Foxton Granta CC News story


DRAW WITH LEAGUE LEADERS

03 Jun 2013

TUCKER GARDNER PREMIER DIV. 1

Wisbech 160-9 (48 overs)  Foxton 151-9 (48 overs)

For the second successive week Foxton were involved in an exciting drawn game this time at home to league leaders Wisbech. After winning the toss skipper Gareth Roots invited the visitors to bat on a green softish wicket with a slow outfield. Runs were at a premium for the Wisbech openers Sam Albutt (14) and Alan Burton (13) and at drinks after 24 overs the total stood at 47-3. For Foxton Tyler Deas had removed both of these and was well backed up by Andrew Kealy, who had conceded just seven runs from his opening spell of eight overs. A best of the innings fourth wicket stand of 46 by Gary (20) and Simon Freear (32) improved matters for the league leaders, but both were then bowled by 16-year-old Chris Pepper. The youngster then bagged two more scalps in his sixth over to post a final return of 4-12 from seven overs. A late flourish from James Williams (28) from 28 balls then pushed Wisbech to a final competitive total considering the conditions of 160-9 from their allotted 48 overs.
The Foxton reply took a similar path to the Wisbech effort and after 14 overs with the fall of Henry Hunter, bowled by Jack Hastings, the total was on 27-1. Kealy was then pushed up the order in an effort to increase the run rate, but with the total on 50 he was bowled by the recently introduced Williams. The visitors paceman then removed Roots in a similar fashion four balls later and in his fifth over repeated the feat  trapping Pepper, and the match was very much in the balance after 25 overs with the hosts total on 76-4. Cei Sanderson in this time had looked very solid, being on 34 at the fall of the fourth wicket, and was becoming the backbone of the hosts effort. He was then assisted by Max Bowen and Tom Sherwin in stands of 20 and 30 for the sixth and seventh wickets, but with just 24 needed from the last five overs Foxton's hopes began to fade as he was unfortunately caught behind by Josh Bowers from the bowling of Williams for a best of the match 79 from 140 balls with 11 fours, a fine watchmanlike innings. Off spinner Craig Johnson with eight wickets down was chosen to bowl the final over and struck with his second ball trapping Deas leg before, but Sherwin surrounded by close fielders safely negotiated the remaining balls to secure a hard fought draw with Foxton just 10 runs short of the win. Williams was the top visitors bowler with 4-45 from 16 overs.
Foxton 2nd XI beat Bassingbourn by four wickets to move up to third in the table.
Next week Foxton I entertain Waresley whilst the 2nd's visit Milton III.