Falkland claim first league win

A five-wicket haul from Neil Gunter helped Falkland to a a 47 run win over Banbury on Saturday

A FIVE-STAR performance from Neil Gunter helped Falkland claim their first league win of the season at home to Banbury on Saturday.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Falkland started well with opener Bruce Martin (38) and Hamza Riazuddin (74) putting on a partnership of 60 after the fall of the first wicket with the score on 26.

And although the middle order failed to trouble the scorers too much, a good performance with the bat from Mark Foster (45 not out) saw Falkland amass a total of 192 all out from 47 overs, with Ashley Blanchard (6-35) the pick of the bowlers for Banbury.

The visitors from Oxfordshire, who were third in the table coming into the game, struggled in reply, with Falkland's bowlers sharing wickets between them as Banbury were restricted to 76-8 at one stage.

However, Banbury's lower order regrouped and held off the bowlers as they reached 116-8 at tea.

But after the break, Falkland took another quick wicket to get within touching distance of their first win of the season.

And it finally came when Neil Gunter (5-28) picked up his fifth wicket in the 44th over as Banbury were bowled out for 145, sealing a 47-run win and 25 points for the West Berkshire side.

The result saw Falkland move up one place in the Home Counties Premier League table to eighth, five points above Welwyn Garden City, who drew with bottom side Radlett.