, a couple of boundaries there. Maidwell required 14 off the last 2 overs, then 7 off 1. Hugh Buxton hit a boundary off the first ball but William Holborow was run out off the third - 3 needed off 2! In came Charles Granby who bravely cantered down the pitch to heave his first ball for a couple and tie the scores. He repeated the feat moments later much to the delight of the home support.
What pleased me most was that every single boy can rightly say that he did something during the match which contributed to the win.
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| Maidwell (188 for 7) won by 117 runs |
Oundle (71 all out) |
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After all the drama of Saturday’s victory over Spratton it was quite nice to win this one more comfortably.
Batting first there were ‘starts’ for Lochie Payne (20) and Alex Palmer (27) as we rattled along at 6 an over. The top 4 should all feel a little disappointed however, with both the careless manner of their dismissals and the opportunity of a big score missed. It was left to Max Weatherby and Alex Webb to bring some stability to the middle of the innings with a much-needed 84-run partnership. Max hit 50 which included 7 boundaries while Alex (41) fell just short of his half-century, run out in the quest for quick runs.
Only two Oundle batsmen reached double figures as wickets fell at regular intervals. Harry McGrath took 3 for 7, spinner Hugh Buxton 4 for 14 and Sam Boscawen 2 for 8. Keeper Joseph Ayoub took a smart catch behind and two stumpings. Five other catches were snared and we will need to field this well against stronger teams.
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| Maidwell (194 for 3) Won by 108 runs |
Stoneygate (86 all out) |
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This was a third win on the trot, with the weather posing more of a threat to our chances than the opposition.
Batting first and despite the rain interruptions, we got off to a flying start. Rufus Hall (40) and Lochie Payne (17) put on 74 for the first wicket in just 9 overs. Birthday boy Joseph Ayoub’s good form continued with a rapid 60 not out which included ten boundaries. Harry McGrath chipped in with an unbeaten 36 to help us very close to the 200 mark off 20 overs.
Stoneygate were soon 10 for 4 and out of the game. Eight different bowlers were used, with the wickets shared round. Harry McGrath produced best figures of 3 for 4. Some mid-innings defiance apart, it was only a matter of time before we dismissed our visitors, over 100 short of their target.
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| Maidwell (119 for 3) won by 7 wickets |
Great Houghton (116 for 8) |
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This was a bit of a mixed bag of a performance but it was good enough to see us comfortably home for a fourth win on the bounce.
We bowled first and got off to a good start, reducing our hosts to 9 for 2 in 3 overs. Both wickets fell to Max Weatherby, one thanks to a fine tumbling catch by fellow opening bowler Harry McGrath. Unfortunately, Harry injured himself in the process and was unable to bowl thereafter. Great Houghton’s Nos. 3 and 4 took advantage, batting very well to put on a fine 50-run partnership, although we were disappointed with the inconsistency of our bowling in that period and particularly with the number of extras conceded. The adage ‘one wicket brings another’ held true though, and once George Pease had yorked No. 3, 59 for 2 soon became 89 for 8. Lochie Payne took a great catch to dismiss the other dangerman but our inconsistencies returned to allow two tail-enders to put on 27 more unnecessary runs. Max, Hugh Buxton and William Holborow all took two wickets.
Our run-chase was beautifully paced, the tone for the innings set by openers Rufus Hall (28) and man-of-the-match Lochie, who put on 63 for the first wicket without really breaking sweat. Rufus was given out LBW to a pea-roller but Joseph Ayoub (12) came in next to keep the momentum going. Lochie was unluckily run out for 40 but by then we were well ahead of the asking rate and it was left to Max (14*) to hit the winning runs with 3 overs to spare.
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| Maidwell (77 all out) lost by 45 runs |
Winchester House (122 for 7) |
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After three comfortable wins on the bounce we were looking forward to the visit of a strong Winchester House side as a test of how far we have come as a team this season. In terms of bowling and fielding, we passed the test. The batting, however, was a failure.
I was particularly pleased with our bowling performance, arguably our best of the summer so far. Our work in the nets the previous day on bowling a good length certainly paid off and we were pleased to restrict a good batting line-up to 122 off 25 overs. Sam Boscawen took 3 for 15 and Hugh Buxton 2 for 15. Our fielding was also pretty good in the main and Alex Palmer took two good catches.
Having nearly chased 150 to win on the same pitch against a comparable side in Wellingborough, we felt that if we batted in sensible fashion, we could do it this time. Unfortunately, our batters forgot the ‘sensible’ bit. As well as Winchester bowled, we gifted them wickets with some very poor shot selection. Too many batsmen were either bowled trying to whack full, straight deliveries or caught, spooning up dollies in front of the wicket. Only Joseph Ayoub offered any real resistance with a gutsy 26. It was shame because the required run rate never climbed above 6 an over so it was not as if we needed to take risks. The important thing now is that we learn from it.
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| Maidwell (178 for 8) won by 133 runs |
Beachborough (45 all out) |
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I was looking for a vast improvement in the batting after the disappointment of Winchester a week ago and was not disappointed. Captain Rufus Hall and Lochie Payne (13) put on 36 for the opening stand, at a run a ball. Alexander Palmer (42) came in next and soon got in on the action, hitting seven fours. He and Rufus added a blistering 73 in 5 overs. Rufus departed the very next ball after completing his half-century, but we had wickets in hand with which to attack in the latter stages of the innings. Although wickets tumbled, Harry McGrath helped the tail to wag with a well-judged 29.We gave our regular bowlers a rest and a chance for others to gain match experience. Wickets were shared out but Hugh Buxton took best figures of 3 for 8. A pleasing all-round performance was completed by some good fielding, the two Alexanders, Palmer and Webb, vying for catch of the season with their respective full-length dives.
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