CCA Junior 2C

Bottisham & Lode: 186-7 (40 overs)

Royston CC: 100 (36.4 overs)

Bottisham & Lode won by 86 runs

ROYSTON went down to Bottisham & Lode on Saturday in another tough encounter with top of the table opposition.

After the heavy defeat the week before against league-leaders Godolphin, second-placed Bottisham & Lode were always going to prove a difficult side to beat. Winning the toss and electing to bowl on what was a very green and soft wicket due to the rain from the previous night, Royston’s Temple and Fynn bowled economically from the off.

Once settled, however, the Bottisham openers took a liking to Fynn and tried to score heavily off his bowling, as Temple was proving impossible to get away, his first spell of six overs going for only three runs including five maidens.

At 43-2 after 12 overs, Royston looked in control, however Westbrook proved to be the only threat in the Bottisham batting line-up, consolidating and then looking to score from the second string Royston bowlers. Philip Hall bowled immaculately finishing with figures of 7-2-18-3, while from the other end runs began to flow more and more freely as Bottisham moved to 131-4 with 10 overs to go.

With Temple and Fynn being brought back for the last few overs, it was clear that wickets were the only way to halt the Bottisham progress, but Fynn was dispatched with ease for some towering 6s. Two late wickets for Royston did apply the brakes very slightly, however the damage was done and Bottisham finished on a competitive 186-7 in 40 overs.

Royston’s response got off to a slow start, with Mick Miller and Paul Leary carefully scrutinising the opening bowlers. However with the runs drying up, pressure told and Miller was caught trying to hit over the infield. Paul Leary soon followed suit, edging behind off Wilson for 14.

At the halfway stage Royston were 51-2 with Paul Miller and Martin Leary at the crease, and although behind the rate, they knew that some loose bowling in the latter overs might give them a helping hand.

Miller perished soon after drinks, though, before Leary went in the same over, leaving Royston’s long lower order dangerously exposed.

Wickets soon started tumbling and before long Royston were 65-8 with only Temple (22*) offering any resistance.

Joined by Toby Fynn, the two of them saw the score on to 100 with some lusty blows, but in the 36th over Fynn was caught in the deep, and the next over Haynes removed Philip Hall, bringing the Royston innings to an abrupt end, having reached 100 exactly.

Royston travel to Abington this coming Saturday and with a couple of experienced players returning, the likes of Sam Montague-Fuller who will add great strength to the batting department, Royston still remain confident of a strong second half to the season and securing a mid-table finish.