Thursday saw the rearranged fixture against old foes Stony Stratford. Both teams came into the match unbeaten with the winner claiming top spot, bragging rights and momentum for the remainder of the league season. Oli B-S won the toss and elected to bat on a sunny but fresh evening.

The opening pair of Joe Maw (31no) and Harry (25) built a solid foundation in tricky batting conditions. Gurshaan (30no) and Eashaan (23no) batted positively and with authority and by the close of our innings, we posted a competitive total of 125-2. Some of the shots and running between the wickets were a pleasure to watch.

After a team talk centred around keeping it tight and giving absolutely everything, the lads took to the field. Opening bowlers Harry (1-20) and Eashaan (0-7) bowled with aggression and pace. The pressure resulted in an excellent run out by Aarav charging in from the covers. Sam (2-18) continued the aggressive approach bowling with venom and skill and the introduction of spin turned the match. Gurshaan (1-10) and Aarav (4-20) got great purchase from the surface and the Stony batsmen had no answer. The return of Harry and Eashaan for the last few overs saw us home by 22 runs. The fielding from all the players was on point and demonstrates the value of focusing on the disciplines required during our Friday training sessions.

A fantastic result for the lads. They played with real intent and represented the club brilliantly showing all the values we expect from a Horton cricketer. Next up a tough match against Overstone.