Harry's hundred in record stand

A record tenth wicket partnership put Ickwell back on track for victory in the Hunts League on Saturday.

Visitors Burghley Park won the toss and put Ickwell into bat. When they had reduced Ickwell to a low score of 139-9 they must have quite reasonably thought they had the match in the bag.

At this stage Ickwell’s number 11 Harry Rothband came to the crease to join Harry Young, the not out batsman. None of the spectators or players could imagine what was going to unfold in the coming overs.

The last two batsmen put together a hugely important stand and almost doubled the Ickwell total.

It has to be said that Harry Rothband is not known for his batting but he played his part as he held on to his wicket and contributed just three runs to an unbroken tenth wicket stand of 123.

Meanwhile his partner Harry Young (141 not out) tore into the bowling as he put away 11 sixes in his innings.

This pair created a new club record for a tenth wicket stand as they comfortably beat the previous best of 76 made in 1995 and also the slightly higher second XI best of 83 made in 1939.

This partnership completely changed the game and Ickwell finished with 262-9.

Burghley Park made a good reply but were all out on 209 to give Ickwell a win by 53 runs. Harry Young (4-41) was also the most successful bowler and beyond doubt man of the match.

An impressive knock of 90 from Alex Watkiss wasn’t enough to turn the game in Waresley II’s favour at Ramsey II.

The home side opted to bat first and number six Blake Mills clobbered 11 sixes in his 109 as they posted a score of 299-6.

Opener Watkiss led from the front in reply but only Phil Masdin (38) could hang around and the innings closed on 222-7, 77 runs short.

In Division Three Biggleswade suffered a 106 run hammering at Sawtry, their best figures coming from Thomas Boyd with 3-25.

Runs didn’t come easily for either side in Ickwell II’s narrow loss at Castor & Ailsworth II in Division Four.

In this return match of last week’s game at Ickwell the visitors and elected to field and Castor struggled to 117-8 from their 45 overs. Kandasamy Krishnaruban finished with 4- 16.

Ickwell II also found runs difficult to come by and eventually finished just six runs short of victory with one wicket in hand. Krishnaruban was also top scorer with 28 while Tinu Thankappan made 23.