Foxton 198 (47 overs) Castor 58 (18.4 overs)

Losing the toss for the fourth consecutive week Foxton found themselves being asked to bat first again in their home fixture against Castor. The wicket although slightly damp was easily the best they have encountered so far this season. The visitors opening attack was led by an old rival Kamrana Hamayun, and with an impressive opening burst he had them reeling early on, dismissing opener Sharne Grant, Lawrence Farnum, James Clarke and Adam Webster very cheaply in his first four overs and after seven the hosts were looking for relief at 24-4. Fortunately for them skipper and opener Gareth Roots was looking very solid and was then joined by Max Bowen at number six, and as last week he began to bat very responsibly, his first seven scoring shots being well struck fours. With a stand of 69 they greatly eased Foxton's predicament, but, when looking set he misjudged a turning ball from spinner Matt Williams and was bowled for a well played 29, Roots at this point was approaching fifty. Chris Pepper then joined his captain and at once looked extremely comfortable, five drives off the front foot for boundaries being particularly pleasing on the eye, upon matching Bowen's score of 29, he to was then bowled by Williams but, with Roots now on 86 their sixth wicket stand of 76 had by now steered Foxton into calmer waters at 169-6 after 40 overs. Opening bowler Kamayun then returned for his second spell and in his last three overs of the maximum 16 he mopped up the Foxton tail with a further three strikes. The only regret for the hosts was that Roots was left unbeaten on 96 (10 fours, one six) with one over of the innings remaining but thanks to his impressive, chanceless knock they posted 198 and considering their shaky start were more than satisfied. Williams completed his 16 overs bagging a creditable 2-46, but the star of the visitors bowling was Hamayun with 16-1-58-7.

After the tea break Andrew Kealy, opening the attack, continued his enviable habit of striking in his first over when he bowled visiting skipper Robin Vitas. Not to be denied his bowling partner Tyler Deas then weighed in with three victims in his first five deliveries, the second of which was a superb catch by Roots in the covers. Kealy, in his fourth over then bowled visitors 'keeper Jacob Miller and Castor were virtually out of the match on 11-5. A brief respite then ensued with a sixth wicket stand of 24 between number three Tariq Aziz and Kamayun, but the latter's dismissal for 12, l.b.w. to who else but Kealy signalled the end for the visitors. The Australian then completed a hat-trick in his seventh over and after 18.4 overs it was all over when they were all out for a lowly 58. Aziz with 25 not out was the only resistance Foxton met and alas for Castor only Hamayun and Aziz made double figures, six of their batsmen failing to trouble the scorers. Deas finished with 3-20 from six overs, but the top bowler was again Kealy with 9.4-4-17-7, and he now has 20 wickets in his last three matches. Foxton's maximum 25 points enabled them to retain top spot in the table.
 
Next week Foxton visit second placed Sawston and the 2nd XI entertain Sawston III's.

Barry McCulloch - 20/05/2012