Eaton Bray – 187-9 off 40 overs (25 points)

Great Horwood – 66 all out off 24 overs (4 points)

Great Horwood were convincingly beaten on Saturday at Eaton Bray, and now need to win both their final two matches of the Four Counties Cricket League campaign if they are to stand any chance of staying in Division One. Stuarts Parker’s men now sit twenty points adrift of third bottom and next week host third placed Thurleigh who haven’t lost in five, before finishing at New City (MK) who are currently in that third bottom position the week after, in what could possibly be a win or bust fixture although their fate may be sealed before that game commences.

Horwood won the toss and elected for their hosts to bat first and made an early break through when Adam Armitage removed Andrew Norris with the score on 11; fellow opener Wes Hosking was met at the crease by Joe Braddon and the pair made 47 before Braddon was caught and bowled by Simon Ridgway. With James Flecknell as a partner Hosking reached his half century before Olly Prendergast removed Flecknell, Glenn Hearn replacing him then partnered Hosking as they made fifty-three between them until Hosking was finally removed by Ridgway with his score on 87.

Simon Ridgway took 3 wickets

Two further quick wickets saw Lawrence Bunker & Jaco Jacobs removed by Ridgway & Robby Taylor respectively, and with the score on 173 Jamie Osborne was run out for the seventh Eaton Bray wicket to fall. With Hearn now on 28 Josh Edwins came to the crease but the pair failed to add any score as Dale Armitage removed the bails of Hearn, Philip Spicer & Edwins made a further 14 runs until the former was run out, and the home side finished their innings with a total of 187, Simon Ridgway taking 3-46 off his 9 overs the best of the Horwood bowling.

Stuart Parker & Sam Willett opened for the visitor’s and reached 17 before the skipper was seen off by Andrew Norris, Willett then fell just two runs later to the same bowler with his score on 11 & he was to be one of only two Horwood player to make double figures during the innings. Dale Armitage and Alex Gilder added six runs before Armitage was caught off the bowling of Josh Edwins, a run later Dom Pritchard became the first wicket of the afternoon for James Flecknell.

Simon Ridgway went for a duck after being trapped LBW off Flecknell, and a series of extras then helped the Horwood score along until Olly Prendergast was stumped off the bowling of Flecknell leaving the score 46-6. Alex Gilder fell a run later, Robby Taylor a further two runs later and Adam Armitage fell with the score on 56, Haydon Morrison came in and made 10 but when he was bowled by Jamie Osborne the game was over, Horwood making just 66, of which twenty-one were extras, James Flecknell took 4 wickets for 5 runs off 5 overs the pick of the bowling.

Match scorecard: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/results/3368441

League table: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/websites/view_division?id=78263

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Great Horwood CC travel to Eaton Bray on Saturday as they begin their run in on what is a four-way battle to avoid relegation from Four Counties Cricket League Division One. The bottom four places which includes both teams are separated by just seventeen points, so a twenty-five point win would see a huge lift to the Horwood squad.

Sports Shots caught up with captain Stuart Parker ahead of the game:

This weekend we travel to Eaton Bray in a must win game if we are to avoid relegation. They sit 3 places above us but a win would probably see us jump above them depending on bonus points. We beat them comfortably at home so fingers crossed for a repeat performance!

Adam Armitage, Haydon Morrison and Alex Gilder return to the team from last week, however Glyn Davies, who hit 50, is unavailable

FCCL Div 1 table

Team:

S Parker

A Armitage

D Armitage

A Gilder

S Krajnyk

H Morrison

O Prendergast

D Pritchard

S Ridgway

R Taylor

S Willett

The match starts at 1.30pm

Great Horwood – 148 all out off 37.4 overs (4 points)

North Crawley – 152 for 5 off 34.2 overs (25 points)

Great Horwood were beaten at home on Saturday by league leaders North Crawley and with the defeat slumped to the foot of the Four Counties Cricket League Division One table, but with three games left to play there are more than enough points left to play for to get Stuart Parkers men out of trouble especially as two of those games are against teams in the same relegation dogfight as Horwood. Glyn Davies made a half century as the hosts reached a total of 148, but it was never going to be enough against the side who are now comfortably clear at the top of the league, and five of their seven batsmen scored more than twenty as Horwood toiled to try and get something from the game.

