Stony Stratford gave champions and title favourites a fright before slipping to a four wicket defeat, their second at home this season.
Visiting captain Chris Goode won the toss and elected to bowl first on a dry but slow wicket at Ostlers Lane. After a cautious start brought Stony 23 runs in 10 overs, Dion Ebrahim was the first to go, mis-timing a pull shot off Bedforshire’s Will Sneath straight to Greg Evans at midwicket. The top four all got starts for Stony but wickets began to fall at regular intervals against a persistent Finedon attack. John Lambe (11) was adjudged lbw off the impressive Jack Chopping, before Tom Brett claimed the first of five wickets. Garth Davson (19) was too eager to attack the spinner and danced down the wicket to his second ball to be stumped by Nick Brown and Paul West missed a straight one to be bowled for 11. Stony knew they needed to post a competitive total to stand any chance and at 66 for 4, they were in trouble. But for the second week in a row, Jarrod Pretorius played an excellent innings, taking the attack to the bowlers. He was joined by Nick Allen and their partnership of 77 got Stony back in the game. Pretorius smashed 4 sixes before the returning Chopping cleaned him up for 44 from 53 balls. Allen had been more restrained but had began to accelerate and made it to 45 before he holed out at long on for 45, trying to push to score on. Stony then lost their last five wickets for five runs as they had no answer to the spin of Northamptonshire’s Brett, who finished with 5 for 46 and Chopping, who ended with 4 for 41. The final total of 160 was never likely to be enough but games between these two sides rarely pass without drama and this one was no different.
Stony have defeated Finedon twice at Ostlers Lane in the past and at 25 for 3, ‘Dolben’ were faced with another uphill struggle to get over the line. Habib Ullah struck first, removing last week’s centurion Greg Evans caught behind for 4. Stony skipper Steve Bellew then removed Gary Herbert in similar fashion before having Dan Bendon caught at midwicket for 1 three overs later. There came a crucial moment in the match. Finedon’s Australian star and last year’s leading run scorer Clint Tomlinson looked for all the world to have been trapped in front by a late inswinger from Bellew first ball. Umpire Hodges ruled it not out to the dismay of the home side and Tomlinson went on to make hay and set up the win for his side. He smashed a highly impressive 84 from only 75 balls, with 9 fours and four huge sixes. Bellew persevered and trapped Johnny Dunne lbw for 2 to keep Stony in the hunt at 53 for 4, but a quickfire partnership of 57 between Tomlinson and Chopping (21) took the game away from Stony. Chopping fell to a good catch by Andy Humphries off the bowling of brother George and then Tomlinson chipped and easy return catch back to Ebrahim. Chris Goode (7*) and Andy Roberts (33*) were both put down behind the wicket off the bowling of Bellew before finishing off the game inside 35 overs. For the second week in succession, Stony were left to rue a missed chance of victory, although in fairness Tomlinson’s innings was good enough to win any match.
Stretching the champions was of scant consolation to Stony who have started the season with two defeats from two games and face a tough trip to much improved Rushton next week.
Stony’s 2nd XI have got their season off to the perfect start, with two wins from their first two games. This week’s win was a comfortable nine wicket triumph at Wellingborough Old Grammarians who were outdone by a great spell with the ball from veteran Neil Allen and a fine innings from Steve Wharton. Bowling first, Stony restricted the hosts to 164 for 9 from their 50 overs. Allen produced a great spell to finish with 5 for 29, with great support from Chris Guy and Dave Avery who both took two wickets apiece. In reply, Wharton’s innings of 91 not out guided Stony home, along with another impressive knock from Richard Scott, who finished on 51 not out