Leighton Buzzard Town Cricket Club begin their Cherwell League Division One season with a home game against Shipton on Saturday, hoping to avoid another relegation battle.
Leighton flirted with the drop in 2012, narrowly staying up at the expense of Cumnor, but hopes are high for better this year.
The club played their first competitive fixture of 2013 on Sunday, a Beds League Premier Division match at home to Southill Park.
The first match of the season can often be quite unpredictable as winter rustiness has not yet fully disappeared, and this tie was no exception.
The momentum swung backwards and forwards with the hosts seeming to dominate only for Southill to hit back strongly, before the outcome was resolved and Leighton won the day by 26 runs. There was also an unusual dismissal to add to the drama.
Jack Kempster won the toss for Town and decided to bat first. Tom Light and Chris Thompson made a cautious start and at the end of the first powerplay of 10 overs had scored a modest 27 runs.
Thompson (31) injected some pace into the attack, taking 15 in one aggressive over off Ali, but then edged a ball head high to slip who managed to parry the ball up into the air and then catch it as it fell gently to earth.
Dan Scott (8) looked very purposeful as he played three excellent drives through the cover area, but when he tried to force one over the top he was out to a splendid one-handed catch by Sampson at long off as he fell backwards.
Meanwhile Light had been growing in confidence and was soon pulling and driving the ball as he moved to a half century in 93 minutes.
With the score on 148 however, Light was caught on the square leg boundary for 69 which included 11 boundary fours. Dave Roberts was bowled for a duck and when Selfe (26) was also caught out on the boundary, Leighton had lost three wickets in three overs for no runs and the visitors were cock-a-hoop.
The home side now had just five overs remaining in which to pile up some runs in order to post a respectable score. Having scored five runs, James Raine tried to drive the ball off Adatia but only succeeded in falling backwards. As he did so the ball dribbled towards his wicket and as he was unable to kick the ball away (because he was on his back) scooped it away with his hand. You are not allowed to use your hands to prevent the ball from hitting your stumps and so was judged out handled ball.
Adam Culley (16 not out) managed a few blows at the end of the 45 overs as Leighton closed on 169-8. For the away side Watt took 3-38 and Sampson 2-28.
The tea time view was that this was an inadequate score. There must have been some harsh words exchanged during the interval as Town made a flying start when they bowled.
Scott took a wicket with his second ball in the second over of the innings, trapping Collins for a duck. Kempster followed with another in the third as Alan Priestley took a comfortable catch off Mansell (4) at mid on. Scott repeated in the fourth when he bowled Baxter (4) and when Kempster bowled Adatia (2) in the fifth over, Southill’s top batsmen had been blown away for just 16 runs.
But cricket is a funny old game and the unpredictable usually happens. It did on this occasion and the best stand of the game then featured with Armer (61) and Canagasaby (32) putting together a partnership worth some 81 runs with apparent ease.
This caused problems for Town who were now stuggling. Kempster turned to his spinners for a solution and this move eventually succeeded in making the breakthrough.
Having been hit for a six, Light trapped Canagasaby leg before wicket and then induced visiting captain Johnson (4) to drive at a wide delivery. It flew off the edge of the bat and was caught at cover point by Raine to give Light two wickets in two overs.
The troublesome Armer was the next to be dismissed with Priestley taking a comfortable catch at mid wicket to give Selfe his first wicket of the game. At 129-7 off 29 overs the visitors had the time and the overs in which to score the required runs, but may not have had the inclination.
It was impossible to keep Light out of the action now and he struck again, inducing Sampson (7) to edge a sharp chance to Selfe at first slip which he did well to hold.
Selfe then bowled Darlow (8) leg stump and it was appropriate that it was Light who took the last wicket trapping Watt (3) leg before wicket.
Town ended up victorious by 26 runs, a result which earlier in the evening seemed unlikely and get a maximum 30 points for their efforts. Southill Park get eight points. Light was the Chesham Insurance Brokers man of the match for his combined 69 runs with the bat and his 4-23.
There were two wickets each for Selfe, Kempster and Scott. It was not too bad a start but more runs will be needed as the season progresses.
