March Town may be back in the ‘big time,’ but they suffered a reality check at The Avenue on Saturday when Histon crushed them by 76 runs in the opening Whitings League Division One match of the season.

Newly-promoted and with two sound warm-up performances under their belts, March came up short when it mattered against a spirited Histon side.

Having fought their way back in the field from 168-3 to dismiss the visitors for 214, March looked in good stead to go on to win.

But an undistinguished batting display saw them shot out for just138 with 17.4 overs remaining.

Matty Vail came into the side to take 5-19 with his slow left-armers, after Aussie Clinton Bricker had made the breakthrough with a quick three wicket burst, but Bricker couldn’t match his bowling with the bat when he was dismissed caught and bowled first ball.

The Phillips’ brothers finished top-scorers - skipper Tyler with 42 and the in-form Brandon with 38 and Stuart Mills capped a fine all-round display with 27.

March will hope to bounce back with a win over Ramsey this Saturday (12.30pm).

However, March Sunday XI’s match was in stark contrast to the previous day’s as 10-man visitors Ufford Park were put to the sword on the opening weekend of the Rutland League Division Two campaign.

The Ufford openers offered some resistance before Steve Coe’s slow left-arm bowling saw them shot out for 95.

Brandon Phillips (50no) and Nathan Oliver (31no) produced an unbeaten second wicket stand of 87 as the winning runs came off just 11.1 overs.