Rutland League ruled by Aussies

AWESOME Aussie power was on show in the Rutland League over the weekend.

Fast bowler Nathan Pobega helped hustle Newborough to a Division Two success over Ufford Park with a 4-0 burst from 10 balls, while Dean Prebble cracked 124 for Yaxley in their 39-run win at old foes Castor in Division Three.

Pobega has endured a sluggish start to his English career, but he returned figures of 5-8 in Newborough’s four-wicket win. Captain Ross Harris (57) led a recovery from 13-3 in pursuit of Ufford’s modest 115.

Prebble’s knock was described as ‘chanceless’ by his skipper Andy Weston who then took the blame for running his import out.

Jacob Miller (58) did best for Castor who close on 194-8 chasing 233-8.

Also in Division Three Stamford seconds won their local derby with Uffington by 14 runs as Clive Simmons (90no) and Matt Greaves (76no) did the bulk of the Stamford scoring in their 195-3.

The cricketers of Oundle Town look set for another glorious summer. Not one of their five senior teams has suffered a league defeat so far this season.

The Northants League first team are charging up the Division One table after recording back-to-back wins. Rushden, who were tipped to make an immediate return to the Premier Division, were the victims this weekend as slow leftarm spinner David Foster collected five wickets and South African import Petrus Jeftha posted an unbeaten century.

James Chambers (82), Jack Bolsover (79) and Jack Roberts (4-21) were the star men in the second team’s 119-run Division Six win over Kislingbury Temperance in Division Six, while Jonathan Dalley smashed a brilliant 134 and Daniel Costello returned outstanding figures of 6-7 as the third team thumped Higham Ferrars seconds by 219 runs in Division 11. Ferrars were skittled for just 39.

Peterborough Town’s Saturday players are enjoying similar success. All three of their teams have won every single competitive clash this summer.

Newcomer Anand Kak (4-12) impressed again as Town seconds made it four from four with a 47-run win at Thrapston in a low-scoring Northants Division Two match and veteran Brian Howard (61) and teenager Ben Chance (5-23) were the stars as the club’s third team beat Warboys seconds comfortably in Hunts Division Three.

Shia Sports won a thriller in Hunts Division Four as Orton Park seconds were seen off by two-wickets despite only losing two wickets themselves.

Hamish Meichan (60no) and Ed Hogg (58) pushed the city side up to 182-2, but Shia enjoyed a 91-run opening stand between skipper Onali Ismail (59) and Mohammed Halani (37) before scrambling home.

Orton Park also suffered a narrow reverse 24 hours earlier when losing by three runs to Houghton & Wyton in Division Two. Pete Waughman followed 79 with 5-30 for Houghton.

Charlie Kearns (76) set up Spalding’s 101-run derby win over Moulton Harrox in South Lincs Division One. M. Piaggesi run out................................. 15 J. Moore c G. Meichan b H. Meichan ........ 0 G. Andrell run out...................................... 0 T. Waughab b Evans ............................... 13 K. Garner lbw Evans................................. 0 M. Campbell not out.................................. 2 G. Paine b H. Meichan .............................. 1

Extras 37 TOTAL 186 H. Meichan 12-6-22-3; N. UrRehman 4-2-10-0; N. Bradbury 10-1-33-1; S. Tyler 5-0-22-0; G. Meichan 6-1-33-1; C. Evans 8-1-43-2. Orton Park H. Meichan c Moore b Waughman ......... 27 G. Debell b Waughman........................... 28 C. Evans lbw Waughman........................ 33 B. Puttur b Waughman.............................. 0 S. Tyler c Paine b Viljeon........................... 4 G. Meichan lbw Waughman...................... 9 J. Prabhu lbw Viljeon............................... 11 N. Bradbury run out ................................ 30 E, Hogg c Hudson b Wales....................... 9 N. Ur-rehman run out ............................ 11 M. Rippon not out ..................................... 4

Extras 17 TOTAL 183 Bowling: M. Piaggesi 7-1-39-0; M. Campbell 10-1-36-0; P. Waughman 12-2-30-5; E. Viljeon 12-0-62-2; S. Wales 3.5-0-6-1.

ORTON PARK 2nds: Pictured before their weekend defeat by Shia Sports are from the left, back, Ethan Debell, Graeme Debell, Eddy Hogg, John Boon, Peter Plant, Hamish Meichan and John Bigham, front, Tom Plant, James Boon, Max Rippon, Pharos Khan and...