Foxton Granta CC News story


HUNTER EFFORT FALLS SHORT

27 May 2013

TUCKER GARDNER PREMIER DIV. 1

Ramsey 174 (48 overs) Foxton 167-6 (48 overs)

Foxton missed out  winning at Ramsey on Saturday by the small margin of eight runs. Inviting their hosts to bat after calling correctly on a challenging looking surface their opening pace attack of Andrew Kealy and Chris Pepper made little impression against the brothers Michael and Simon Cafferkey. After 11 overs they had advanced comfortably to 48 when the former was unexpectedly caught by Cei Sanderson from Pepper's sixth over for 23. The introduction of Tyler Deas and Mark Ferrari for the visitors immediately put a break on the scoring rate, and two wickets for Deas along with one for Ferrari, trapping Simon Cafferkey caught behind by Gareth Roots for 29, began to even up matters. Good contributions from Luke Stewart and Rob Menary of 28 runs each then pushed Ramsey to 157-7 after 44 overs. Pepper now into his second spell picked up three more wickets to finish the top Foxton bowler with a return of 4-51. After losing their final wicket from the last ball of the innings Ramsey posted a respectable total of 174.
David Carlaw, an old adversary of Foxton's opened the hosts attack and struck with his fifth ball having Sanderson caught at slip. In his first eight overs Carlaw yielded just nine runs, all scored from his fourth over, The pressure this caused enabled his fellow bowlers to reap rewards at the other end capturing three more wickets including two for Mark Edwards. After 30 overs with the visitors hopes mainly riding on a solid looking Henry Hunter, now 45 not out, they stood on 81-4 with it all to do. After bowling 14 overs for just 14 runs Carlaw was then replaced in an effort by Ramsey to capture more urgently needed wickets. Foxton skipper Roots now joined Hunter and the introduction of spinner Menary, yielding 27 runs from his three overs, saw the match begin to tilt in Foxton's favour when they stood on 132-4 after 38 overs. The pendulum then swung back towards the Rams as Michael Cafferkey, in his third over, dismissed Hunter, who was attempting a powerful drive to the mid wicket boundary and looking set to steer his side to victory, a sharp chance very well taken by James Markland, for an impressive 79 from 97 balls, including nine fours. Four balls later Cafferkey bowled Roots for 17 and with an under strength side and a longish tail this was the signal for Foxton to shut up shop and play for a draw. Andrew Kealy and Tyler Deas then batted out the remaining ten overs, a late flourish by Kealy (33 not out) plundering 19 runs from the final over flattered Foxton who finally fell just eight runs short and returned home with 11 bonus points to show for their efforts.
Next week they entertain league leaders Wisbech and the 2nd XI visit Bassingbourn I.