Match Report 19/06/2010

Stony Stratford’s fourth defeat of what’s been a nightmare start to the season has seen them slip to the foot of the Northants Premier Division after nine games. And while there is plenty of time for Stony to pull away from the danger zone, it was the manner of their defeat against table toppers Peterborough Town rather than the actual result which will worry them most.

From the moment stand in skipper Dion Ebrahim lost the toss and was asked to bat first on a green, seaming wicket, things went wrong for Stony. As has so often been the case this season, scoring runs proved tough for Stony, particularly against the wily Ajaz Akhtar bowling in helpful conditions. After losing three quick wickets, including that of the in form Garth Davson and Ebrahim for nine each, Stony’s middle order again got starts but were unable to find an innings of substance. Akhtar made life very difficult for all of the Stony batters, claiming 5 for 43 from 17 top class overs, and only Paul West and Simon Myatt, who each scored 24 offered much resistance. But wickets tumbled at regular intervals and with the run rate not much more than a trickle, Stony were seriously struggling against the league’s in form side. In the end, a paltry total of just 124 was never seriously going to be enough and Peterborough made short work of reaching their target.

With wickets in hand and plenty of time to get the runs, their was little pressure on Peterborough openers Kartik Sunderam and David Clarke and they cut loose. They both smashed the ball to all parts with each of the five Stony bowlers used coming in for punishment. The two openers both fell just shy of half centuries, with Chris Guy and Ebrahim getting the wickets to fall. But this was to be just a minor blip for the hosts who well and truly outclassed Stony to reach their target inside 20 overs.

Last season, Stony won at Peterborough having posted well over 220, which just goes to show how things have turned sour for them since last season. They still have some top class cricketers in the side and are more than capable of going on a winning run, but they will need to do this soon if they are to avoid spending the second half of the summer fighting relegation.

Stony 2s also struggled in their game against their Peterborough counterparts but in the end managed to hang on for a draw. But having lead the division from day one, a run of four games without a win has seen them fall to back to second place behind Peterborough. Batting first, the visitors racked up 212 for 5 as Neil Allen bowled impressively again for Stony, taking 3 for 48. Stony’s reply got off to a positive start with openers Steve Wharton and Steve Underdown putting on 52 for the first wicket in 12 overs, before Wharton fell for 28. Underdown soon followed for 25 and this prompted a dramatic collapse from Stony. The home side lost their next seven wickets for just 87 runs with only skipper Chris Swain managing some resistance with 33. It was left to last pair Richard Lines (10) and Dave Avery (2) to see their side through to the end, nine wickets down, for a share of the spoils.

There was better luck for Stony’s Thirds in Division 6 as they comfortably defeated Weekly and Warkton 2’s by five wickets at Great Linford. Weekly were rushed out for just 111, with Neil Fewtrell running through their order with 5 for 26. There were also three wickets for Oswin Peter. Prior to this match, Stony only had one win to their name but they doubled that tally inside 27 overs. James Bell was the main man with the bat, clubbing 62 to take his side over the line to stay seventh in the table.

An understrength Stony 4th XI were hammered by 245 runs at Eggington Foresters 2nds. The home side blasted an incredible 315 for 6 in just 44 overs and then blasted poor Stony out for just 70 in reply, Stony lie in seventh place, two places above the relegation zone.

Back to Homepage