Saturday, June 5, 2010

Batsmen beware - Rob Woolley is the quickest bowler in the Tucker League this year...just ask the Ramsey batsmen! He proved precisely that by taking a five wicket haul during his maiden spell for the 1st Xl in the impressive 50-run victory at Ramsey on Saturday.

The Cambridge University all-rounder could well have become the first March player to score a century on debut - back in April - and to take five wickets first time out with the ball. The fact of the matter is he's a class player, who added 57 runs to his 5-34 haul in this game alone.

The Lancashire 2nd Xl player figured in a second wicket stand of 103 runs with the reliable Steve Hinson, who made yet another important batting contribution this season with a knock of 37.

But not for the first time, the middle order misfired and the side were grateful for runs from their bowlers - Stuart Mills (13no), Chris Ringham (13) and Richard Green (12) - and a huge 38 extras.

Woolley then got to work on the Ramsey top-order and soon bagged three of his five wickets, as the ball moved away to the right-handers. And with skipper Ringham swinging the ball in the opposite direction it was a torrid time for Ramsey on their own wicket.

Ringham finished with 3-18 off 11.1 overs as he claimed the final wicket in the 41st over for March to go third in the table.

Green was the only other wicket-taker, with
2-35, in the Ramsey total of 142.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

The 1st Xl's brittle batting caught up with them at Khalsa on Saturday, when they were bowled out for 83 in the Tucker League encounter.

So far this season Rob Woolley and Matt Wilcox have managed to paper over the cracks but with Lancashire recalling Woolley and Wilcox going cheaply, James Harradine topped-scored with a mere 15.

March, who before the game were in third place - one above Khalsa - relied on skipper Chris Ringham when bowling first. He took 4-51 with his left-arm swing bowling, with Chris Peckett taking
2-33 on his return to the club.

Ringham also managed to cling on to a skier off the first ball of the day, bowled by teenager Callum Young, who put in a very useful 12 over stint.

Off-spinner Richard Green chipped in with a brace of wickets as the home side were dismissed for 173.

But there was nothing in the Castor wicket that suggested such a dramatic turnabout in fortunes, as Aussie Wilcox was bowled first over. He was quickly followed by the next four bats, before Harradine dug in to become one of only three players to make double figures.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

An unbeaten century from Matt Wilcox was a match-saver for the 1st Xl during a feisty Tucker League encounter with Godmanchester, on on a day when the rain-rule baffled all those without a calculator.

The Aussie opening batsman reached three figures for the third time this summer, off the fourth ball of the final over, during a match delayed and interrupted by showers.

Godmanchester, who last season were playing East Anglian Premier League cricket, declared on 259-3 after 38 overs. But it was no wonder there were some blank looks at the scoreboard from the older members, when March were set a target of 301 runs in 44 overs, having already forfeited two wickets!

Wilcox hit a dozen boundaries in his round 100 not out, which came off 158 balls. He shared in a fourth wicket stand of 45 runs with Rob Tombs, who made 17.

March finished on 156-5, having been
55-4 at one stage.

It was also good to see the Aussie with the ball in his hand at the start of the visitors innings. He managed to get seven decent overs under his belt following an ongoing groin injury.

Callum Young also performed well - conceding just the 30 runs off his seven overs, as Godmanchester creamed the ball to all parts of the ground.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Rob Tombs scored his maiden first team century, when the 1st Xl beat Isham by seven wickets in the Rutland League, at The Avenue on Sunday.

The acting skipper remained unbeaten on 116, as March chased down the visitors' total, in a game where Isham started at a canter. Their Aussie opener Adam Somerfield smashed 125 not out in his nine man side's 193-8, as 70 runs came up in the first 6.1 overs

Stuart Mills broke the opening partnership and Andy Wright also picked up an early wicket before the remaining six wickets were taken with off-spin. Richard Green picked up a very useful 4-34. with Rishi Brahmbhatt taking 2-21.

The visitors then drew early blood, when Saturday's batting hero Matt Wilcox was bowled in the first over for 2. Up stepped Tombs to smash his way to a milestone 116 not out, that included five 'sixes' and 12 'fours'.

He was backed by Jake Wenman's 34 and James Harradine's 29 in the 194-3 winning total, that came off just 30.3 overs.

The victory pushes the 1st Xl up to third in Division Two.