Market Overton Cricket Club round-up
The opening weekend of the season was a humbling one for all associated with Market Overton Cricket Club.
They paid their respects to Mark 'Tiny' Mabbott, who sadly passed away during the close season.
'Tiny' who also played American Football for Leicester Panthers, was a gentle giant who was much admired by all that played with or against him on any sporting field.
The start of the campaign proved a successful one for Marko who recorded two Saturday successes and narrowly lost a close contest by just eight runs on Sunday.
The first team needed less than 10 overs to chase down their target in a nine-wicket win over Hallaton Stars 2nds in Division Seven East of the Leicestershire League.
The chase was set up by a great opening bowling spell from Mark Hudson and Stewart Naylor who both delivered their 10 overs straight through and took three wickets apiece.
They were followed up by 15-year-old Charlie Milner (1-13) and the returning Sammy Linford (3-9) , polishing off the tail and leaving just 88 to win.
A great opening partnership by skipper Nathan Adams (25) and newcomer Paul Warrington (53no) was supported by Joe Peveritt to get over the line.
The second team also won their match at Uppingham 2nds after a three-wicket victory in Division Nine East.
Marko produced a great all-round bowling performance with Sarah Musson taking four wickets to earn the player of the match plaudits.
Richard Cooper claimed three wickets while Amy Helstrip took two with Jack Adams adding one as Uppingham were bowled out for 99. Edward Finnemore was their top scorer with 17.
Ed Milner and Jack Adams opened the batting for Marko, however, they didn't have the best start when the former lost his wicket after eight balls.
Helstrip then joined Adams allowing him to get a quick-fire 23 runs before Cooper top-scored with 24.
Wickets then started to fall quicker than expected until Musson joined Lucy Farmer to see the game home on 20 not out.
Finnemore finished with three wickets for Uppingham while Bradley Sheehan claimed a brace without conceding any runs from his four overs.
The Sunday side were narrowly edged out in their Rutland League Division Four East match with Moulton Harrox.
Skipper Ryan Sharp and Charlie Milner opened the bowling with a great spell by both with the captain taking one wicket.
Jack Adams added four wickets with some quality spin bowling while Sam Culy claimed one and dad James two.
James Culy and Adams got the reply off to a nice steady start by adding around 50 runs between them.
This was followed by Stewart Milner (66) and Charlie Milner with a quick-fire 28runs.
The last two batters were Sam Culy - playing his final game for the club before moving to Exeter to attend university - and Zak Whittington took the team to the very end by getting 12 runs between them, leaving Marko just eight short of the total when Culy was bowled.
The women's team should have been in ECB National T20 Plate action on Easter Monday against Shepshed.
However, the weather reduced the game to a coin toss, which fortunately went Marko's way and they made their way into the second round.
Marko's well established junior programme starts on Friday, May 2, from 6pm with their ECB Dynamos Cricket Programme (8-11 year olds) and Under 11 to Under 19s squads, including their girls only offer.
Their All Stars (five-eight year olds) programme starts on Saturday, May 3, at 10am.
New members are always welcome and can visit www.marketovertoncricketclub.co.uk for more details.
There were mixed fortunes for the rest of the Rutland sides in their Leicestershire League openers on Saturday.
Oakham lost by nine wickets after being bowled out for 97 in their Premier Division match at home to Loughborough Town.
Seb Smith top-scored with 22 but Loughborough needed less than 13 overs to pass their target.
Uppingham were edged out by one wicket as they began their Division One season at Barrow Town.
The Rutland side made 201-9 after batting first with Hayden Brough marking his return to the club by top-scoring with 69.
Scott Green grabbed 3-32 in the Barrow reply while Charlie Cox claimed 3-18 but the hosts secured a narrow win as the final wicket eluded Uppingham.
Shyam Lakhani led Oakham 2nds to a 69-run win over Bharat Sports in their Division Four East opener.
Lakhani plundered 14 boundaries in his 92 before new signing Sam McAvoy hit a half-century as Oakham posted 270.
McAvoy then took 4-64 from his 12-over spell as Bharat were bowled out for 201 in reply.
Newly-promoted Uppingham 2nds lost by 39 runs at Dunton Bassett in Division Five East.
Harrison Garrill had taken 3-16 from nine overs as the hosts were dismissed for 146 but Uppingham could only make 107 in reply despite Ben Harford hitting 48.
Neil Southern and Will Stuart-Jones produced an unbroken partnership to help Oakham 3rds to a 10-wicket win over Countesthorpe 3rds in Division Nine East.
Dave Falconer had finished with 4-29 as Countesthorpe were bowled out for 167 before Southern struck 77 with Stuart-Jones adding 67 as Oakham romped to victory.
Wakerley and Barrowden were six-wicket winners at home to Barkby United 3rds in the same division.
The visitors were restricted to 83-9 before Barrowden passed their target inside 28 overs.
