CCA Junior League 2C

Saffron Walden CC 203-6 (40 overs)

Royston CC 146 all-out (34 overs)

Saffron Walden won by 57 runs

ROYSTON went down by 57 runs at home to Saffron Walden on Saturday.

Winning the toss and bowling first, Royston enjoyed early success with opener White being bowled by Chris Hootton for just 7.

After that, however, Royston’s bowlers were unable to make further inroads as Wright (76) and McDowell (62) built up a healthy second-wicket partnership.

At the halfway point the visitors were on 102-1 and looked well set for a total of about 250. In his second spell, however, Richard Temple dismissed Wright and applied the brakes to the innings.

With Hootton and Toby Fynn also bowling tightly during the final 10 overs of the innings and a smart run-out executed by Paul Miller, Royston were able to restrict the visitors to a total of 203-6 from 40 overs, with the best figures coming from Temple (1-35-10), with Toby Fynn picking up 2-36-9, and Chris Hootton 2-58-10.

Royston’s reply began well with Rory Harper and Mick Miller seeing out the opening overs, and reaching 20-0 off four overs.

The wicket of Harper (13), however, sparked off an early collapse and Royston were in trouble at 56-3.

Ashley Judge (37) and Mick Miller (40) steadied the ship but once the two were dismissed, the Royston innings quickly fell apart from 108-4 as they were dismissed for just 146 in 34 overs.

Stand-in skipper, Temple, was optimistic after the defeat and said: “Considering we only had 10 men, we did Ok to restrict them to 203.

“There were lots of gaps in the field and plenty of singles available. The bowling was a bit inconsistent, with a few people short on match practice.

“Early season availability is always an issue, too, and we were missing three or four batsmen. Once they return, and our bowlers find some consistency, I still think we’ll have a strong team who’ll be looking to compete for promotion in this league.

“We’re particularly keen to welcome back 16 year old Paul Leary, who’s already made 3 scores of 80 or more on Sundays, including a second century last weekend.”