Stony Stratford finally recorded their first win of the season with a comprehensive 144 run win at basement side Wellingborough Town on Saturday. Stony’s form has improved of late, with only one defeat in their last six matches, the win has been coming and it was fully deserved after Stony dominated from the first over to the last.
Stony captain Steve Bellew won the toss and decided to bat first in the heat and on a flat wicket. It was to prove a good decision as Stony piled on the runs for the second successive week. Openers Garth Davson and Mitz Choksi are starting to form a very fluent partnership at the top of the order. Ten runs came from the first over and the runs continued to flow from there. Choksi in particular was in fine form and he raced to a quick 35 and put on 50 in 8 overs with Davson, before inexplicably risking a quick single with the ball just behind the wicketkeeper to be comfortably run out. Davson then went on to complete his own half century and with Dion Ebrahim kept the score going at over 5 an over with Stony on 140 from 25 overs. Davson fell lbw for 55 but with the wicket very flat and Wellingborough’s attack struggling each of Stony’s batsmen scored runs. Ebrahim also completed a half century before a lapse in concentration saw him chip a catch to midwicket to fall for 55. But Stony do have some depth to their batting and the middle order came good. Jarrod Pretorius put on a quick 20 with Nick Allen before Bellew joined vice captain Allen and the pair put on 50 in just five overs to push the score well over the 250 mark. Bellew smashed 35 from 20 deliveries before holing out on the boundary but Allen carried on unbeaten to the end, playing shots all round the wicket to finish unbeaten on 37, pushing his side on to 283 for 7.
Wellingborough chose to use the heavy roller on the wicket during the tea interval and with the surface rock hard, this only served to break up the pitch and aid the Stony bowlers. Habib Ullah got the ball rolling for Stony, bowling with real pace and bounce to have the aggressive Marcus Andrew caught behind for 11 in the third over. Stony were targeting the key wicket of ‘Boro opener Tim Coleman who holds the league record for runs in a season and they were delighted when he dragged an attempted pull shot from Bellew back on to his stumps to depart for 4 in the fourth over. Stony were buzzing now and Wellingborough’s batting looked shaky under the pressure. Ullah added another wicket in a fine nine over opening spell that had the batsmen hopping around and young George Humphries claimed a fourth to put Stony firmly in command. With the surface breaking up now, Stony turned to the spin of Ebrahim and he immediately grabbed the wicket of Alex Price for 4. At 58 for 5, it was surely a matter of time before Stony wrapped things up. The experienced Richard Curtis, batting at three, did his best to offer some resistance with a resilient 34, but when he was brilliantly caught by Nick Allen at short Gully off the bowling of Ebrahim, Boro fell to 60 for 6 and the game was almost up. There was time for an exciting cameo of an innings from youngster James Howes, who crashed 6 fours and four sixes on his way to 59. Bellew brought himself back into the attack to bowl left arm spin and was rewarded with the wicket of opposite number Karl Tapp lbw for 0, before Howes went for one big shot too many against the spin of Bellew (4 for 28) and top edged a catch to Ullah. It was left to the skipper to wrap things up with another lbw, this time of Anthony Hall for 7 to leave the home side all out for 139 and sparking big celebrations from the Stony side who move up to tenth in the table at the half way stage. If they can maintain their form of the last few matches, they should move up the table as the season goes on.
Stony’s 2nd XI continue to slide down the 3rd division table after a dramatic last over home defeat to Horton House 2nd. Batting first, Stony posted a competitive 244, but perhaps would have looked to score more after Steve Wharton (97), Steve Underdown (62) and John Lambe (38) got them off to a great start. Elliot Ruff was the best of the Horton bowlers with 3 for 46. Stony got off to a great start with the ball, dismissing both openers for 0 but Michael Richardson then crashed 97 which was to prove decisive for the visitors. Dave Avery bowled excellently against for Stony, taking 5 for 47 and going into the last over, Horton needed 5 with two wickets left. Simon Dadge, who finished unbeaten on 40 needed just two balls find those 5 runs to condemn Stony to a fourth defeat of the season.
Stony 3rds good recent run continued with a winning draw against Rothwell Town 2nds. Batting first, they were indebted to Michael Brown who’s 115 was his first century for the club. Stony set the home side 208 and after a good spell from James Canwell (4 for 42) they were never really in the hunt and finished short on 175 for 5.
Stony 4s recorded a great win away at Wing 1’s which has seen them move up to sixth in the table. Wing set Stony 221 to win and they got there thanks to a superb unbeaten 135 from captain Robbie Arnold, who lead his side home with six wickets and 3 overs to spare.