Back-to-back tons for Skipper as North Runcton return to winning ways

Ben Skipper celebrated his recall to the first team with a second successive century as North Runcton returned to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over Brooke.

With the morning sun beaming and hot, Runcton called the toss correctly and had no hesitation in batting first at New Road.

After a century for the second XI last week, Skipper was recalled to the team and made the most of his opportunity with another brilliant ton.

Whilst Skipper made hay, Kirwin Christoffels 17, Mark Skipper 9 and Jasper Payne 18 all lost their wickets as the home side passed the century mark off 21 overs.

Alec Payne and Skipper added 150 in the next 23 overs before Skipper was caught off the bowling of Chris Sheehy for 101 off 127 balls with 15 fours.

Payne was in cracking, hard-hitting form with seven fours and five mighty sixes, including a lost ball, in his 89 off 78 balls before he too was a victim of Sheehy, the pick of the Brooke attack (2-50 off his 10 overs).

Sam Philips, 15 off 13, and Harry Lankfer, 24 off 16, continued the home onslaught taking North Runcton’s total total to 321-5.

Brooke started brightly in reply with Ali Shearer looking in an ominous mood with the bat.

But whereas Brooke had fielded badly, including a number of dropped catches, Runcton weren’t quite so generous with Phillips taking an excellent low catch off the bowling of Ben Coote (1-39 off 10) to remove Shearer for 17.

George Everitt looked comfortable for his 23 but he became the first of three wickets for Jack Major (3-48

off 10) for 23 caught behind by wicketkeeper Jack Hazel on debut.

Adam Carver was brilliantly caught at slip with an overhead backward falling catch by Coote off Major for four.

Brooke captain Nipuna Gamage batted sensibly with several ones and twos, one four and two sixes.

Just when he looked set for a half-century, he was well caught by Mark Skipper off Christoffels (1-28 0ff 10) for 45 to leave the visitors 148-6 off 32 over.

Veteran Brooke batsman John Reynolds made 28 off 40 balls before he was well stumped by Hazel off the bowling of Sam Philips (3-64 off 10).

Hazel capped an excellent display with a second catch to dismiss Reeder off Philips.

A variety of Runcton bowlers made up the 50 overs, including Alec Payne, Jasper Payne and Ben Skipper. Sheehy, who was dropped earlier by Coote on the boundary, was caught by Lankfer for 19 as Brooke were eventually dismissed for 199.