Career-best spell for Leighton's Priestley
Leighton Town Cricket round-up
Light century backs up his blistering spell
Oxford III v Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard's trip to Oxford III was dominated by two players, one with the ball and one with the bat, in an outstanding four wicket win.
Put into bat, Oxford struggled for runs against Town's bowling attack of Al Priestley and Jack Kempster and only managed 65 runs in the first 29 overs, with Priestley taking three wickets in the process.
Oxford's middle order pushed the scoring along and the next four batsmen made scores between 30 and 49 but all their wickets again went to Priestley.
The home team finally reached 232-8 off their alloted 53 overs.
Priestley clean bowled five batsmen on his way to taking 8-84 in 24 overs an excellent spell of accurate bowling which earned him his career-best bowling figures.
Town's task looked daunting but openers Tom Light and Antony Francis looked confident as they set about having a good start.
Things didn't quite work out with Francis out for just eight and Phil Whatmore closely followed to a dubious LBW decision for one.
Dan Scott joined Light and the two put on 76 before Scott went for 36.
Meanwhile Light proceeded to his half century and found a good partner in Jack Kempster, who tore into Oxford's attack and smashed 46 off 36 balls in a stand worth 98 runs before Light was out for a magnificent 111 off 124 balls.
This was his maiden century in the Cherwell League and it included 12 boundaries.
It was left to James Bishop to see Town home and he did it in style hitting a huge six for the winning score.
Town's 233-6 in 44 overs earned another valuable 25 points for as they chase hard after Twyford and Wolverton.
New blood helps grind out a draw
Leighton Buzzard II v Wallingford
Leighton seconds were without their two leading wicket takers for the visit of divisional leaders Wallingford to Bell Close on saturday.
Fraser McJannet and Alfie Ruston were promoted from the third team and Tarunn Mistry returned for only his third game of the season.
Town won the toss and put the visitors in to bat first.
An excellent, if sometimes lucky, opening partnership worth 121 runs set the visitors on their way and it was the 29th over before Town achieved their first breakthrough when James Thomas took an excellent caught and bowled to get rid of Lee Ainsworth.
Yogesh Mistry took responsibility for filling the bowling gap as he bowled unchanged from the football ground end putting down 26 consecutive overs.
Fraser McJannet who has been taking wickets on a regular basis for the thirds pitched in with six excellent overs taking 3-16.
Yogesh, meanwhile, plugged away patiently and achieved his century – though not the one that bowlers enjoy –taking 4-111 from his marathon effort.
Wallingford declared at 210-9 with just one ball remaining with Leighton holding on to seven catches.
Skipper Ben Friday was the first Town wicket to fall as the home team struggled for early runs.
Chris Thompson looked in good form but was out to an extraordinary caught and bowled while Darton and Thomas both went cheaply.
Kirk Brazier batted well and just when he was looking to dominate the bowling he swung across the line at a straight one and his middle stump jagged back.
Dave Roberts was stumped wandering off down the track looking for a big hit and Rameez Dar was caught on the boundary for 25.
Leighton were now in danger of defeat and decided to close up shop batting out the last few overs for a draw.
Leighton ended on 190-9 and take nine points, but Wallingford increase their lead, thanks to their 15-point haul.
Thirds maintain winning streak at Abingdon
Abingdon Vale IV v
Leighton Buzzard III
Leighton's third team travelled to Abingdon seeking their sixth consecutive victory against the local fourth team and duly did so by the comfortable margin of eight wickets.
Town won the toss and decided to field first and were soon making inroads into the home batting.
Greenaway with 37 was the highest scorer and there were three more batsmen in the teens but 115 is only a modest score to defend.
Each of Leighton's bowlers took a wicket with Simon Halhead and Harry Jell both claiming three.
Town were in confident mood and although Damian Glendenning was out early for for just runs Tom Callaghan with 48 and Gareth Benger with 39 not out guided the visitors to 116-2 and a very comfortable 25 points as they maintain their second place in the division.
>> Leighton's Beds Sunday League Premier division game against local neighbours Dunstable Town was a casualty of the weather as the persistent Sunday morning rain left puddles of water on the square, thus making play impossible.
However, the development team were more fortunate in their game away against Waresley III and although there were a number of rain interruptions, the game did end in an exciting fashion.
Waresley batted first and Leighton bowled them out in less that their 40 over allocation for 166 runs.
Jack Bishop took three wickets and there were two each for Greg O'Hara and Adam Stiles. Damien Glendenning then led the reply for Town with 43 and Greg O'Hara ended on 38 not out.
Unfortunately the overs ran out for the visitors who ended on 157-8, just nine runs short of the target.
>> This weekend, Leighton's first team have a must-win fixture away against Wolverton if they wish to maintain their push for promotion from Division 3.
The seconds have an important home fixture against Challow & Childrey seconds while the thirds have a home game at Pages Park against Didcot IIIs with that game beginning at 1.30pm.
Both of the Sunday games are against Ickwell CC with the first team travelling and the development team at home to Ickwell IIIs.
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
