Under overcast skies, Russell lost his first toss of 2017 and Castlethorpe were put in to bat against Division One newcomers Silverstone. Stuart Walding went in to open with Mark Currell and they faced a fearsome opening pair. Williams and Stokes bowled their allocation straight through with Castlethorpe only getting eighteen runs from the first twelve overs. In the thirteenth, Basher was bowled after a great defence against the opening attack, meaning that Russell Jones joined Mark. Together they saw off the opening pair, putting on 36 runs before Mark was bowled out by another Williams for 33, the joint-top score for the day. Keith Finson had a brief partnership with Russell before the latter was caught out by the wicketkeeper having also scored 33. Atif Mushtaq made his way to the middle to join Keith and could only watch as Keith was caught out with the score on 79. Atif and Ben Nightingale put on the largest partnership of the Castlethorpe innings of 47 runs in just nine overs until Ben was bowled out on 27. Atif was bowled for 23 in the 35th over with the score on 138. A strong finish from the visitors saw Syed Naqvi, Jamie Crawford, Adesh Pal and Nev Maravala dismissed in quick succession as they tried to raise the run-rate, but Castlethorpe had made a respectable 155.
After tea, Silverstone's Hayward and Payne faced Castlethorpe's openers Syed Naqvi and Adesh Pal for five overs before Payne was caught out by Stuart Walding off Syed with the score on nine. Key made his way to the middle and had a three-over partnership before Hayward was run out by Atif Mushtaq for nought. Cooper joined Key but in the very next over Key was also run out by Atif. Stokes joined Cooper and they added a rapid 23 before Syed clean-bowled Cooper. Although Silverstone were scoring faster than Castlethorpe, they were losing wickets in the process. The fifth-wicket partnership between Stokes and Williams lasted 11 overs before being ended by another impressive piece of fielding by Atif - this time a catch off Mark Currell's bowling. Here, the Silverstone challenge stalled. In the same over, new batsman Devonshire was caught by Keith Finson for nought, giving Mark a double-wicket-maiden. Atif then bowled a wicket-maiden of his own, bowling Moran out for nought. Mark added yet another wicket-maiden with Stokes adjudged lbw on 15. 78 for four had become 78 for eight in just three overs. The ninth wicket partnership lasted for six scratchy overs before Mackay was caught behind by Basher to become Mark's fourth victim. This left father and daughter Hugh and Jenny Williams to put on a final wicket stand of twelve runs, ended when Atif caught Jenny out off Ben Nightingale's bowling for two, leaving her father not out on 15 and giving Silverstone a final score of exactly 100.
A cracking start to the league campaign, netting 20 points for us and only allowing the opposition to accumulate six. Everyone played a part in this victory by staying committed in the field and focused on securing a result. An excellent job, well, done!
Match report by Sharron Jones
After tea, Silverstone's Hayward and Payne faced Castlethorpe's openers Syed Naqvi and Adesh Pal for five overs before Payne was caught out by Stuart Walding off Syed with the score on nine. Key made his way to the middle and had a three-over partnership before Hayward was run out by Atif Mushtaq for nought. Cooper joined Key but in the very next over Key was also run out by Atif. Stokes joined Cooper and they added a rapid 23 before Syed clean-bowled Cooper. Although Silverstone were scoring faster than Castlethorpe, they were losing wickets in the process. The fifth-wicket partnership between Stokes and Williams lasted 11 overs before being ended by another impressive piece of fielding by Atif - this time a catch off Mark Currell's bowling. Here, the Silverstone challenge stalled. In the same over, new batsman Devonshire was caught by Keith Finson for nought, giving Mark a double-wicket-maiden. Atif then bowled a wicket-maiden of his own, bowling Moran out for nought. Mark added yet another wicket-maiden with Stokes adjudged lbw on 15. 78 for four had become 78 for eight in just three overs. The ninth wicket partnership lasted for six scratchy overs before Mackay was caught behind by Basher to become Mark's fourth victim. This left father and daughter Hugh and Jenny Williams to put on a final wicket stand of twelve runs, ended when Atif caught Jenny out off Ben Nightingale's bowling for two, leaving her father not out on 15 and giving Silverstone a final score of exactly 100.
A cracking start to the league campaign, netting 20 points for us and only allowing the opposition to accumulate six. Everyone played a part in this victory by staying committed in the field and focused on securing a result. An excellent job, well, done!
Match report by Sharron Jones
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