The 1st XI travelled over to Finedon to take on their 2nd XI, at Avenue Road. For the first time this season, Will Smith decided to bowl first after winning the toss. Ben Meachem (1-24) immediately paid back the faith, with a wicket in the 3rd over. At the other end, Will Knibbs reminded everyone of just how unselfish he has been this season and delivered an opening spell of 8-1-22-2, including the Finedon dangerman, in only his second proper bowl of the season. After initially struggling at one end, Karan Parmar (4-33) would find success after a switch and kept chipping away at the middle order. Arkanath (1-29) and Smith (1-56), along with a direct hit run out from Mr Monday Night Ben Meachem combined to take the other wickets, as Finedon were bowled out for 172.

Horton started their response with violence. Moffat and Parmar crashed the ball to the boundary, taking advantage of the powerplay. Horton were 42 off 5 overs before Moffat was caught for 15. Karan soon followed for a swift 32. Brayden Hill, once again, provided the spine of the innings and continued to accumulate runs, all around the wicket. When Horton lost two quick wickets, leaving them 105-4, Brayden found support in the obdurate Smith. Smith (19) and Hill put on 52 for the fifth wicket, before Smith found another way to get himself out. Will Knibbs (6*) would help finish off the chase with Brayden ending on an excellent 78*. Horton taking the 20 points.

2nd XI vs. Desborough Town CC 2nd XI

The 2ndXI recorded their first victory this season, furthermore it was the first victory in over 2 years, as we took a resounding 6 wicket victory over a visiting Desborough Town 2ndXI.

Horton House won the toss and elected to bowl first opening with the reliable bowling partnership of Thanush Devadasan (1-18) and Naitik Kakkar (4-12). The one Desborough opening batsman didn’t look like he was interested in blocking a single ball as he swung for everything, but not connecting. Soon enough he edged one off Thanush and wicketkeeper Joe Maw took an excellent leaping catch. The Desborough Skipper was next at the crease and he took the charge to the bowlers. Runs were beginning to flow, but only from one end as Naitik kept a tidy line at the other. With only one over left available in Naitik’s opening spell, this was his last opportunity at least for a while to strike, and wow what an over! Four wickets including a Hat-trick ripping through the Desborough top order had the visitors reeling at 55/5. Naitik’s 6th over read •W•WWW.

Harvey Cooke (3-32) kept the pressure on and picked up wickets regularly through his spell. James Hawksworth (2-1) picked up the final two wickets in consecutive balls to end the Desborough innings on 125 All Out. Joe Maw took an impressive 6 catches through the innings equalling the dismissals record with Craig Reilly earlier in the season.

The Horton opening pair of Harvey Cooke (14) and Andy Ward (32) started well with a 47 run partnership before both falling to the experienced veteran Desborough bowler. Raif Rahman (34*) and Jow Maw (17) helped steady the innings before Jow was bowled with the score on 85/3. In at 4, Zed Mirza (16) had one eye on the dark skies and weather quickly drawing in, smashing four quick boundaries edging us closer to the target. Harry Bennett-Sulsh (9*) and Raif saw us home in the 31st over, ending the curse that has hung over our heads for 38 over league games.

3rd XI vs. Raunds Town CC 2nd XI

Horton lost by 3 runs.

4th XI vs. Overstone CC 4th XI

The Legends took on Overstone at the Bozeadome this Saturday.

With three close games this season that were either last-ball or last-wicket defeats, Horton was looking to kick on from the middle of the table back into the promotion spots.

Winning the toss, Horton decided to have the best of the wicket and with dependable openers Jeremy Jesu and Siddy Auddy set about giving us a rapid start. However, chaos ensued with Horton reduced to 20-4 with only Siddy holding strong in the top order. It took a solid gritty batting performance from Rob Fraser-Allen (31) supported by Joe Willard and William Gallagher (27) to get us to a respectable 124.

With the sense of a tight game, the 4s took wickets at regular intervals, including a stunning catch in the deep by John Jesu to remove the Overstone danger man Carl Brown. Overstone was with the run rate with wickets in hand until Adam Willis took 3 quick wickets and Horton
was 1 wicket away from another tight finish - this time on the right side of the result we hoped. A couple of overs of "slow and straight" failed and Overstone just crept over the line.

Credit to both teams for putting on a fantastic game of cricket and credit to the wicket at Bozeat that played true and fair - Thank you Josh.

We live - We learn