Foxton Granta CC News story


WARESLEY BLOWN AWAY

09 Jun 2013

TUCKER GARDNER PREMIER DIV. 1

Foxton 230-5 (48 overs)  Waresley 54 (20.3 overs)

With a cool north easterly drying wind continuing to blow for the last fortnight together with constant sunshine resulting in a dry flattish wicket with a fast outfield Foxton were surprised upon losing the toss to be invited to bat in their home game against newly promoted Waresley. The hosts openers Cei Sanderson and Henry Hunter took full advantage of this opportunity, in particular both being very strong in their driving downfield. By the drinks break at 24 overs they had advanced the Foxton total to 112, looking mainly untroubled against the Waresley attack of Baqar Ali, Terry Hayden and the spin of Nigel Buckingham-Jones. The runs continued to flow upon resumption at almost five an over, and with the score on 198 from 40 overs it was a surprise when Sanderson, having reached a superb century from 124 balls, with 17 fours was bowled by Ali returning for a third spell. He struck again with his next delivery trapping Andrew Kealy, pushed up the order in an effort to accelerate the run rate, leg before. Hunter was now in attacking mode, but unfortunately when on 96 from 125 balls with 14 fours, another outstanding innings, he was also bowled by Ali. Credit to the Waresley bowlers who restricted Foxton to 28 from the last eight overs, and at tea they posted a useful 230-5. Ali finished with 3-53 and Buckingham-Jones 2-61.  Foxton owed much to their openers Sanderson and Hunter who are both in fine touch in the early part of the season.
Any hopes the visitors had of chasing down the target were rapidly diminished by Kealy's opening three overs from the church end, as he bowled both openers Simon and Ian Donald and trapped Robert Craze l.b.w. to leave Waresley reeling on 5-3. The Aussie paceman was extracting substantial late swing from the conditions and continued in irrepressible vein bagging five more wickets in his next six overs to leave Waresley down and almost out on 36-8 after 17 overs. Number four Dominic Farr with 14 from 34 balls showed lone resistance and was eighth man out. The main interest was now centred on observing if Kealy could run through the card, but this was not to be as Tom Sherwin, supporting Kealy from the other end had Buckingham-Jones caught behind, chasing a wide ball by Foxton skipper Gareth Roots. Not to be denied Kealy then wrapped up proceedings with his fifth l.b.w. victim of the match and finished with the unbelievable return of 10.3-5-17-9. Ali (13 n.o.) was only the second  Waresley batsman to obtain double figures. For Foxton it would have been an unenviable choice to elect a man-of-the-match. The maximum 25 points gained pushed Foxton into the top half of the table.
The second XI moved into second place with a comfortable seven wicket win against Milton.
Next week the 1st XI visit St.Ives whilst the 2nd's entertain Steeple Morden. On Sunday Foxton travel to Fordham in the area final of The Cricketer Village Cup.