Long Itchington Cricket Club

Played Saturday, August 11th 2007

Itchington came out on top in a high scoring encounter against first time visitors Twyning on Saturday.

The home side had first use of a belter of a batting track and opened with a first wicket partnership of 62 before Martyn Rawbone was dismissed for 33 in the 13th over. Fellow opener Graham Foster and Alex Jack added value with a stand of 111 before Foster was dismissed in the 31st over for 51. Jack followed shortly after for 73.

After a minor blip the experienced duo of Stephen Rawbone (30 n.o.) and Brian Phillips (17 n.o.) boosted the score by 45 in 6 overs to a final 261-6 which seemed an insurmountable total. Brooks avoided the battering with 2-42.

Twyning were not overawed however and opened up with a flurry of boundaries before losing a wicket at 42 in the 9th over. Powerful opener McVicker was 2nd out for 59 at 106 in the 20th. When Teal was 4th out for 41 the game appeared over but skipper Goodwin (53) and no 6 Allen (37) had other ideas. They launched an onslaught which took the visitors within touching distance but ultimately ended up 9 runs short in a great game of cricket. Steve Rawbone finished a good personal match with creditable figures of 2-46.

Played Saturday, August 4th 2007

Itchington II’s won their 2nd away game on the bounce to go 2nd in the table and give themselves a great chance of clinching promotion.

Usual service resumed for Itchington’s skipper Dave Buchholz as he lost the toss for the 8th time out of 11 this season and Itchington were asked to bowl on a green tinged wicket. Early chances were created by opening bowlers Wood and Perks but they were spurned and Hands (15) and Jelfs (32) compiled a half century opening stand for Broadway. They both fell to Luke Fogarty in an excellent spell of 10-2-28-3 and along with Buchholz 10-4-35-1 turned the screw conceding only 63 runs in 20 overs. R. Burford Jnr held the innings together during this period with an important 47 but when he fell to a stunning catch by Nigel Smith off the returning Tom Perks (9.1-2-36-2) he and Jack Arthurton (3-1-11-2) wrapped up the innings for 146 in the 40th over.

Itchington’s reply started well with Buchholz (19) and Tom Perks putting on 46 for the 1st wicket. Zach Aulach joined Perks to add 24 for the 3rd wicket but after they both fell in the space of 12 runs it was left to veteran Nigel Smith (30 n.o.) to see Itchington home, Wilkes finishing with impressive figures of 10-6-17-1 and Yorke 24-2.

Played Saturday, August 4th 2007

Itchington got their season back on track against struggling Woodbourne on Saturday.

The visitors elected to field and the home openers made good use of excellent batting conditions. The first 50 came up in 10 overs and despite a slowing of the rate following bowling changes the score had reached 130 in the 29th over when Martyn Rawbone was first out for 83.

Fellow opener Graham Foster followed 4 overs later for 46 at 151. Alex Jack (22), Aaron Jones (34) and James Clarke (20) added the ‘icing’ against the tiring attack with the board reading 242-5 after the allotted overs. Only Jenkins 2-54 and Rooney 2-58 came away with any reward.

Brian Phillips got a wicket with the first ball of the reply and got another in his 2nd over at 10-2. Stephen Rawbone joined the party and took 4-14 in 6 overs including no 3 Heard for 20 as Woodbourne slumped 69-7.

The pitch was flattening out and the batsmen were playing only for bonus points as Rooney (21) and Caldicott (25) added 41. LI couldn’t dislodge the last pair as the score ended on 135-9 with Itchington winning by 107 runs. Phillips finishing with 3-12 in his 10 overs.