Stony Stratford received a cricketing lesson from champions Finedon Dolben on Saturday as their disappointing NCL season continued. A sixth defeat of the season still leaves Stony in tenth, two places above the relegation place, but with plenty to do to secure survival for another season.
Home skipper Chris Goode won the toss on a worn, used wicket which was always going to offer turn to the spinners – Finedon’s bowling strength. Goode asked Stony to bat and was rewarded in only the second over as Garth Davson edged Will Sneath behind for 7. Stony’s overseas star Dion Ebrahim has been in excellent form of late, but he has never scored runs against Finedon and that trend continued as he also edged Sneath behind soon after to depart for 10. Paul West and Mitz Choksi got the score to 48 before Choksi, having already taken 8 off a Jack Chopping over, needlessly flashed at a wide delivery to edge a third catch of the innings to Herbert. West, hampered by a bruised foot received earlier in the day, continued his good form of recent weeks and with Nick Allen getting his innings off to an impressive start, Stony recovered well to get to 111 for 3 off 29 overs before Nelson well and truly struck once Finedon had turned to spin. First, Allen chipped a return catch back to leg spinner Dan Bendon to fall for 26. Then, two balls later Chris Bolton was adjudged lbw to the same bowler before West, by now batting with a runner, was run out in bizarre circumstances. West, still batting on instinct left his crease to run (despite having a runner) and even though the runner made his ground at the bowlers end, West was incorrectly given out at that end for 43 – the umpires later acknowledging their error and apologising to West and Stony skipper Steve Bellew. So a mad few minutes cost Stony dear and the innings pretty much died a swift death from this point. From 111 for 3, Stony collapsed to 148 all out with Bendon (4 for 30) and Ton Brett (2 for 30) doing the main damage after Sneath’s early impact.
Stony have been involved in some very tight games against the champions in recent years but on a flat wicket and with a paltry total to defend, an upset was never really likely. The visitors got off to a good start thanks to Andy Daniels and Greg Evans, who reached 50 inside the first ten overs. Habib Ullah, who has been a lynchpin of the Stony attack in recent weeks was blasted out of the action after 3 overs cost 24 runs. Bellew, who has enjoyed success against the champions in the past did get Daniels soon after, lbw for 30 but that was as good as it got for the visitors as Finedon showed their class. Man of the match Bendon joined Evans and both men patiently made their way to unbeaten half centuries to give their side a nine wicket win and to leave Stony with much to ponder as they strive for Premier Division security over the coming weeks
The 2nd XI halted a horrible run without a win by knocking over relegation threatened Wellingborough Old Grammarians in an impressive display at Ostlers Lane. Batting first, Stony captain Chris Swain’s recent fine form continued, as his 107 lead Stony to a hefty 254 for 5 dec. There were also runs for John Lambe (47) and Steve Underdown (49).
Stony declared early to give themselves and extra couple of overs at OG’s but in the end they did the job of bowling them out inside 36 overs. The wickets were shared around with two each for George Humphries, Andy Humphries, Neil Allen and Andrew Ellemore. Dave Avery and Stuart Gulliver finished with a wicket apiece to finish things off and to put Stony’s promotion hunt back on a firmer footing.
Stony 3rds suffered a blow to their own hopes of promotion from Division 6 with a 14 run defeat at Weldon. Stony looked to have restricted the hosts to a gettable target of 164 with Harsh Jethra lading the way with a fine 4 for 21. And after a fine opening stand between James Pickles (42) and Jethra (24) they looked to be on their way to victory. However, with the openers gone, only Oswin Peter (45) and Jamie Baxter (19) made double figures as the Stony middle order folded. In the end, Stony finished 150 all out and realistically a fourth successive promotion is now unlikely.