Horspath too strong as home record falls
Cherwell Cricket League round-up
Bletchley'S bad run of form has now cost them their unbeaten home record as Horspath left Manor Fields with a win on Saturday.
A devastating spell of bowling from Horspath seamer Lee Mason proved the difference as he claimed 7-29 to set up an easy victory for the visitors.
Bletchley lost the toss for the fourth week in succession, and this proved to be crucial as the home side struggled to cope with the bounce of Mason on a more than lively pitch.
And they didn't help themselves as opener James Sprittles failed to respond to Alex Kilbey's call for a single and was run out for two.
Worse was to follow when Kenny Hollis was trapped in front for a duck. Kilbey then followed as he fended a shorter ball from Mason to slip for nine, leaving Bletchley 15-3.
Despite losing Ghufran Mohammed to another wicked delivery, Ed Packard (23) and Ian Smith (14) set about rebuilding the innings, until Packard went for one shot too many and perished to a catch in the covers.
When Smith and Mark Grass departed in quick succession, Bletchley were in all sorts of trouble at 54-7. Then both Clark and Ramandanpulle fell to Mason soon after and the home side were 68-9.
But the highest stand of their innings followed between James Ward (19 not out) and captain Mark Roberts. However, they could only get to 95 when Roberts was harshly adjudged lbw and Bletchley didn't claim any batting points.
A quick rain shower in the interval dampened the track down and Bletchley knew they would have to bowl well to get close to forcing a positive result from the game.
But Horspath's openers had other ideas as Chris Penner (50 not out) and Robbie Eason took the attack to Bletchley's new ball duo of Mohammed and Sprittles.
With the home side struggling to make any impact, Packard eventually made the breakthrough when he had Eason snared by Clark at slip.
But the visitors gave no let up in their sconing and cantered to victory in the 22nd over at 96-1 to win by nine wickets and lift them to fourth in the table.
The defeat means Bletchley remain in eighth place with just one win to show for their efforts so far.
Next week they take on an improving Banbury side, who are struggling at the lower end of Division One.
Wolves rediscover top form
after surrendering top spot in Division Three to Twyford last week, it was back to winning ways for Wolverton Town as they saw off lowly Bledlow by five wickets.
Town won the toss and elected to field as Bledlow went on to record just 142 all out, as Shirley (33) and Bolton (32) top scored for them. Andy Gosling (8-62) and Jamil Raja (1-27) the pick of the bowlers.
And in reply Town got home with five wickets to spare as they reached 143-5 with Yeo (47) and Potter (33) doing enough, despite the bowling of Chapman who claimed 3-37.
The win means Wolves remain in second place in the table after losing just once in seven matches so far this season. Twyford stay clear at the top following their 10-wicket thrashing of Buckingham Town.
Fifth success puts Brickhill clear of pack
Great Brickhill remain on top of Division Five after they made it five wins in seven with a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Cumnor.
Brickhill won the toss and inserted the visitors on a fast, bouncy track. The Cumnor batsmen looked to assert their authority but in doing so lost early wickets.
The new ball pairing of Hastings and Tweed once again gave a great balance of pace and movement to the Brickhill attack and at the end of the opening spell Cumnor were 49-7 from 23 overs.
However, the visitors did manage to offer some sort of resistance by putting on 31 for the eighth wicket. But once that partnership was broken their innings soon came to an end, with Cumnor all out for 106 in 33 overs.
Nick Tweed was the pick of the bowlers with 4-17 and there was fine support coming from Pete Hastings (3-45) and Julian Blackwell (2-7).
In reply Brickhill got off to a bad start after losing opener Cook in the fourth over. This brought Higgs to the crease and he shared in a 59-run stand for the second wicket with Ward, the latter falling for 28.
Higgs then fell for 40 but Boad saw his team home in the 28th over, finishing unbeaten on 21.
>> Great Brickhill 2nds travelled to Aston Rowant 3rds in Division Eight and extended their unbeaten record to seven games.
Rowant batted first and scored a competitive 235-6 from their 47 overs.
The pick of the bowlers were Cooper and Burrows who claimed two wickets each.
In reply Brickhill scored steadily but lost wickets at regular intervals. Boad top scored with 37 with good support from Cadman (35) and MacDonald (28).
The innings eventually closed on 212-8 from 45 overs, meaning the draw keeps Brickhill third in the table.
>> On Friday evening Brickhill beat Eggington Forresters by five wickets to book a spot in the final of this year's Coronation Cup.
Eggington were bowled out for just 110, Hastings taking four wickets and Morgan three.
And in reply Tubb made an excellent half century to get things going, with the winning runs coming with seven balls to spare. The final will be played at Ascott on July 10.
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
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Wind direction: North east