The home side won the toss and elected to bat first and regular openers Stuart Parker & Sam Willett reached 19 before Parker was given out LBW off the bowling of Courtney Gresty; replacement Ken Cronshaw made 1 before he was caught off the same bowler, & in the very next over Willett was caught off Carl Bryce to leave the home side 23-3.

Dale Armitage & Glyn Davies then steadied those early nerves and put on a brilliant 46 between them, but Armitage fell in the 18^th over driving straight into the hands of John Collings off Richard Bryce when on 19. The returning Olly Prendergast lasted just three balls before being caught, Sam Krajnyk didn’t fare much better being trapped LBW and when Dom Pritchard was bowled without scoring Horwood were 79-7.

Glyn Davies reaches 50

Davies continued to score and his partnership with Simon Ridgway made 36 helping Horwood settle once more and get over the three figure mark, and in the 31^st over his eighth boundary of the afternoon saw him reach a much deserved half century, although the very next ball saw him trapped LBW and his innings was over.

Ridgway then struck up a rapport with incoming Chris McStraw and the pair added a further 32 before the former was caught when on 28, then a mix up in the running between McStraw & Rob Taylor saw the former run out and the Horwood innings ended on a respectable 148 considering they’d been 23-3 and 79-7. Richard Bryce the pick of the bowlers taking 4 wickets for 15 runs off his 9 overs, Carl Bryce & Courtney Gresty taking a pair of wickets each.

After the break Crawley came out and batted as if they were looking to be home early, scoring twelve off both the opening two overs and ten off the third. With the score on 42 Horwood finally made the breakthrough when Jack Shiel hooked a shot at Ridgway who took the catch off Taylor’s bowling, the runs continued but a brilliant diving catch by bowler Dale Armitage saw him take the wicket of Alex Walker when he was on 31.

Another 22 partnership frustrated the home side but was briefly interrupted when a fierce shot was caught full in the face by the square leg umpire who had to retire from his duties, thankfully a replacement was found amongst those watching from the pavilion. Once the game restarted Rajet Nahar was caught and bowled by Prendergast, and the score at 84-3 gave Horwood a brief glimmer of hope.

Olly Prendergast took 2 wickets

Collings & Steve Sharpe added another 19 before Ridgway bowled the latter, and just three runs later Collings was caught off Prendergast and the home side suddenly had a spring in their step, but as the skies darkened so did the home sides mood as Sam Marley & Carl Bryce refused to be beaten, and the pair added 45 runs to take the victory with thirty-four balls to spare. Prendergast with a brace of wickets upon his return to the side, Taylor, Armitage & Ridgway all taking one apiece.

Match scorecard: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/results/3368462

League table: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/websites/view_division?id=78263

Please Note: If you use any of our material or images, please ensure you credit sportsshots.org.uk

For match photography please click here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmqFuoHZ

Great Horwood CC host top of the table North Crawley on Saturday in their toughest game of their run in, as they try and escape the long arms of relegation currently wrapped around them. With four teams separated by just nine points at the foot of the Four Counties Cricket League Division One table, Horwood are in desperate need of some fortune this weekend, although both teams have the same recent record of one win in their last three matches.

Horwood will be looking to avoid a repeat of the fixture at Crawley where the home side batted first and amassed a score of 211 for Horwood to target, however the innings lasted just 79 balls as they were skittled out for just 37!

Sports Shots caught up with captain Stuart Parker ahead of the game:

This Saturday we entertain North Crawley which will be a very tough test as they sit top of the league and we are missing a host of bowling options.

But on the plus side Glyn Davies, Bill Bridgman and Olly Prendergast all return after not featuring for a while

Olly Prendergast

Team:

S Parker

D Armitage

B Bridgman

K Cronshaw

G Davies

S Krajnyk

C McStraw

O Prendergast

S Ridgway

R Taylor

S Willett

The match starts at 1.30pm

Great Horwood – 164 for 8 off 40 overs (4 points)

Milton Keynes – 166 for 3 off 26.1 overs (25 points)

Sam Willett top scored

Great Horwood suffered defeat again on Saturday at home to Milton Keynes CC, and now find themselves embroiled in a four-team scrap at the bottom of the Four Counties Cricket League Division One table, with two relegation places available just nine points separate the bottom four sides. It was always going to be tough going against high flying MK & Horwood set them a target of 164 for victory, but they rattled the runs off for the loss of just 3 wickets, and just shy of fourteen overs left in the game.

