Naughton star
AN excellent all round performance by Widnes saw them defeat Oxton by 69 runs at home on Saturday in the Vivio Cheshire County League First Division.
A change of tactics by captain Chris Kirby saw him elect to bat on winning the toss.
He stuck with his usual opening partnership of Danny Naughton and Matty Burns, who did not last long, bowled in the fourth over by Richard Fennah for 3.
Marcus Fourie joined Naughton and together they added 108 for the second wicket in what was by far the best partnership of the match.
It was never easy on a slow wicket and when Fourie attempted to drive the spin of Greg Shillinglaw he holed out to deep mid off for 41.
Naughton reached his half century but could not find another partner to stay with him for long. Sean Moore and Ben Hewitt were both bowled by Shillinglaw having made 4 apiece.
Skipper Kirby managed to stay with Naughton as the score moved on to 172 before he was bowled by Patrick Magann for 11.
Billy Webb looked more comfortable than most in making a busy 12 before being well caught by Jamie Crawley at backward point off Magann. Neither Gareth Yandell nor Tom Mitchell troubled the scorers as they both falling to the seam of Fennah.
The mainstay of the innings. Naughton reached his well deserved century in the penultimate over but was then bowled by Magann with the first ball of the final over, his excellent innings including 10 fours and two sixes.
The same bowler then accounted for Owen Price with one ball remaining and Widnes were all out for 200.
Widnes elected to open the bowling ● with the pace of Ben Hewitt and the spin of Marcus Fourie. The latter soon made the breakthrough, bowling Marc De Brabander in his second over for 2 before Hewitt bowled two batsmen in two balls to leave Oxton 12-3.
The Oxton skipper Dane Williams led a recovery as he made 52, his captain’s knock including nine boundaries. But once he had gone, Magann then attempted one hit too many and gave Kirby a stumping off Naughton.
The remaining four wickets could only manage a further 18 runs as Hewitt returned to take two more, giving him his first ‘five for’ with 5 for 37 off 12 excellent overs.
Fourie and Mitchell finished with two wickets apiece as Oxton were all out for 121.
The 25 points gained sees Widnes back into third place, eight points behind second placed Davenham. This Saturday they travel to fifth placed Bollington. ● Widnes 2nds managed to ease their relegation fears with an emphatic victory at Oxton.
They bowled the hosts out for 67 with Tom Keen taking 4-28 and Daniel Wearden 5-30.
Widnes lost Mike Byrne for 26 and Tim Wearden for 25 in achieving victory by eight wickets.
On Saturday Brooklands 2nds visit Beaconsfield Road.
On Sunday a Widnes Invitation XI play hosts to Zimbabwe Academy who are on a three-month tour of England.
They have being playing against county 2nd XIs and specially chosen clubs.
They were keen to play at Widnes because of the strong links the club has with the country.
Widnes have toured Zimbabwe twice and former Test players Grant Flower, Craig Evans and John Rennie all had seasons at Widnes.