The woes of the wet spring seem to be behind us and another game was enjoyed in lovely conditions.
Due to a mix-up with grass-cutting contractors, Napton arrived to find the home team mowing the ground with the equipment that was available --- two lawnmowers.
Time was not on their side, so the game commenced with very long grass in the out-field. This would curtail the number of boundaries; but the same for both teams, so no problem.

Captain Mike won the toss for Napton and elected to bat first.

Batting proved to be difficult on this track of variable bounce and Napton struggled.
By the 16th over the visitors had lost batsmen 1,2 & 3 for just 44 runs.

Tom came in at No 4 and mastered the bowling but could not find a partner to stay with him.
Batsmen 5 & 6 went for a couple of quick ‘ducks’ and then Stuart at No. 7 managed to just get into double figures before being tempted to hoist it in the air for the inevitable.
Batsmen 8 & 9 didn’t stay long either.
James and Matt at 10 & 11 each managed to protect their wickets long enough, and support Tom, for the innings to progress to the allocated 40 overs.
Napton 156-9.

For what was considered to be a strong batting line-up for Napton this was way below expectations -- especially with ‘Extras’ being Napton’s second highest scorer !!
Perhaps the pitch would prove to be as challenging for the home team.

With Marton’s target at under 4 an over the visitors would need to bowl tightly and field with commitment.

Napton could not have had a better start.
Stuarts scorching first ball of the innings found an edge and Tom at slip snapped it up.
In his second over Stuart rattled the poles of Batsman No. 3 for a wicket-maiden.
A few overs later JP put the ball in ‘keeper Graham’s gloves via the edge of No.3’s bat.

So, history was repeating itself, and then some !!
Marton’s batsmen 1.2 & 3 were back in the pavilion after 6 overs for just 33 runs.
A run-out in the next over and 2 wickets for Rob in the 10th left the home-team with problems on 51-6.

However, Marton were well above the required run-rate and just needed a serious partnership to put them back in contention.
Batsmen 4 & 8 commenced to build a partnership until Tom’s quicker and flatter than usual ball put paid to No. 4. 80-7 after 16 overs. A run-rate of 5.
In the 30th over Stuart saw off 2 tail-enders leaving Marton on 112-9, with just one partner left for their high-scoring No 8 batsman.

This pair stubbornly resisted Napton’s efforts to end the innings and with 3 overs left Marton required 23 runs for victory.
Tom bowled the 38th over. On the 4th ball a mighty hit, high and long caused Joe to run forwards and then dive to get his mitts around the cherry ---- and hold onto it.
A fantastic catch --- and a win for Napton.
Marton 135-10 after 37.4 overs.

Another good team effort.
Once again, Graham only conceded 1 bye and although Mike didn’t take a wicket his 8 overs only went for 21 runs.
Fielding was virtually faultless and Napton CC continue to make steady progress to another satisfactory season of results.