Foxton Granta CC News story


COMFORTABLE SUCCESS AT CASTOR

21 Jul 2013

TUCKER GARDNER PREMIER DIV. 1

Castor & Ailsworth 66 (26.5 overs)  Foxton 187-9 (48 overs)

Winning ways continued for Foxton in their away fixture at Castor, after losing the toss and batting on a challenging under-prepared surface with an extremely slow outfield their openers Cei Sanderson and Henry Hunter gave them a solid start of 28 for the first wicket. The former, in the tenth over, was then l.b.w. for 14 from the bowling of D. Cotton. Hunter was joined by skipper Gareth Roots and an excellent stand of 84 set the visitors on course for a competitive total. Devon Endersby then bowled Roots for a well crafted 33, but Webster (25) was timing the ball sweetly, and along with Hunter, now past 50, they pushed the visitors, with a third wicket partnership of 35, to 147-2 after 39 overs. The hosts spinner Simon Steel then trapped Hunter (68) from 106 balls, l.b.w., another classy innings for a batsman in a rich vein of form, his knock was surely worth another 25-30 runs on a normal outfield, numerous drives pulling up agonisingly short of the rope. Andrew Kealy (14 not out) and Jeffery Douglas (12) with a sixth wicket stand of 28 advanced the Foxton effort to 181-6, but good tight death bowling from Steel (3-26) and Robert Woolley (3-51) restricted the total to 187-9 at tea, an above par score for this venue.
With the Castor side containing several players with pedigrees Foxton were expecting a stiff challenge. This threat never materialised as they were in immediate trouble from the swing and pace of Kealy and Douglas. Wickets fell at regular intervals, and only Endersby with 16 from 39 balls, the only player apart from extras to obtain double figures, offered any resistance. After just 26.6 overs the game was over with Castor sinking to a lowly 66 all out. Douglas returned 5-20 and Kealy 4-25 from 12 overs each with the final wicket falling to spinner Webster.
With the 2nd XI's game at home to Elsworth being conceded they maintain their position at the top of the table.
Next week the 1st XI visit Camden and the 2nd XI travel to second placed Camden III, whilst on Thursday evening the midweek XI will play Cockenach in the final of the Keatley Cup at Therfield.