Town remain unbeaten
Leighton Buzzard Cricket Club round-up
Town's encouraging start to the Cherwell League Division Two campaign continued on Saturday when they edged past Twyford by five wickets at Bell Close, extending their unbeaten run to three games.
The visitors, making their first visit to Leighton, were asked to bat first and they were soon struggling as Al Priestley struck two early wickets before fellow opening bowler Jack Kempster claimed a third to leave Twyford at 40-3 off 12 overs.
There then followed a stand of 110 between Tanveer Nadeem (70) and Josh Goff (49) as they got Twyford back on track. But that was before Lee Selfe broke the partnership to help give the home side the advantage.
He took two wickets before Kempster claimed another two victims of his own, resulting in Twyford's innings ending with a score of 198-8. Selfe's figures were 3-52 off 19 overs, Kempster 3-31 and Priestley 2-33.
Town's reply stuttered at first with both openers out with only 13 runs on the board, but Phil Whatmore and Dan Scott pulled things round with a partnership worth 84 runs to get the hosts on the front foot.
Whatmore went lbw for 59, hitting 10 boundary fours along the way in a comfortable effort for him. And Jack Kempster joined Scott and helped produce a stand of 73 before the latter was bowled for 64.
With the score now standing at 170-5, Kempster (37 not out) was joined at the crease by James Bishop ((18 not out) and they soon knocked off the required runs to leave Town on 199-5 in the 45th over.
In the end it was a comfortable win for Town, giving them 25 points, while the visitors didn't go home empty-handed, picking up eight points for their efforts.
Bicester & NO 139-4
Leighton Buzzard 2nds 137
(Bicester win by six wickets)
In complete contrast to the first team, Leighton 2nds' poor start to their new Division Four season continued when they fell to a third defeat from as many games at Bicester.
The home team won the toss and put Town in to bat, and they found skipper Ben Friday in red hot form as he dominated the bowling, smashing his way to 78 runs in no time.
This included seven boundary fours and three sixes. But the trouble for Leightoin was that he only received decent support from Gareth Benger (19) and Sam Janes (11).
The remaining batsmen only managed 18 runs between them. Home skipper Simpson ended with impressive bowling figures of 6-54 as Leighton returned a modest 137 all out in 42 overs.
Simon Halhead made a good start for Leighton when the sides switched ends, taking a wicket with his first ball. But a patient 76-run stand then took the game away from the visitors.
Fraser McJannet took two wickets in as many balls, but there was little prospect of a win and Bicester coasted home by scoring 139-4 off 33 overs. Town's wicket takers were McJannet (3-29) and Halhead (1-23). Leighton took six points and Bicester the maximum 25.
Oxford & Bletch. N 193-7
Leighton Buzzard 3rds 138-7.
(Oxford win by 55 runs)
With a number of new players recruited from junior teams this summer, Town's 3rds have made a reasonable start to their Division Eight season, but had to settle for a draw at Oxford.
The team were first to bat and scored 193-7 off 44 overs before declaring in the last over. Captain James Raine led by example as he bowled 16 overs from which he returned 3-64, with support from Jack Bishop (2-41) and Joe Gillings (2-26).
In reply Leighton scored 138-7 from their 45 overs. Bishop top scored with 31 runs and Nick Allbury (23) and Raine (25) gave some respectability to Town's reply.
It was left to two U14 players to bat Town to safety with Stephen Moffatt on eight not out and Alex Brown on seven not out at the close. Their efforts saw the side claim eight points to the home side's 14.
Lutonians 159 all out
Leighton Buzzard 90 all out
(Lutonians win by 69 runs)
With some of their senior players missing, Leighton made the short journey to Toddington Manor to play Lutonians, but fell to a convincing defeat.
The visitors lost the toss and fielded first. To their credit they caused Lutonians considerable problems in the opening stages as opening bowlers Kempster and Scott found pace and bounce on a greenish track.
Leighton had the home team reeling at 22-3 inside six overs as the home batsmen played and missed on numerous occasions.
Selfe bowled a magnificent spell of 10 overs conceding just 18 runs and taking two wickets as Lutonians were made to fight for every single run.
It was the 34th over before this usually free-scoring side had 100 runs on the board. The runs did begin to mount towards the end of the innings as Town's players began to wilt in the heat
But to bowl Lutonians out for 159 in such circumstances was an outstanding effort. Kempster took 3-27 and Scott 2-42 and there was one wicket each for Janes and Light.
But that was the easy bit for Town as Lutonians have a vastly experienced attack which bowls with pace and accuracy, and the away side knew it would be a struggle to score runs.
Kempster top scored with a brave 42 not out as Sam Janes managed the only six in Town's reply on his way to 14 runs. The biggest Town partnership was the last wicket stand from Kempster and Jack Bishop who made 38 runs before fast bowler Aqab brought proceedings to an end with the score on 90.
Town lost by 69 runs but can hold their heads high. They take a thoroughly deserved 10 points for their efforts.
On Saturday the first team travel to Tiddington while the 2nds entertain Stokenchurch at Bell Close, both 1pm starts. The third team have a home fixture against Banbury.
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South
