2026 Season Review 🦊
Another memorable summer has come to an end for Foxton Granta Cricket Club, with two league titles, some outstanding individual performances and another season of progress across the club.
It all started well before the league season, with 16 Foxes heading to Spain in April for the club’s first overseas tour since merger. The La Manga T20 Classic provided some good cricket against sides from England, Ireland and Spain, alongside a healthy amount of padel and everything else that comes with a cricket tour. Most importantly, it was a brilliant few days away and hopefully the first of many Foxes tours.
There were also two new Australian faces at The Rec for the summer. Jonty Webb joined from Northern Districts in Sydney as a left-arm spinner and middle-order batter, while Spencer Hawkins arrived from Murrumbeena in Melbourne, continuing the club’s long-standing connection with the Victorian club. Both quickly became popular members of the club and made important contributions across the season.
#1STXI - Onyx Division 1 Champions 🏆
After the highs of back-to-back National Village Cup wins at Lord's in 2024 and 2025, a big aim for the 1st XI was to improve on the previous season’s league campaign. A ninth-place finish in 2025 had required a play-off victory to preserve Division 1 status.
The season could hardly have started better. Richard Kaufman struck 129 on the opening weekend at Histon as the Foxes recorded a huge 175-run victory.
A difficult weekend at Eaton Socon followed, however, and brought an early end to hopes of an unprecedented Village Cup ‘threepeat’. After being blown away by the Socon overseas and dismissed for 94 in the league on Saturday, the Foxes returned the following day for the Village Cup. Sam Beer took 4/30 and Johnny Atkinson made 82 in reply, but Eaton Socon held on for a 19-run victory.
It ended a remarkable run of 15 consecutive Village Cup victories, two Lord’s finals and two trophies.
The disappointment proved to be something of a turning point. With the focus firmly back on the league, the 1st XI began to build momentum and emerged as the team to beat in Division 1.
Runs came consistently from the top order. Adam Webster led the season aggregates with 924 runs at 51.33, including six fifties and two hundreds. Johnny Atkinson scored 632 runs at 70.22, with seven not-outs from his 16 innings, while Kaufman contributed 557 at 46.42, from only 13 games. Between them, the trio scored 2,113 runs and five centuries.
There were some memorable individual performances along the way. Kaufman followed his opening-day 129 with 123 against Newmarket, while Webster made 103 against Histon before 123 against Newmarket. Atkinson added an unbeaten 109 against Southill Park, in a remarkable week where he scored three unbeaten centuries (two for the MCC) in the space of 5 days!
But arguably the defining feature of the 1st XI season was with the ball.
Jonty Webb produced an exceptional first summer for the club, finishing with 50 league wickets at just 11.32, conceding only 3.04 runs per over. His best of 6/45 came in the important victory at Wisbech. Captain Lewys Hill was not far behind with 42 wickets at 15.26, including three five-wicket hauls, while Sam Beer added another 30 wickets at 20.87.
The spin partnership of Webb and Hill produced perhaps its finest performance at Saffron Walden. Defending just 112, largely thanks to a gritty innings from Ash Clark, the pair bowled unchanged to dismiss the hosts for 61, Hill taking 5/28 and Webb 5/33.
By August, the Foxes had established a commanding lead at the top of the table. The title was secured with two games to spare, completing a remarkable turnaround from fighting to retain Division 1 status less than 12 months earlier.
#2NDXI - Onyx Division 3
The 2nd XI had a more challenging campaign in Division 3, with availability, especially at the start of the season, making consistency difficult at times.
There were some frustratingly close defeats along the way, but the side continued to battle throughout the summer and ultimately secured a 6th place finish and Division 3 status for another season.
The individual performances perhaps tell a more positive story than the league position.
Evergreen skipper, Jason Coleman led the run scoring with 307 runs at 43.86, including a top score of 92, while youngster Ferdie Piper was close behind with 291 runs at 32.33, narrowly missing a maiden century when dismissed for 99. Spencer Hawkins contributed 207 runs, while Jack Carnegie made a significant impact in his four appearances, scoring 201 runs at 50.25, including 114 against March Town.
With the ball, Hamza Rashid enjoyed a stand-out season, taking 32 wickets at 13.59, including 5/20 against LGR, finishing joint top of the league bowling charts. Coleman completed a fine all-round campaign with 21 wickets at just 12.00, while Hawkins took 18 wickets during his first season with the Foxes.
Most importantly, the team continued to provide a pathway into 1st team cricket. Cillian Harrison, Jack Carnegie, Tom Lance, Ferdie and Alfie Piper were among the younger players to feature, with several also stepping up and making strong contributions in the 1st XI during the summer.
It may not have produced silverware but maintaining Division 3 status, in a competitive league, while continuing to introduce young players into senior cricket represented another important season for the side.
#3RDXI - Junior 3 South League Champions 🏆
If the 1st XI title represented a return to the top of local cricket, the 3rd XI’s success was perhaps an equally encouraging sign of the club’s strength further down the pyramid.
The 3s put together an excellent campaign and secured their league title with a game to spare.
Nigel Gadsby led the way with an outstanding 451 runs at 75.17, including four half-centuries, while also finishing as the side’s leading wicket-taker with 14. Jake Boyle scored 288 runs at 48.00, Arahan Chattopadhyay made 238 at 47.60 and Chris Jones averaged more than 50.
