1st's v Langtons
Alex "Smasher" Ashwin managed to smash a quick fire 40 not out from only 15 balls to see Uppingham to a third successive Everards victory despite rain, hail and wind lashing their Castle Hill ground for much of Saturday afternoon.
With plenty of rain forecast, Langtons won the toss and opted to bat first and managed to blunt the normally potent opening pair of Danny Dumford and Ashwin as opening pair Shah and Horner managed to put 61 runs on for the first wicket.
Shortly after the first rain break and with the match now facing a reduction in overs, Horner fended at an Alex Ashwin (1-21) bumper to be caught at short leg. Following another rainbreak veteran Colan Bartram (2-29) once again showed his considerable nous in removing the other opening Shah for 32 and then Clapham in the same over to wrestle the initiative back in Uppingham's favour - particularly as Langtons were now behind the run rate having only got 33 overs from which to set a score.
With Langtons trying to up the tempo another tidy spell from Scott Green, who had recovered from a minor groin injury picked up last weekend, again meant scoring was difficult. However Morrison 31 runs from 55 balls was holding the innings together until he became one of two victims for Green (for the expense of 23 runs from 8 overs). From the other end, and bowling into an increasingly strong wind, young lad Harry Butchart (1-17) picked up a handy wicket caught by brother Donald at short mid wicket.
With tea already taken during during a rain break, a quick turnaround would see Uppingham chase 137 for victory, initially from 36 overs, but with more rain around there was an incentive to get on with things.
That may have contributed to Jamie Dumford's demise - his first dismissal this season chasing a wide one and nicking one behind of the bowling of Ryan Wilson (1-23 from 8 overs), and then Will Cropper who skied one to be out for 8. A period of consolidation followed for Uppingham as Adi Salt looked composed again at the crease.
A further rain delay reduced Uppingham's allocation of overs to 33, and with the need to up the tempo a 3rd wicket stand of 53 was broken when David Fish (17 runs) nicked a gentle off break to slip.
Adi Salt then fell victim to the same bowler (L Wilson; 2- 25) for an excellent 45 runs from 58 balls which had moved Uppingham into range.
However Arif ripped out 3 quick wickets either side of a further rain delay for Langtons, which meant with Uppingham now having a maximum of 26 overs to chase the runs both sides sensed victory.
So enter the excellent Ashwin into the fray. The equation - Uppingham needing 31 runs from 5 overs. Langtons needing 4 wickets. Ashwin smashed 5 fours and 2 sixes in a brutal onslaught seeing Uppingham home with an over to spare.
After an impressive win on the opening day of the season last weekend, Uppingham travelled a short way down the A47 to Illston Abbey seeking to establish a lead at the top of Division Four.
Illston won the toss on a pitch that offered variable bounce from the start, and after Danny Dumford had two chances put down early on he induced a third mistake which was caught at mid off by Colan Bartrum. A second wicket for Dumford followed shortly afterwards as he finished yet another impressive opening spell with 2-16 from 6 overs.
The only real resistance came from Uday who released the shackles a little by hitting over the top and through mid wicket for a relatively quick fire 24. However, at the other end there was minimal support, and when Bartram and Scott Green joined the attack bowling 11 maidens between them in 22 overs, it effectively squeezed the life out of the opposition. Green the pick with 3 for 13 from 10 overs, but Bartram's 12 overs 2-15 exploited the pitch conditions perfectly and was a constant threat.
At 80-7 from 34 overs and Illston looking to bat out their overs, club legend Billy Beaver was introduced to the attack, sporting a swollen ankle and fractured rib and proceeded to produce 3 unplayable overs of induckers that polished off the tail and left Beaver with 2 wickets for 6 runs, and Illston all out for 87 from 40 overs.
And so, for the second time in two weeks, Uppingham chased less than 90 for victory, and for the second time in two weeks, Jamie Dumford led from the front as Town got off to a flyer in response. The difference this week, was that Adi Salt more than joined the party creaming 4 sixes (one launched out of the ground), as the pair made a mockery of the difficult pitch as the score reached 57 from 6 overs.
It was little more than a formality as Salt 40 not out, and Dumford 31 not out brought up a 10 wicket win from the first ball of the 14th over and complete another comprehensive win. Promotion is certainly the target, but nothing is ever won in the first weekend in May and Uppingham must keep up this impressive start to achieve the clubs aspirations of moving higher.
1st's v Illston Abbey
1st's v Syston 2nd's
The opening spell seemed to set the tone for the innings as Syston's Oakman and Storer set about keeping the Uppingham bowlers at bay, until the young Storer was second man out to first change bowler Alex Ashwin for 10.
The introduction of Scott Green (2-17), seemed to change the momentum, finding a good length and two relatively quick wickets from his 8 overs and from that moment on, Uppingham took the game by the scruff of the neck, giving away very little and taking wickets at regular intervals.
With Colan Bartrum (1 for 14) chipping in with a beauty that nipped back off the seam (and somehow found its way onto twitter via a photo) Syston were struggling at 5 down with 37 overs gone.
Enter Danny Dumford again, who bowled a sublime spell of swing bowling at the death, with four overs, four wickets for one run, including a sharp catch taken at short cover off the last ball of the innings to finish with figures of 4-12.
With Syston all out for 88 from their allotted 45 overs, Uppingham were comfortably in the driving seat at tea.
Chasing low scores on greenish wickets in April can be a tricky affair, but captain Jamie Dumford led from the front and blazed a superb 61 n.o from 56 balls leaving his batting partners Adi Salt (9) and David Fish (8 n.o.) in the shade to ease Uppingham to 89-1 and a 9 wicket victory inside 18 overs.
Comprehensive? Yes. But Syston played with a number of young and highly promising youngsters. As for Town, a good start on debut, but hopefully nothing more than a standard being set from which to build a good inaugural season in the Everards league.
And so the much anticipated move to the Everards League finally came to the home of Uppingham Town CC, with the visit of Syston Town 2nds in Division 4 to Castle Hill.
The new league seem to bring a change in luck for home skipper Jamie Dumford, who after winning only two tosses all season in 2012, won the toss here and inserted Syston on a greenish, but firm wicket.
The early spells of Jamie's younger brother Danny Dumford, and his strike partner George Scott brought plenty of effort for little reward for either team, as Syston struggled to score, but also didn't look like giving away too many wickets. Having said that, Scott looked the more likely finding some nice shape, and earned Uppingham's first wicket in the league after 7 overs, bowled off an inside edge.
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