Moulton Harrox made a winning start to their South Lincs and Border League Division One campaign with a tough trip to Belton Park 1st on Saturday.
The visitors lost the toss, but Harrox captain Joe Broomfield looked to counter attack the tricky conditions and shared an opening partnership of 54 with Lance Bettinson inside 13 overs.
Broomfield made a fine 41 consisting of mainly boundaries while Bettinson (15) did a great job in seeing off the new ball against some good seam bowling.
Karl Hibbert (18) and Andy Goodley (29) kept the scoreboard ticking along during the middle overs, punishing any loose deliveries.
Hibbert’s departure gave Will Naylor (32no) an opportunity to carry on the good work on what was a deteriorating wicket as Moulton finished their 45 overs on 169-6.
With the ball, Moulton started in the best possible way by picking up three wickets in the first six overs with 16-year-old Alex Baker (2-22) bowling with great pace and aggression while Naylor (1-19) caused the top order problems.
Jonny Barnett (4-19) then marked his return to cricket after a two-year absence through injury in fantastic fashion by picking up two wickets in his first over.
New signing Louis Greetham (2-24) also made it very difficult for the Belton batsman to settle by bowling with pace and accuracy.
It was left to spinner Joe Griffiths (1-9) to take the last wicket, leaving them 69 runs short of Moulton’s total.
Moulton Harrox started their Rutland League Division Four East season with a convincing win over Whittlesey 2nd at Broad Lane with Joe Griffiths taking a wonderful six-wicket haul.
On a fantastic looking pitch, Moulton won the toss and decided to have a bat with Joe Broomfield (67) smashing nine fours and two sixes.
Captain Alex Sowerby (15) hit some quick-fire runs, including a six, before oungsters Lewis Peak (41) and Liam Barwick (32) boosted Moulton’s innings by batting with great maturity.
Peak blasted four fours and two sixes while Barwick stroked six boundary fours in his fine innings. Alin Carter (21) carried on the good work, helping Moulton to maximum batting points.
Carter (1-30) started Moulton’s domination with the ball by picking up a wicket with his first delivery while Darren Hibbert (1-38) bowled his overs economically and deserved more than just the one wicket for his work.
Vice-captain and spinner Joe Griffiths (6-45) was Moulton’s star ripping through the Whittlesey middle order.
Griffiths bowled with consistency and a good pace, bowling some unplayable deliveries.
Broomfield (2-1) picked up the other two Whittlesey wickets within his first and only over.
Moulton picked up all 20 available points and will look to do the same next Sunday as they host Market Deeping 2s.