The depth of the batting was particularly impressive. Jones and Boyle both made centuries, while Harry Gadsby averaged 88 and David Shaw 83 in their appearances.
There were some exceptional bowling performances too. The youngsters led the way, Seb Taylor took 13 wickets at 18.54, Alex Saunders claimed 11 and Evan Morgan 10. Josh Saunders recorded 5/20 away at Royston, but the most remarkable figures of the club's entire season belonged to the experienced Asama Weerasekara: 7/5 in eight overs against Linton, including five maidens.
The title-clinching victory against Thriplow summed up the season nicely. Batting first, the Foxes piled up 286/4, led by Ajaz Akhtar's 81, Nigel Gadsby's 52 and Shaw's 54, before the bowlers completed the job.
It was a fitting reward for a side that had been consistently strong throughout the summer and to finish the summer as league champions was a fantastic achievement.
With three Saturday XIs, having a competitive and successful 3rd XI remains hugely important in giving players of different ages and abilities meaningful cricket.
Midweek XI
The Midweek XI once again provided a slightly more relaxed version of Foxes cricket.
Harry Hopwood and Sam Beer took over the leadership of the side for 2026, with the team again competing in Division 1.
Results were mixed against some strong opposition, but the purpose of the side remained unchanged: giving players additional cricket, providing opportunities for younger members and ensuring there was still somewhere to play on a Wednesday evening for those who hadn't had enough at the weekend.
There were some standout performances too, including another remarkable spell from Asama Weerasekara, who took 5/26 against Cambridge Kerala to go alongside his seven-wicket haul for the 3rd XI. Harry Hopwood led the way with the bat, scoring 225 runs at an average of 112.50, including a best of 83.
As ever, there were plenty of entertaining evenings along the way, including several well attended Tiffin Truck curry nights. A big thanks to Harry and Sam for their hard work running the midweek team this season!
Junior Foxes
Away from the senior results, the continued development of the junior section has again been one of the most important parts of the season. This is largely thanks to the continued efforts of Head Coach, Jason Coleman, who continues to drive the programme forward each year. Jason was well supported by his assistant coaches, Rusil, Asama, Spencer and Jonty, alongside Clara who oversaw the administration.
The Junior Foxes continue with the emphasis on creating a fun and welcoming introduction to cricket for local boys and girls. It was particularly encouraging to see our U10 (softball) and U11 (hardball) teams chalking up some excellent wins over the course of the season and signs are encouraging as we move towards the 2027 season.
If you are interested in supporting the Junior Foxes next season, please get in contact with a member of the committee.
More than the results
There have been plenty of other milestones along the way.
In June, Lewys Hill became the first player to reach 100 competitive 1st XI appearances for Foxton Granta since the merger, to go along with his 200+ wickets - fitting recognition for someone who has played such a significant role in the club’s recent success. During the season, Atkinson, Hopwood and Webster also reached the 100-game milestone.
August also brought another special day at The Rec with the Alan Hobbs Memorial 7-a-side competition. Six teams came together for a brilliant day of cricket in memory of former Club President and Cambridge Granta legend Alan Hobbs, with Team Atko eventually defeating The Perse in a closely contested final. Thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success.
And, as always, none of the cricket happens without the people preparing the recreation ground, running teams, scoring, umpiring, coaching, opening the pavilion, organising events and doing the countless other jobs that keep the club moving.
2026 - by the numbers
Across the senior sides there were some outstanding individual achievements:
- Two league titles for the 1st and 3rd XIs
- 8 centuries, including two each for Richard Kaufman and Adam Webster
- 918 1st XI league runs for Webster, the leading Div1 run scorer
- 70.22 1st XI batting average for Johnny Atkinson across the league and cup
- 50 league wickets at 11.32 for Jonty Webb, the leading Div1 wicket-taker
- 42 league wickets and 3 five-wicket hauls for Lewys Hill
- 32 2nd XI wickets at 13.59 for Hamza Rashid, the joint leading Div3 wicket-taker
- 451 3rd XI runs at 75.17 for Nigel Gadsby
- 7/5 for Asama Weerasekara, the best bowling figures of the season
2026 ✅
Twelve months ago, the 1st XI were celebrating a second consecutive Village Cup at Lord’s but had a difficult league campaign.
This year brought a very different story as the ‘threepeat’ dream disappeared earlier than anyone hoped, but what followed demonstrated the strength and depth that has developed at the club.
The 1st XI responded by becoming Onyx Division 1 champions, with two games to spare.
The 3rd XI won their league, backed by an experienced group and an increasingly important crop of younger players.
The 2nd XI retained their place in Premier Division 3, while continuing to provide the pathway to 1st team cricket.
Away from the league tables, young players continued to progress, the junior section continued to develop, and an overseas tour, club events and individual milestones made it a season about far more than just results on the pitch.
From Spain in April to two league trophies by the end of August, it's been another season with plenty to remember.
A huge thank you to all our players, captains, coaches, committee members, ground staff, sponsors, Vice-Presidents, supporters and volunteers for everything you have contributed throughout the summer.
🦊 | #Foxes