Long Itchington Cricket Club

Played Saturday, May 26th 2007

Skipper Dave Buchholz won his first toss of the season and decided to bat, steady progress was made and 51 was taken off the first 15 overs for the loss of two wickets.

This brought Will Grindal into join opener Tom Perks and when Perks was out for an excellent 85 28 overs later they had put on an entertaining 199 for the 3rd wicket. Grindal carried on to take the innings to an imposing 263 just missing out on his century finishing on 98 not out. Crowley was the pick of the bowling with 1-37 off his ten overs.

Eckington’s reply was based around openers Rushin’s 64 but he had little support from his team mates with only Crowley (15) and Fallows (17) reaching double figures as Elkerton (10-2-22-3) and Buchholz (5.1-1-17-3) demolised the middle and lower order batting to finish the innings off in the 39th over for 166.

Played Saturday, May 26th 2007

LI paid their first Saturday visit to Shipston and imposed themselves on the home side from the off.

Neil Hudson (6-1-19-2) took two wickets in the first over, both caught by keeper James Clarke. With skipper Hedderman run out and the dangerous Harper (20) gone with score at 38 it was left to veteran Bishop (20) and Cox (15) to take the total to 73 when both fell.

Stephen Rawbone (5-1-21-3) and Martin Clark (6-1-14-3) disposed of the tail in quick time, aided by two more catches keeper Clarke, for an all out total of 96 in only 35 overs. Brian Phillips (10-4-16-1) only conceding 16 runs in his 10 overs.

After the loss of an early wicket George Insall (30) and Aaron Jones (31) advanced the score to 75 in drizzle before both were dismissed with the winning post in sight. LI got home by 7 wickets in the 25th over before the rains came despite 2-26 from M Schaus.

Played Saturday, May 19th 2007

Match Sponsored by Frank Haywood

Itchington ground out victory against Rowington on Saturday with bowlers generally on top throughout.

The visitors were asked to bat first and struggled against some tight bowling and fielding. After a couple of early wickets Pace (20) and Chinn (21) helped opener Sly take the score to 84-3 but the introduction of Stephen Rawbone into the attack to partner Martin Clark combined with the run out of Sly for 34 saw the total slump to 97-9.

Experienced campaigners Shaw and Jay batted sensibly using up most of the overs adding an important 33 before Jay was bowled for 21 with the final score on 130. All five home bowlers shared the wickets with Clark 2-13 off 10 and Rawbone 4-31 the pick.

Itchington got themselves to 33-1 but the introduction of L Clarke slowed the rate and he together with Oldfield began to make inroads after the dismissal of Alex Jack for 18.

At 75-6 and 96-7 the match appeared to be going Rowington’s way but number 4 James Clark (the third Clark/Clarke to make a prominent contribution in the game!) was joined by Martyn Rawbone (who had just spent 4 hours in casualty having a damaged finger repaired) and they took the total to 125 before Clark was out for a fine 40 but Rawbone saw Itchington home with two wickets and 5 overs to spare. L Clark taking 4-19 off 9.

Played Saturday, May 19th 2007

Wardens won the toss and elected to bat after the showers had cleared but immediately ran into a high class fast bowling storm from Neil Hudson (8-5-10-2) and Andrew Wood who reduced them to 24-4. Dhaliwell and Jackson then consolidated putting on 43 before the returning Wood and Crosthwaite (8.5-2-22-3) blew away the rest of the innings with 6 wickets falling for 7 runs and Wood who had the chance of a hat-trick finishing with excellent figures of 10-6-23-5.

Itchington made hard work of the run chase losing two early wickets but young opener Tom Perks batted through the innings for 30 not out to ensure that Itchington got home without to many more mishaps. Dhaliwell took 2-15 to complete a fine all round performance.

Played Saturday, May 12th 2007.

In a rain affected encounter the toss proved to be if not crucial then at least had a bearing on the result.

Kineton won it and asked Itchington to bat first on a damp track. Openers Dave Buchholz and Tom Perks made steady progress to reach 34 off 11 overs when Buchholz was dismissed trying to up the rate. The innings then fell apart with only Nigel Smith (29) and Steve Franks (13) getting into double figures as Adams (8-4-12-3), Clarke (5-1-18-3) and Hill (4.1-0-10-2) turned the screw with some tight bowling as Itchington’s uncertainty over what would be a defendable total paralysed their innings.

R’Wala 49 not out and Maynard 38 put on 86 for the first wicket and Itchington used six bowlers in search of a breakthrough, but Kineton romped home with 12 overs to spare for the loss of 2 wickets.