>> Leighton Buzzard’s 2nds travelled to Ickleford in Division Three – the two teams promoted from Division Four last season meeting in the opening fixture.
The hosts won the toss and decided to bat, and the visitors then spent much of the afternoon chasing around the park as opening batsman Rob Large smashed 219 runs with a stream of fours and sixes as Ickleford scored 361-5 off 45 overs.
In response Town could only muster a modest 57 runs, with Brad Gates top scoring with 15. Town get five points.
>> Leighton’s U15 team turned in a competent performance to record a 21-run victory over Flitwick U15 in the second round of the ECB U15 National Club Championship.
Leighton batted first with Ben Smith scoring 45 runs, Isaac Claridge 33 and Jacob Turley 22 to give Leighton a very competitive 123-3 from their 20 overs.
For Flitwick, opening bat Todd Pitkin shone as he scored 51 not out and then had to retire. Wickets were shared out amongst the Leighton bowlers and with two run outs Flitwick ended their effort on 102-6.
>> The Cherwell League season starts on Saturday with Leighton’s first team at home to Shipton-Under-Wychwood who were relegated from Division Two West of the Home Counties League last year.
The second team start life in Division Five away against Challow & Childrey seconds and the third team start their season away against Great & Little Tew.
There are two U14 games on Tuesday, with the A team travelling to Aspley Guise whilst the B team are at home against Eaton Bray.
On Thursday the two U16 teams clash at Bell Close when the A team plays against the B team.
Four Counties League
Eaton Bray picked up their first win of the Division One season by seeing off Cranfield University by five wickets at The Rye Gardens.
James Flecknell was the hero as his fantastic spell of 5-20 helped bowl the visitors out for just 138 on Saturday.
Josh Peacock, Charles Alden and Aaron Gauntlett chipped in with the wickets as Bray took control of proceedings, as only Cranfield opener Fakhre Ali (54) really troubled the bowlers.
Andy Gypps (35) got Bray off to a good start in reply, but after the loss of Jason McDermid and David Hopkins cheaply, Flecknell (27) and Wes Hosking (23) got the home side back on track and they won the game on 139-5.
In Division Two, David Quick (4-17) and Matthew Funge (4-27) were the stars of the show for Aspley Guise in their 27-run victory over Stoke Hammond.
Put into bat, Aspley Guise were reduced to just 127 thanks largely to the efforts of Nick Mead (3-26) as Quick top scored on 42.
But they turned the game around and Stoke Hammond were seen off for 100, with Robert Harrison chipping in with a couple of wickets.
Eggington Foresters enjoyed a 41-run win over Milton Bryan, with Muhammad Sulman Madni leading the scoring on 55.
Ammad Saeed (46) also weighed in with 46 as Foresters reached 198-7.
Milton Bryan made a good start in reply, but Zulfiqar Ahmed’s 5-24 got Eggington going as the home side slumped to 157.
In Division Three, Eggington Foresters 2nds (173-6) also tasted victory as they beat Stewkley Vicarage (172-7) by four wickets. Sam Smith was unlucky to be on the losing side after his unbeaten 76.
Ivinghoe & Pitstone (179-9) went down by four wickets to Caddington (182-6), despite the efforts of Adam Nice (61).
Bradley Blaney claimed 5-31 for the winners.
Drayton Parslow (111-9) lost to Printers (114-3) by seven wickets in Divvision Four and in Division Five Great Brickhill 3rds (233-3) beat Thurleigh 2nds (229) by seven wickets.
Sam Rose was the star for Wing with Wingrave after he hit 90 of their 192-7 against Olney Town 2nds.
Rob Flynn (4-27) then helped them to victory by 85 runs as Olney were sent packing on 107.
In Division Six, Edlesborough (173-7) had a winning draw over Lidlington (145-9), while in Division Seven, Aspley Guise 2nds (70-7) were three wickets winners over Wolverton Town 3rds (69) – Matt Johnson taking 6-20 – and Ivinghoe & Pitstone 2nds (150) lost to Caddington 2nds (151-6) by four wickets.