Horwood won the toss and elected to bat and were soon two wickets down as Stuart Parker & Ken Cronshaw were both dismissed by Usman Iftkhar, but Dale Armitage came in to partner Sam Willett and the pair added a further 25 runs before Armitage was caught by Neil Gordon again off the bowling of Iftkhar. Sam Krajnyk made 7 before being bowled out by Daniel Ramsell, Dom Pritchard then suffered the same fate when on 6 and Horwood were 67-5.

Willett then paired up with Simon Ridgway and the partnership was worth 24 runs until Willett fell to Nimesh Chavda with his score on 32, and shortly after Ridgway fell to Grant Ebrahim after reaching 25. Adam Armitage came to the crease but lasted just seven balls before being bowled out by Joe Fairbrother, and that left Chris McStraw with Robby Taylor and between them they saw the innings out with a partnership of 56, the former finishing 19 not out and Taylor ending 30 not out.

Robby Taylor hit 30

Nick Hillman was removed by Dale Armitage with the score on 22 but from there MK took control and a 96-run pairing of Chavda & Gordon saw them reach 118 before Horwood took another wicket, Taylor bowling out Chavda with his score on 68. Gordon moved the score on until caught by Parker of the bowling of Ridgway for 37, but with just seven runs required for victory Sam Hagger & Ebrahim clinched the win for their side.

Match scorecard: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/results/3368459

League table: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/websites/view_division?id=78263

Please Note: If you use any of our material or images, please ensure you credit sportsshots.org.uk

Great Horwood Cricket Club host Milton Keynes CC on Saturday looking to bounce back from last week’s disappointing defeat at New Bradwell.

Adam Armitage returns

Sports Shots has been catching up with captain Stuart Parker ahead of the game:

We play MK looking to bounce back after a very disappointing performance last week.

It’ll be another tough afternoon, with over half the team enjoying a day at Edgbaston on Friday watching England!

Team:

S Parker

A Armitage

D Armitage

K Cronshaw

S Krajnyk

C Mcstraw

H Morrison

D Pritchard

S Ridgway

R Taylor

S Willett

New Bradwell – 164-0 off 24.3 overs (25 points)

Great Horwood – 161-8 off 40 overs (3 points)

Great Horwood were soundly beaten on Saturday at New Bradwell on a day of sunshine, rain & strong winds that numerous times helped the bales off the stumps and even blew the sun screens along the boundaries at either end of the pitch. Despite Bradwell sitting at the foot of the Four Counties Cricket League Division One table, they tore into Horwood from the off and reduced their guests to 38-6 at one point, Horwood dug in thanks to 61 from Simon Ridgway & 25 from Josh Nix and a total of 161 looked healthy enough, but Chris Timms helped himself to an unbeaten 120 either side of a rain break as Horwood failed to take a single wicket as the home side reached their target with ease.

Horwood won the toss and elected to bat, a bone dry wicket that had seen some early morning rain turned into a nightmare for the opening batsmen, Sam Willett was given out in just the 2^nd over however upon appeal the two umpires consulted and reversed the decision. Then in the very next over captain Stuart Parker was bowled by James McMillan, Ken Cronshaw followed in the next over after being bowled by Mohammed Shahid, Willett was given out LBW in the following over off McMillan & in Shahid’s next over Dale Armitage was given out LBW and from six overs Horwood stood 18-4.

Simon Ridgway reaches 50

Dom Pritchard & Sam Krajnyk then stopped the rot for a spell and managed to double the runs on the board between them before McMillan bowled Pritchard for 11, just two runs later in the same over Krajnyk was caught and bowled by David Little. Josh Nix and Kevin Smith brought some stability for Horwood with a partnership of 33 until Nix going for a big boundary only found the hands of Charlie Maw when on 25, Ridgway & Smith then added a further 33 runs before Smith was bowled by Shahid. Ridgway then went on with Haydon Morrison to reach his half century as their partnership racked up another 57 runs as they ended on 161; McMillan & Shahid both ending the innings with 3 wickets each off their nine overs each.

