The players arrived at Redwell Road to find a very green looking pitch. With some tackiness in the top surface, Will Knibbs had little doubt in asking Wellingborough Town to bat first. The home openers made a steady enough start, before Knibbs had Arnold caught at cover. This would spark an incredible spell from the Horton openers, both hitting their straps as fine swing bowlers. Chandracant (10-3-19-3) and Knibbs (10-0-30-4) each bowled through their ten over allotment to finish the 20 overs with Wellingborough now 44-7. Anvit Arkanath (1-13) and Karan Parmar (1-19) would wrap up the innings, along with a fine run out from Harvey Banks. Wellingborough all out for 88.

Horton lost Arkanath to the first ball of the innings, and it was clear that this was not going to be a straightforward chase. Horton were quickly 10-3, as the home side found similar aide from the pitch. A mini recovery took Horton up to 36, before Mowat was well caught at slip. This quickly became, 37-5. Vignesh Sudhakar and Joe Maw lead a fight back, with Joe taking the attack to the bowlers in a manner far beyond his 13 years. Joe put away the bad ball and ran with intent. It was 59-6 when Horton lost Viggy, bringing Will Knibbs to the crease. Joe went into overdrive and took 16 off the next over, bringing up his fifty. With the opener brought back on, Joe launched him over mid-off to take Horton over the line and his contribution to an outstanding 61* out of the 90. Horton got over the line, thanks to Joe’s fine knock.

2nd XI vs. Yelvertoft CC 1st XI

The 2’s welcomed Yelvertoft CC 1st XI to Denton Road for the 20th week of our 2025 campaign. We lost the lost and were asked to bowl first. We fielded a team with an average age of 20 (including Herbert and Cantrell – 48 and 38 respectively), and without them included the other 9 averaged 16yrs old. All of the bowlers bowled really well and the standard of the fielding was outstanding. It was the best we have fielded all season and the energy and effort from everyone was superb. We took some incredible catches and saved at least 50-60 runs in the field and bowled Yelvertoft all out for 211 in the 43rd over. There were wickets for Rory Monk (9-1-49-4), taking his wicket tally to 31 so far for the season. Tom Hodgkinson (8-0-39-2), Alfie Richardson (6-0-22-1), Elliot Cantrell (8.1-2-15-2) and Vaman Mallipedda (6-0-29-1).

We set about chasing 211 and there was an excellent partnership between Finn Herrington and Ryan Monk who put on 92 for the 2nd wicket combining some really good running between the wickets and some powerful and eye catching stroke play. Finn fell for a well made 46, but Ryan continued in his merry way making an outstanding 71 off 82 ball (7 x 4’s and 1 x 6), scoring his first half century for the 2nd team in the process (with many more to come).

After losing Ryan we continued to lose regular wickets, but there was a really good innings from Alfie Richardson who made 35 off 43 balls and very nearly got us over the line. We were finally bowled out for 199 in 45 overs, falling 12 short. I was so proud of the whole team. There effort, energy, commitment and the standard of the Cricket they all played was outstanding for such a young team. To push the side at the top of the league all the way was an outstanding effort. Although we were all very disappointed not to get over the line, there was so much learning which the team can take moving forward into our last two games and next season.

After 20 completed weeks of the 2025 season, the 2’s have now won 14, lost 5, and had one cancelled, and we currently sit 3rd in the league. With two games to go the aim is to finish strong and give it our all.

3rd XI vs. Wellingborough Town CC 3rd XI

For the penultimate game of the 3s campaign we welcomed Wellingborough Town to the Bozeadrome. Having won the toss the opponents were put into bat and we opened up with James and Harry. Harry’s first over brought an explosive start with a brilliant run out by Fred (credit again to Monday night fielding training) and then another wicket for the bowler. Horton were on the front foot and determined to keep the pressure on Town. James was bowling tight lines from the top end (10 overs 0-28) but the wickets were falling at the other end, with Harry’s spell of 10 overs yielding 3-23, aided by some fine catches from John and Amos. At the break after 20 overs Town were 4 down but with only 50 on the board. Kev (bowling off a short run up; 3-12) and Ian (3-22) took over bowling duties and duly showed why they’ve been leading wicket-takers in the team for many years, cleaning up the rest of Town for less than 40 more runs.

So, 91 was the target and credit to Wellingborough who attacked from the start, crowding the bat and opening with Joseph’s wily off-spin. After the skipper departed for a quack, Fred and Andy dug in and started to edge the score forward. When leg-spinner Bhundia came on it was clear that the pitch was starting to take a lot of spin, a perception confirmed when Andy (20) shouldered arms to a ball pitching way outside off, only to hear the ball turn back and hit his middle stump. After John also got another jaffa, we were 36-4 and the Town were scenting a collapse. Credit then to Amos and James who used all their experience to blunt the Town’s spinners and launch a counterattack, with a couple of super 6s from James denting the hopes of the opposition. With Amos finishing 22no and James 33no Horton reached the target. But for a mid-season dip in form and availability it’s clear that another promotion push would have been on the cards; however, with this win our position as 4th in the league was confirmed.

4th XI vs. Kettering Town CC 5th XI

With 2 games to go and a win confirming the Legends promotion, the slightly different routine of a Sunday morning start still meant that the Legends were put in to bat at Kettering. With Kettering sitting a win beneath us in the table they came out guns blazing and in a torrid few overs had Horton in trouble with 4 quick wickets for 12 runs. Father and son combo of Devkrrish Satheesh (19) and Satheesh Krishnamurthy (10) steadied the ship but after their partnership it was only the last wicket that offered any resistance with Jaiteerth Satheesh and skipper Paul Das. It was credit to Kettering who bowled very well and using the overcast conditions and green wicket to counter any batting plans Horton had. Horton ended the session 89 all out.

With team photographs taken thanks to the ever present NCL snapper – Finbarr Carroll and the warming alarm sent it was going to be some performance if the Legends were going to get a result from this.

Vipul Patel and Alex Monk opened the innings and within a few overs we had taken 3 wickets thanks to the guile and swing of Vipul. Alex was not so lucky and whilst besting the bat ball after ball came into some aggressive batting from Kettering’s Clive Wears who in a quick fire 53 took the game from us and Horton lost before drinks.
It was great to see Horton 1st XI skipper on the day to cheer us on and Finbarr taking photos as well as Kettering putting on a Live Stream – all recorded as a “Nightmare to Remember” for us Horton batters!!

So one game and hopefully a win to promotion. However, it is not about promotion. The goal is to learn how to bat long innings, bowl sustained spells, and field under pressure — even if that means losing matches. It is about a sense of connection, kinship, and relationship through shared experiences and working together in winning and in losing – the Kiwis call it Whanaungatanga.

Go Antlers One More Time