WILLOUGHBY CC took home the bragging rights after they secured a three-wicket win over local rivals Yelvertoft in Northamptonshire Cricket League Division Seven.
The club are now potentially just two games away from promotion whilst their opponents were already relegated before last weekend’s derby clash.
Yelvertoft set a decent total, batting first in some of the hottest conditions seen at The Green for several years.
Openers Adrian Ratnayake and Anthony Howes made 23 and 31 respectively before Satya Sanikommu, in at four, top scored with 63.
For the Willoughby attack, Mark Fell returned figures of 3-48 with David Alcock, Callum Hanks and Ben Hollis each taking two wickets apiece.
In Willoughby’s reply, Hanks and Ashley Raynor made 43 and 44 respectively and, whilst the middle order failed to fire, once they had departed, Stuart Bonthuys in at eight again came to their aid with an unbeaten 44 seeing Willoughby to their target of 199 for the loss of seven wickets in the 31st over.
For Yelvertoft, Adam Ursell returned 3-46 with Sanikommu also impressing with the ball taking 3-54.
The result means Willoughby are still in third spot behind leaders Northampton Saints seconds and Mears Ashby with two games left to play.
In Division 13 Willoughby 2nds edged closer to promotion after playing out a thrilling tie with league leaders Abington Phoenix 2nds in an ill-tempered affair.
Phoenix have already secured promotion and batted first as they reached 115-4 thanks to a combination of the visitors below-par bowling and knocks of 72 from Mohammed Faris Chennari and 34 from Robin Jose.
However, Phoenix failed to capitalise on their strong start as wickets began to fall freely with Ryan Lines taking five wickets whilst Martin Nichols was economical as ever with 3-27 and Rees Moor 2-29 as the hosts fell to 168 all out.
In reply, Anshul Satsangi (29) and Stu Hall (19) offered some resistance but at 98-8 things looked bleak for the visitors.
An excellent stand of 31 from Lines and Fergus Deery gave a glimmer of hope before Lines opted to take matters into his own hands and attack as he scored a superb 67 which included eight fours and two sixes.
Phoenix were stunned and the league’s top wicket taker Rose had one opportunity to make amends from being tonked from pillar and post, which he did, bowling Lines with the scores level to ensure the game ended as a tie.
Results elsewhere mean Willoughby 2nds have all but secured promotion with two games left to play.