Bradwell started their innings rather tentatively and runs were at a premium for the opening half a dozen overs, but once Timms found his range he started knocking the ball out of the park on a regular basis, his innings consisting of eighteen boundaries. As much as Parker switched his bowling attack the results were the same; Timms reached his half century in the 10^th over and continued to chisel away at the target until the 27^th over when the skies darkened and the rain so heavy play was halted as the home side battled to get the covers on.

Chris Timms reaches century

A break of thirty minutes or so did little to help Horwood as Timms and his counterpart Maw emerged from the clubhouse to rattle off the remaining runs needed without much fuss, their unbeaten partnership of 164 saw Maw finish 30 not out with Timms taking the applause for his 120 not out.

Match scorecard: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/results/3368477

League table: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/websites/view_division?id=78263

Please Note: If you use any of our material or images, please ensure you credit sportsshots.org.uk

To view match photography please click here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmfXNBJS

Great Horwood CC travel to bottom of the table New Bradwell CC on Saturday in a game that could well define Horwood’s season. A win could open some daylight between them and the relegation places, whilst a defeat would drag them back into the dogfight at the foot of the Four Counties Cricket League Division One table.

Stuart Parker’s side will be confident after beating Westcroft last week, and whilst Bradwell have struggled for runs of late, just two weeks ago opener Kieran Lampard hit 203 against New City (MK) so a keenly fought battle lies ahead.

Ken Cronshaw

Sports Shots caught up with captain Stuart Parker ahead of the game:

This Saturday is a really big game for us as we travel to New Bradwell who are currently bottom of the table, but a side who beat us at home back in May, so we know it will not be easy. The division is so close currently with only 42 points separating bottom place up to 6^th.

We have been on a good run recently though and a win would help increase the gap between us and the bottom two. Team wise Josh Nix, Ken Cronshaw & Chris McStraw all return to the side this week

Team:

S Parker

D Armitage

K Cronshaw

S Krajnyk

C McStraw

H Morrison

J Nix

D Pritchard

S Ridgway

R Taylor

S Willett

Great Horwood – 216-2 off 40 overs (25 points)

Westcroft – 195 all out off 39.3 overs (5 points)

Great Horwood clinched a vital victory on Saturday over Westcroft, a result that sees them now twenty points clear of the relegation places going into next week-ends crunch clash at bottom placed New Bradwell. Another century from skipper Stuart Parker and half-century from Sam Willett helped the hosts to 216 off their 40 overs, in return Westcroft fell short of their target thanks to all five of the Horwood bowlers taking wickets.

Stuart Parker in action for Horwood

Parker won the toss and elected for his side to bat, a decision justified when he and Willett made 144 before the latter was caught off the bowling of Shahzad Mohammad for 59. Parker continued to make runs and his partnership with Dale Armitage was worth 66 before he finally fell to Haseeb Ahmed, his 117 including eighteen boundaries. Armitage went on to make 29 as Horwood set their guests the target of 217 to win.

Iqbal John was the only one of the first three batsmen for Westcroft to reach double figures, his 31 brought to an end by Simon Ridgway, but Asad Shah & Alex John then made 40 & 52 respectively as the visitors fought back. Once Haydon Morrison & Dom Pritchard removed them only one of the final six batsmen made double figures, the final wicket falling with just three balls to spare. Ridgway ended with 3 wickets for just 26 runs off his 9 overs, Robby Taylor, Dale Armitage & Pritchard all took a brace each with Morrison the other wicket taker.

Simon Ridgway

Match scorecard: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/results/3368465

League table: http://4ccl.play-cricket.com/website/websites/view_division?id=78263

Please Note: If you use any of our material or images, please ensure you credit sportsshots.org.uk

Great Horwood CC host Westcroft on Saturday looking to avenge their defeat when they visited their guests back in May.

Sports Shots caught up with captain Stuart Parker ahead of the game:

Youngsters Alex Gilder & Billy Harper return to the side along with Dom Pritchard & Simon Ridgway who both missed our game last week

Billy Harper

Team:

S Parker (c)

D Armitage

A Gilder

B Harper

S Krajnyk

H Morrison

D Pritchard

S Ridgway

R Taylor

J Trundell

S Willett (wk)