21/06/2026
The 1️⃣XI produced another gritty defensive display at Ostlers Lane to protect a low total against Geddington.
After being asked to bat, Stony were in immediate trouble as the top order collapsed to 7-3. A calm third-wicket partnership between Aadi Sharma (37) and Charlie Oldershaw (30) steadied the innings, allowing us to get up to 123 all out.
The defense was built on another disciplined performance with the ball, something the 1s have excelled in so far this season. Farhad Hassan struck early and finished with 3-27, while Louis Gulliver claimed 2-20 to restrict the visitors' top order. Andy Marston, joint second-leading wicket-taker in the league, provided excellent control through the middle overs, conceding just 15 runs from his 8-over spell.
As Geddington's lower order attempted to mount a recovery, Ben Arnold cleared up the tail to finish with 3-22, supported by a sharp run-out from Sharma, dismissing the visitors for 104 to secure another hard-fought victory by 19 runs and keeping us neck and neck with Finedon Dolben at the top of the table. Looking good guys!
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The 2️⃣XI produced a masterclass in rearguard resilience against Brigstock, showing fantastic character to refuse to be bowled, hanging on for a hard-earned draw.
After electing to field, Stony faced a powerful batting lineup that piled on 256-6 from their 50 overs. Anish Katechia began brilliantly, striking twice to leave the hosts stuttering at 14-2. A massive third-wicket partnership put the opposition back in control, but Ollie Metcalfe proved the partnership-breaker, turning in a spell of 4-49 to dismantle the middle order and limit the damage to 256.
The chase ran into immediate trouble, with a devastating opening spell reducing Stony to a perilous 65-5. A collapse looked on the cards, but Heet Amin stepped up with an exceptional anchoring role, grinding out a vital 44 from 101 balls to provide some stability.
Amin found an aggressive ally in Andrew Cooper, whose counter-attacking 46 from 49 balls brought some life into the middle overs. When both fell to leave Stony at 159-7 with plenty of overs still to survive, it was down to pure defensive discipline, led by the Skip. Jake Vickers (21* off 51 balls) and Andy Smith (an incredibly gritty 3* off 39 balls) locked it down completely. Refusing to give away their wicket, they safely made it through the final overs to finish on 180-7, taking a crucial 7 points and showing that in certain situations, a draw in cricket can be as satisfying as a win!
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The 3️⃣XI had a difficult afternoon at Campbell Park, falling to a 6-wicket defeat against league leaders Mears Ashby 1st XI.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Stony struggled to gain any meaningful momentum against a very good attack and fell for just 67 in 20.2 overs.
George Oldershaw top-scored with 21 off 26 balls, while opener Thomas Simpson contributed 20. However, a blistering spell from the visitors' opening bowler - who ripped through the lineup to claim 6-24 - triggered a lower-order collapse that saw Stony slip from 60-4 to 67 all out.
Defending such a low total was always going to require early miracles, and the bowlers certainly showed fight.
Matthew Parkin struck early and finished with commendable figures of 2-25 from his 4 overs, while George Oldershaw capped off a strong personal performance by taking 2-5 from his 2 overs to pick up two quick wickets.
Despite their best efforts, the league leaders' top order attacked aggressively, chasing down the target in just 9.4 overs to claim the 20 points, leaving Stony to dust themselves down for next week.
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The 4️⃣XI delivered a completely dominant performance at St Davids Playing Fields, crushing Brixworth by 159 runs.
After being put into bat, Stony’s batters built an imposing total of 221-6 from their 45 overs. Arth Patel led the charge at the top of the order with a quick fire 47 off 44 balls, featuring 8 boundaries. He was supported by steady, valuable contributions throughout the middle order, with everyone making decent starts, giving us a total of 221 to defend.
The bowling defense was clinical, dismantling the opposition for just 62 runs in 20.1 overs. Zach Jones produced another exceptional opening spell, ripping through the top order to claim fabulous figures of 5-12 from his 5 overs - his second 5zwicket haul in as many weeks.
Tom Winton (1-20) maintained the early pressure, before Krrish Rawandale (2-4 from 4 overs), Ed Jordan (1-1), and Khush Shah (1-19) cleaned up the remaining wickets to cap off a tremendous team performance.
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The 5️⃣XI secured a convincing 59-run victory over Spencer Bruerne at Great Linford, putting together a good all-round performance - even if the match began with immediate drama.
On Fathers' Day weekend, there was massive hope and potential around a father-son opening partnership at the top of the order, only for it to be undone first ball as dad Mark Stratfull was dismissed LBW. A massive thanks must go to Bev Taylor for umpiring the 5s and coping brilliantly with an incredibly difficult decision (although son, Jake, declared it 'absolutely plum') to make on her very first ball of umpiring 40-over cricket - what a fantastic job she did!
Following that early drama, Jake (10 from 54) and Ryan Ghosh (31 from 53) successfully steadied the ship, digging in to steady the ship and lay a platform. Their resilience set the stage for Oswin Peter, who injected serious momentum into the innings with a brilliant, aggressive 55 off 51 balls (including 6 fours and a six). Will Van Rooyen added a steady 29 to ensure Stony reached a defendable total of 172-7.
The bowling defense was led by another family affair, anchored by the Van Rooyen partnership which accounted for six wickets. Opening bowlers George Mitchell (1-8) and Vivaan Sajithkumar (1-10) set a tight tone early, before Tom van Rooyen claimed 2-42 through the middle overs. Will Van Rooyen then tore through the rest of the lineup with a superb spell of 4-19 from 7 overs. Ryan Ghosh wrapped up the tail, taking 2-3 to dismiss the visitors for 113, sealing a maximum 20-point haul and capping off a very solid team performance.
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The 6️⃣XI saw none of the nail-biting drama of last week's two-run victory, and encountered a tough afternoon away at The Doc White Cricket Ground in a 109-run defeat to Bugbrooke 3rd XI.
After being asked to field, the bowlers did their best to restrict the home side. Lucas Peel followed up last week's debut with 2-36 from his 8 overs and Anand Nar returned efficient figures of 2-18 from 6. Yet another young debutant provided exceptional control, as Noah Philpott stemmed the runs with a super economical 1-28 from his maximum 10 overs, while Mikail Safi picked up 1-45.
The chase, however, never found its rhythm against a match-winning performance from the opposition's star bowler, who took 7-9. Harry Wilson provided a spark at the top with a brisk 17 off 11 balls, while Rob Wells ground out a hard-fought 20 and Zack Donovan added 12.
Unfortunately, the batting lineup struggled to build partnerships against the relentless pressure, and Stony were ultimately dismissed for 70 in the 30th over.
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Huge thanks to this week's match sponsor, MK Cricket Coaching, for their support.
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