Foxton Granta CC News story


WIN IN FINAL GAME

15 Sep 2013

TUCKER GARDNER PREMIER DIV. 1

Foxton 147 (48 overs) Sawston 119 (39.1 overs)

Foxton finished their season on a high note with a home win over local rivals Sawston by 28 runs in a low scoring match. Heavy overnight rain had produced a green damp wicket and it was the visitors on winning the toss who decided to bowl. The home sides openers Cei Sanderson (25) and Henry Hunter (17), who has taken his league runs this season to almost 900, looked untroubled against the pace of Marc Smith and Aaron Pledger and produced a solid stand of 39 although boundaries were at a premium on the slow outfield. The introduction of spinner Vaughan Blanchard after 12 overs immediately changed matters as he claimed three wickets in his first eight overs whilst conceding only nine runs, this together with one for Pledger had the hosts struggling after 26 overs on 61-4. A fifth wicket partnership of 29 from Chris Pepper and skipper Gareth Roots (17) and another of 24 by Pepper and 'keeper James Coe (10) edged Foxton towards a competitive total on the difficult surface as after 42 overs they had reached 114-6. Wickets continued to fall but Pepper had become the backbone of the Foxton effort and together with the tail enders another 33 runs were gleaned from the last six overs. The last wicket fell with the final ball of the allotted 48 overs but Foxton took tea fairly content with 147 on the board. Pepper with a cautious 32 n.o. from 79 balls would turn out to be the top score in the match. For Sawston Blanchard returned the impressive figures of 16-3-42-6 ably supported by Pledger with 14-2-36-3.
The Sawston reply followed a similar pattern to Foxton's and after 20 overs the scores were almost identical at 52-3. Paceman Jeffery Douglas had claimed opener Sam Powell (15) and visitors skipper Adam Ellis with Aussie Andrew Kealy bagging Luke Spears. Blanchard (22) batting at number three had looked settled until he fell to Tyler Deas in his second over, an important blow for the hosts. Useful contributions from Marc Pearson (10) and Ben Benson (18) kept the match in the balance and an eighth wicket stand of 24 from visitors 'keeper Matthew Ellis, batting in a positive fashion, and Pledger now had Sawston as favourites as after 36 overs they were 113-6. Kealy returned to the attack, and as has so often been the case this season proved more effective in his second spell, and with three wickets in five overs swung the match in favour of Foxton. Matthew Ellis (25) from 36 balls was last out as the visitors were dismissed for 119 from 39.1 overs. Kealy was again Foxton's top bowler with 4-38, and has taken his tally of league wickets to an impressive 70, well supported by Douglas 2-21 and Deas 2-19. Foxton finished the season three points behind Godmanchester in fourth position.
Congratulations to the Foxton 2nd XI who have gained promotion by winning Division 4 South.