University student Tommy Howgego battled away for an opening day knock
of 61, as the 1st Xl basked in the early April sunshine to the tune of a
44-run victory at Long Sutton.
The left-handed opener showed good grit and determination as he successfully
tightened up his game - sharing in an opening stand of 26 with Rob Moden
(16) and a further 53 runs with Rob Tombs (27).
That enabled March to conclude the 40-over friendly on 182-5.
And if Howgego was keen to play, so was opening bowler Jordan Morgan, who
left his Welsh university digs at a ridiculous time the same morning to take
2-27.
Skipper Chris Ringham and third team captain Matt Hubbard also bagged a
brace, with Stuart Mills hitting the stumps three times in his 3-25, as the
home side were dismissed for 138.
No Game
Sunday, April 10, 2011
March 1st Xl v Downham Town
Saturday, April 16, 2011
There’s never a dull moment when Tommy Howgego is playing – the young
all-rounder bagging a hat-trick in the 36-run defeat at The Avenue against
Norfolk Premier League champions Downham Town.
The university student followed up his knock of 61 on the opening day of
ther season, with figures of 5-32. Bowling the final over of 45 before tea,
the right-arm seamer hit the stumps with his fourth and fifth deliveries and
then had wicket-keeper John Gilson’s pads to thank for the hat-trick, as the
ball ricochet on to the wickets for a leg-side stumping.
And still Howgego wasn’t finished for the day, ending up at the same end as
a fellow batsman for the second week running. This time he was the one to
walk…without scoring!
At 135-4, March looked in a very good position, only for the visitor’s
overseas player to cut loose and help post a useful 210-8 total.
Matty Vail looked in very good nick in reply – his dashing 69 containing a
dozen boundaries, three of which were ‘sixes’. He figured in a third wicket
stand of 65 runs with Aussie Matt Wilcox, who made 41.
Of the rest only Rob Tombs (21) and skipper Chris Ringham (11no) made double
figures in the all-out total of 174 – with four batsmen failing to score.
March 1st Xl v Stamford Town
Sunday, April 17, 2011
It wasn't the start to life in Rutland League Division 1 that the 1st Xl
had wished for - going down by a mere two runs to fellow promoted club
Stamford.
Vice-skipper Stuart Mills made a valiant effort with the bat - coming in at
No.8 and scoring 27, as 47 runs were required off the final five overs with
the visitors having brought back both opening bowlers.
But when Mills was out at 176-8 it all came down to the final over when 11
runs were required. Only nine came and March were left to rue the 13 maidens
bowled by Stamford.
The opening stand had put on 73, with Tommy Howgego first to go for 29. Matt
Wilcox (35) was one of three run outs - skipper Rob Tombs (29) and Ben Pyle
(19) joining him - before 21 from Chris Ringham in the total of 183-8.
During the Stamford innings Callum Young claimed the wickets of the top
three, as he compiled figures of 3-29. Howgego continued his early season
form with a 3-23 spell, as the visitors concluded their 45 overs on 185-8.
March 1st Xl v Ickwell
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Matt Wilcox cracked a half-century as the 1st Xl cruised to a six wicket
opening day victory in the Tucker League against new boys Ickwell, at The
Avenue on Saturday.
The
19-year-old Aussie was back in the groove after tea, with the home side
chasing just 131 for victory. The only real surprise with the win was the
four wickets that fell.
Cambridge MCCU skipper Rob Woolley misread a slower ball when on 41 and
Wilcox, having just reached his 50 with a stunning boundary, chased one
outside of off stump. To compound things Shardul Brahmbhatt and Tommy
Howgego will be disappointed with their dismissals.
Woolley, with big runs already this season against
Middlesex, was out of the blocks quickly - hitting nine boundaries during an
opening stand of 69.
Following his departure, Wilcox picked up the baton and
sent seven deliveries to the boundary - one a giant 'six' to join the horses
in the neighbouring meadow.
Earlier in the day, skipper and left-arm opening bowler Chris Ringham led from the
front - taking three wickets in four balls in his third over. The first two
were from in-swinging yorkers, he then narrowly missed picking up a
hat-trick, before a neat catch from Wilcox at second slip gave him his third
victim.
That put newly
promoted Ickwell well and truly on the back foot and set things up nicely
for debutant Jivan Lotay to pick up an impressive 4-33 with his off-spin.
The
Cambridge MCCU all-rounder looked a class act as the ball drifted away and
then turned back with the spin. He bowled in tandem with Brahmbhatt, who took 2-26.
The
victory comes a week before Tucker League champions Camden visit The Avenue,
in what should be a sterner test.
March 1st Xl v Camden
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Three
good all-round performances saw the 1st Xl come within seven runs of beating
Tucker League champions Camden during a high-scoring draw at The Avenue on
Saturday.
Shardul Brahmbhatt, Matt Wilcox and Jivan Lotay all did well with bat and
ball against a side who went through the whole of the 2010 season
undefeated.
Brahmbhatt took 5-75 with his off-spin during Camden's all out total of 260
- with Wilcox making a crucial breakthrough with his 3-32 and Lotay taking
the first two wickets to fall.
All
three players scored half-centuries in reply - Lotay 70 not out and both
Brahmbhatt and Wilcox 59 - as 12 runs were required off the final over. Five
came, with March losing their seventh wicket off the last ball to give
Camden a slender 14 points to 12 advantage on the day.
Camden had started the match in blistering fashion with
last week's headline maker Chris Ringham on the receiving end for once. The
March skipper was smacked to the boundary four times in his second over as
the visitors raced to 45 without loss on a very dry track after just seven overs.
Cambridge MCCU all-rounder Lotay broke the partnership and collected a
second scalp before the visitors rallied to 141-2. Wilcox and some good
catches produced three quick wickets, only for the Cambridge side to show
the character that champions are made of and post such an impressive total.
Brahmbhatt kept plugging away and with two stumpings
from John Gilson, he returned a five wicket haul.
March produced a 94-run opening stand before Rob Woolley
was run out for 37. Wilcox and Brahmbhatt then both fell to catches before
the left-handed Lotay helped to set up an exciting finale almost
single-handedly. His innings contained nine boundaries - two of which sailed
over the ropes.
March 1st Xl v Peterborough Town
Sunday, May 1, 2011
The
1st Xl are finding life in Rutland League Division 1 tough going, as
illustrated by the
74-run defeat away to Peterborough Town, on Sunday.
Having lost the toss, the visitors looked to two of
their promising young bowlers to spearhead the attack - Jordan Morgan and
Tyler Phillips. Morgan claimed the first wicket to fall and Phillips
impressed with a 2-51 spell off 12 overs.
Off-spinner Richard Green also bowled his maximum,
taking 2-49 as Peterborough closed on 242-5.
Matt Wilcox (32), who was unable to bowl, shared in an
opening stand of 47 with Tommy Howgego (14).
But at 57-4 things didn't look good for the visitors,
that is until a spirited fight back from Chatteris skipper Anthony Palmer
(27) and Dan Martell (28). They eased the score along to 110 but following
their departure the side were bowled out for 168.
