Long Itchington Cricket Club

Played Saturday, May 12th 2007

Ultimately a comfortable victory for Itchington on Saturday due to a very tight bowling and fielding display.

Stratford was asked to bat first on a wicket that escaped the worse of the weather leading up to the game. The openers somewhat fortuitously put on 44 in the first 11 overs before Glanfield fell for 21. Skipper Lamb joined Gardener and they took the score to 72 before the former was well caught for 16.

When Gardener was third out for 35, after a brief break for rain, the rot set in as Nick Brooks(10-2-27-2), Martin Clark(10-2-21-4) and Stephen Rawbone(5.1-2-19-2) turned the screw. Only Russell with 24 could break the shackles as the home side were dismissed for 123 in the 43rd over.

Stratford had a brief glimpse of victory as Itchington were 28-2 and 48-3 but good knocks from Aaron Jones 25 and James Clarke 30 n.o. took the total to 75 before the latter was joined by Martyn Rawbone 20 n.o. to see the visitors home by 6 wickets with 12 overs to spare. Russell (10-0-25-2) proved the pick of the home attack.

Played Saturday, May 5th 2007

Itchington’s 2^nd XI first taste of league cricket resulted in an emphatic win over hosts Mickleton. Asked to bat first on a green track skipper Dave Buchholz and and fellow opener Tom Perks made steady progress initially before accelerating the rate to reach 107 off 23 overs when Buchholz was dismissed one short of a deserved half century. Perks (37) carried on the good work and with a rapid 20 from Nigel Smith and contributions from all the lower order a total of 200-9 and maximum batting points were reached in the last over. Bend (6-1-24-3) and Knight (10-1-50-3) took 3 wickets apiece.

In reply Mickleton also started steadily, Powell and Ellis putting on 44 in 15 overs for the 1st wicket. Jack Arthurton (6-2-25-2) removed them both in quick succession then Steve Crosthwaite (10-3-22-3) with son Thomas (7.2-0-21-3) bowling in tandem took 3 wickets apiece to rip out the Mickleton middle order allowing returning opening bowler Andy Wood (8-1-36-2) to mop up the tail to give Itchington a comfortable victory by 84 runs. Bend completed a fine all round match by being last out adding 25 to his 3 wickets but no other Mickleton batsmen could match his stickability.

Played Saturday, May 5th 2007.

LI were heavily beaten in their opening league encounter on Saturday. After electing to bat they didn’t make best use of some wayward bowling and quick outfield and found themselves 44-4 in the 19^th over.

Martyn Rawbone and George Insall added 55 in good time to stop the rot before the latter was dismissed for 18. A couple of further quick wickets stemmed progress until Richard Cressey joined Rawbone and they managed to put on 55 in 7 overs with both unbeaten at the close with 26 and 77 respectively out of a final total of 192-7 with 5 visiting bowlers sharing the wickets. Godson (8-3-23-2) and Harrison (10-2-32-2) being the pick.

It was to prove well short of a defendable total as the Campden openers launched an assault from the off with Rose in particular, he scored a ton against LI last year, being particularly brutal. Length balls were smashed to the boundary before Grey was dismissed for 25 in the 17^th over with the score at 92.

Rose finally succumbed for 93 in the 27^th over at 158. Only one further wicket was taken as the visitors romped home by 7 wickets with 10 overs to spare.