Aug 29 2010
1st Team Match Report – Home – Temple Grafton 28th August
With the last 2 weeks being washed out to the rain, it all came down to this, Long Itchington 3rd from bottom, 9 points in front of the visitors Grafton, who were second from bottom.
Win or get relegated was the basic format for the day for both sides.
The weather had been awful all week and a special mention must go to the efforts of Graham and Steve who, considering the downpours we had this week produced a playable surface which in the end proved full of runs.
Fresh from his holidays, and in borrowed kit the visiting Skipper had no hesitation in bowling first on winning the last toss of the season. The home skipper would have done the same.
Tom Perks opened the innings with Martin Rawbone, and at ten over’s had 31on the board. Rawbone was caught behind for 24.Grindall at 3 and Jack at 4 soon followed for 13 and 6 each, and at the 30 over stage the home side were 106 for 3.
The visitors had to win the game, and battled on in the drizzle bowling with a damp ball at times, but for the last 15 over’s it was all about Perks and Cressey for the home side. The two basically took the last 15 over’s apart, with Itchington going from 106 for 3 to 263, the pair putting on 157 in 15 over’s.
In a fitting climax Cressey started the last over on the innings on 84, but after getting the strike from Tom, he proceeded to hit 6-2-4-.-and with the last ball of the allocated 45, he struck a magnificent six over the bowlers head to reach a wonderful 102 not out. Perks carried his bat for an excellent 98 not out, and Itchington were in with more than a fighting chance.
Tea was taken during a rain storm in the 40th over, and on completion of the Itchington knock the teams turned straight round.
Gibbons and Kirk started the reply for the visitors with Kirk taking the charge to the home side playing in the manner required to win the game. He fell to Clark for 27 in the 9th over and at 20 over’s the visitors were 81 for 2. Holt made 25 from number 5 but when another good innings from Gibbons (79) ended with a run out from Chapman it was all but over. The home skipper kept the field out in case of miracles, but for Grafton it never came.
Chapman picked up the last of the visitors wickets in the final over of the season, to bowl them out for 200. Clark got 2 for 26 of his 10, Chapman 2 for 31 of 6.4, but that man Cressey picked up 3 for 13 off 4 over’s and the season was over. Itchington survive…who knows what next year will bring.