TUCKER PREMIER DIV. 1

Foxton 1st XI 273-5 dec. (37 overs) Sawston 1st XI 190 (39.4 overs)

Foxton recorded their fifth successive Tucker League win this time at home to Sawston. Winning the toss and electing to bat first on a firm flat track their openers Antonnel Atwell and Cei Sanderson made a brisk start putting on 36 in six overs before the latter was unfortunately run out for 14. Home skipper Lawrence Farnum soon departed cheaply whilst the in form Atwell had made 41 of the 68-2 total. Peter Moor joined the opener and in an hour they notched the best stand of the game with 117 from only 16 overs. Atwell was then caught attempting another boundary for a well played 76 which included ten fours and a six. At this point Moor was 72 not out with the score on 185-3 and Foxton were looking to make a declaration. Jeffery Douglas (24), Adam Webster (17) and Adrian Cambridge making a rare first team appearance with 11 not out aided Moor who was composing his best innings of the season and after 37 overs he was 105 not out (nine fours, seven sixes) enabling Foxton to declare at 273-5 giving them a bonus of 11 extra overs to bowl out Sawston. The visitors bowlers toiled hard all afternoon and Sam Rippington, Marc Smith and Vaughan Blanchard were rewarded with a wicket apiece.

Sawston began the chase requiring 4.6 runs an over to see them home, but they suffered an early setback losing Wesley Potschul l.b.w. to spinner Tom Stone. Liam Flynn was then joined by Blanchard and the former's first eight scoring shots were all fours before he was well caught by Sanderson for 38 leaving Sawston at 41-2. Useful contributions from Marc Pearson (22) and Ben Benson (27) along with the not out Blanchard had the visitors on 132-4 from 27 overs needing just under 4.5 an over to reach the winning line. Their chances then began to fade as wickets began to tumble to home bowlers Stone, Douglas and Atwell, aided by excellent fielding and catching, and when Blanchard departed for 55 (10 fours) leaving them on 166-6 their hopes had virtually disappeared. It was left to Stone to mop up the tail with three quick strikes giving him a seasons best return of 11.3-3-44-5 with a couple each for Douglas and Atwell enabling Foxton to coast home by 83 runs.

The 2nd XI had a narrow one wicket win away to Sawston III and are now third in their league just three points outside a promotion place.

Next week the 1st XI entertain Ramsey I whilst the 2nd XI visit Chippenham.

Barry McCulloch - 03/07/2011