SIX wickets for Dan Farrow set Willoughby on their way to a steady home success over Bowden 2nds on Saturday’s delayed opening to the Northamptonshire Cricket League Division Six season.
The 17-year-old did most of the damage in his opening spell, coming into the attack after the visitors started off in cavalier fashion.
Opener Firth had scored 48 of his side’s 51 runs in the opening eight overs before Willoughby skipper Ben Hollis turned to his youthful attack who turned matters back in their favour.
Jake Quinney struck with his second ball before Farrow removed Firth as one of his initial five victims as the pair reduced the visitors from 51-0 to 63-7.
With a bowling change, only Anthony Roberts in at six for Bowden offered any further resistance in making 46 before he was one of Nikesh Mistry’s two late wickets, but it was the returning Farrow who aptly wrapped up the innings, recording superb figures of 6-2, with Quinney returning 2-9 as Bowden were dismissed for 113.
In reply, Willoughby lost opener Hassan Nawaz to a sharp catch in the slips with the score on 12, but Chaitiana Kursala and Ian Andrews steadied the ship and built a partnership of 53 before the former fell for 40.
Hollis came and went with only a further nine runs added, but Ashley Rayner joined Andrews and the pair saw Willoughby home without any further undue concern.
Rayner closed on 33 not out and Andrews a more sedate 29 as the hosts started their mini-campaign with a seven-wicket win.
WILLOUGHBY 2nds enjoyed a 23-run victory at Braunston Paddox 2nds in Division 11.
Batting first, the visitors set a competitive total of 190 for the loss of three wickets.
Young opener Matt Cartridge made the most of several dropped catches to make 56, sharing an opening stand of 89 with James Goodwin who made 31.
Their departures then saw Martin Nichols (23) and Dave Alcock (31no) steer Willoughby to just short of the 200 mark. Colin Scott’s 1-24 proved the best with ball for Braunston.
Their reply was led by opener Ben Jones who made 69 but Willoughby took regular wickets to keep their progress in check, with Archie McMillan taking 3-37.
Stephen Nelligan looked to lead a further charge making 48 but, with no other batter making double figures and extras accounting for a further 26 runs, the visitors were always in charge.
Alcock took 2-24 with the ball as Willoughby closed the game out.
