Cricket
Wonderful Willoughby stun leaders

WILLOUGHBY turned the South Northants League Division One form book on its head on Saturday as they secured a fantastic eight-wicket victory against leaders Wroxton.

For once, warm sunshine greeted the two teams at The Green as the hosts incredibly played their first home league game of the season and to great effect.

Having won the toss, Willoughby put Wroxton in and the leaders were soon in trouble as the opening bowling duo of Marcus Fleming and Tom Hill applied heavy pressure. So much so that Wroxton were 6-3, 10-4 and 20-5, with all of their big hitters back in the pavilion.

The visitors attempted to repair the damage but having increased the run rate from barely two an over in the opening ten overs, they were still struggling at 50-6 at drinks after losing a further wicket to a fine run out.

The pressure from the home side did not let up afterwards as Fleming and Hill completed their 12 over allocations. Fleming, following from his five wicket haul last week, recorded figures of 4-20 whilst Hill was equally impressive with 2-37. John Gregson then came in to mop up the tail as Wroxton were dismissed for 86.

With skipper Martin Nichol’s earlier demand of batting sensibly still in their ears, Willoughby set about their task without due alarm.

Even the fall of Nichols and Isbar Ali with the score on 22 could not halt their progress as Stuart Hall and Billy Proudman chipped away at the target with caution, working the ball away well to keep the scoreboard ticking.

The drinks break then saw Hall take over, crashing six boundaries out of seven balls faced, before completing the comfortable victory with another trademark drive for three as Willoughby earned maximum points from a very useful success.

They will bid to build on their success when entertaining Radway on Saturday.

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