Long Itchington Cricket Club

Sunday’s Team is as follows:

J. Clarke (capt.)
S. Mitchell (wkt)
T. Crosthwaite
C. Elkerton
S. Franks
J. Greaves
M. Greaves
N. Hudson
A. Jack
S. Parsons
A. Smith

Any issues with unavailability please contact James Clarke or Martyn Rawbone

EDIT: this fixture is now against Bishops Tachbrook.

1sts away @Temple Grafton. Meet at the Pond at 12.15pm for a 1.30pm start.

M Rawbone (capt)
W Grindal
R Cressey
A Jack
J Clarke (wkt)
T Cooper
T Perks
S Rawbone
N Brooks
A Wood
M Clark

2nds home v Stratford Bards. Meet at the Ground 1.00pm for a 1.30pm start.

N Smith (capt)
J Rogers (wkt)
D Buchholz
B Phillips
C White
N Hudson
G Insall
T Crosthwaite
M Parsons
S Franks
S Chapman

Played Sunday 26th April

Long Itchington travelled to local rivals Southam with a strong Sunday second team. Skipper James Clarke lost the toss and Itchington found themselves fielding on a quick outfield, but made the best possible start when Jamie Greaves dismissed Neale in the second over with the score reading 1-1. The afternoon then suddenly changed when Matt Goatley entered the field and Itchington spent most of their time fetching the ball from the boundary. Carl Elkerton became the hero by clean bowling Goatley for a very impressive 73. C. Elkerton continued to bowl well and could have taken more wickets but ended up with impressive figures of 8 – 32 – 1. Itchington pegged back Southam from then on with some good bowling from the Perks brothers. Clarke then turned to the king of spin Simon Parsons who skittled out the middle order with figures of 6-40-3. Lee Toose then made his comeback with 2-15-2. Southam finally finished the innings on 234 and this would have been a lot more if it wasn’t for the brilliance in the field from debutant Johan Elkerton, who also bowled an impressive over taking his first senior wicket. Well done Johan!

Chasing 235 to win Itchington made the worst possible start losing Clarke (4) with the second ball of the game. It got worse after that and Itchington found themselves 9-4, mainly down to some exceptional bowling from Heath and Neale. The Perks brothers then joined each other at the crease and both of them batted maturely and got the tempo started. Hugh Perks looked dangerous before being run out for a fine 21. Tom Perks then made a fine 57 and was joined by the promising all rounder Jamie Greaves who smashed Southam’s attack all around the park for a brilliant 56 ( 4X6). Itchington finally ended 188 all out which was a fantastic effort after being 9-4.
Itchington’s first loss of the season, but skipper Clarke was very impressed with the attitude of his team and was especially exited by the array of young talent that is coming through the junior ranks

Played Saturday April 25th

Itchington got a great league warm up match under their belts with a side containing 8 players under 25 producing a competitive victory over their more ‘mature’ hosts Rowington.
The home side had first use of a dry flat pitch and made great early progress with Sly and Thorne taking the total to 57 by the 12th over. The introduction of Tom Perks had immediate effect bowling Thorne for 26 first ball and then dismissing Sly with his 4th ball, both with speedy deIiveries.
Skipper Scott Rogers and Eike Gilbert steadied the ship and with some big hits added 73 for the 3rd wicket. Veteran Steve Rawbone then found a tight line and thanks to two Richard Cressey catches both Rogers (29) and Gilbert (33) departed. In tandem with Rawbone skipper for the day Nick Brooks slowed the rate down and only a late flurry from Graham Stuart took the total past 200 in a final 208-7. Rawbone 9-0-45-4, Perks 5-2-10-2, and Brooks the pick of the bowlers.
In reply Itchington lost their first wicket at 10 in the 4th over. Richard Cressey joined Martyn Rawbone and both batted positively before Cressey was 2nd out for 23 at 64 in the 16th over. Alex Jack began prudently whilst Rawbone went passed 50. He survived a couple of chances thereafter before falIing to a great return catch by Rogers for 82 in the 29th over.
James Clarke helped Jack add an ultimately match winning 58 before Jack was bowled for 39. Clark was needlessly run out for 34 with just 10 required leaving Tom Perks to finish matters with 20 not out for a 5 wicket win with 10 balls to spare. Rogers ending with 2-37 and the ever dependable Shaw 1-30 off 10 overs

For those of you that actually read stuff on the web here are a couple of sites that might be of interest:
Firstly New Zealand bowler Ian O’Brien blog which gives an insight into an international cricketers life, the wisden cricketer and finally micricketcoach which is full of technical help.