Foxton Granta CC News story


ROOTS STARS WITH BAT AND BALL

02 Sep 2013

TUCKER GARDNER PREMIER DIV. 1

Foxton 244-4 dec. (42 overs)  St. Ives 196 (50.1 overs)

A superb performance from Foxton skipper Gareth Roots with bat and ball was a main factor in the defeat of relegation threatened St. Ives by 48 runs in the penultimate home fixture this season. Winning the toss and deciding to bat they lost opener Henry Hunter cheaply with the total on 26, but good supporting knocks from Cei Sanderson (20) and Chris Pepper (8) together with Roots, who looked in excellent touch from the start, enabled them to reach 109-3 at the drinks break after 24 overs. A third wicket stand of 101 at nearly seven an over from Adam Webster (35) and Roots saw Foxton aiming at a declaration, and an unbroken partnership of 51 between James Coe (19 n.o.) and Roots enabled them to close the innings after 42 overs on 244-4. The latters unbeaten innings of 152 from 134 balls included sixteen fours and four sixes, an outstanding effort. The St. Ives bowlers toiled hard all afternoon but were not helped by some missed catches and untidy fielding, visitors skipper Bevis Moynan was very economical with 14-2-36-1 with two wickets for Oliver King.
The St. Ives reply opened cautiously with their more experienced batsmen occupying the middle order positions. After 24 overs the total stood on 58-4, the main feature being a watchful 15 from 63 balls by 14-year-old Tom McCarthy. For the home side swing bowler Andrew Kealy and spinner Webster had claimed two each of the four wickets to fall at this point.  Matthew Durrant batting at number five immediately increased the run rate with 22 from 23 balls but was then unexpectedly bowled round his legs by the newly introduced Tyler Deas with his fourth ball. In his third over he struck again claiming the important wicket of Paul Swannel (16), a sharp stumping by 'keeper Coe. With the St. Ives total after 28 overs on 77-6 Foxton were now scenting victory, but Moynan was then joined by Richard Greiller and together began to turn the tables with a seventh wicket stand of 98 at over a run a ball. With the match now in the balance and the visitors requiring 70 from 10 overs with four wickets remaining and the home side looking unlikely to take another wicket after several bowling changes Roots decided to turn his arm over. This paid immediate dividends as in his second over he trapped the dangerous looking Greiller (38) from 50 balls l.b.w. and followed up the feat two balls later claiming King. Moynan in partnership with Kevin Sequenza (17 n.o.) continued his forceful innings but when on 49 from 61 balls he was caught in the deep by a good running catch from Mark Ferrari, a third scalp for part-time slow bowler Roots. It was left to Kealy to wrap up matters as he yorked Johnathan Perring first ball and Foxton were home after some anxious periods by 48 runs with four overs to spare. Kealy with 3-43, Deas 2-34 and Webster 2-23 were the successful home side bowlers, but it was Roots with 152 n.o. and 3-25 who claimed the man-of-the-match honours.
Next week the 1st XI still pushing for a top three league spot travel to March whilst the II's having won their division entertain Sawston IV in the seasons final game.
     















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