Long Itchington Cricket Club

LI put in another decent performance to defeat visitors Campden on Saturday. Batting first the Cotswold side were 35-2 at the end of the 10^th over before a stand of 53 in 15 overs between the experienced Grey and Nicholls. Martin Clark accounted for Nicholls (a boundary laden 32) but a base of 120-3 off 34 overs had been laid. Clark then dismissed Grey (43) and hard hitting skipper Reason (20) and with late support from Andy Wood and Nick Brooks Campden fell away to 164 all out in the 45^th over. Clark 3-23, Wood 3-21 and Brooks 2-36. In reply the home side struggled to get Reason away and were soon 39-3. The change bowling was less effective however and left-handers Alex Jack and James Clarke punished the bad ball and combined with good running they saw LI home in the 32^nd over with an unbeaten stand of 134 and a win by 7 wickets. Jack ending with 62 and Clarke 54.

M Rawbone (capt)

J Clarke (wkt)

M Clark

A Wood

N Brooks

T Perks

A Jack

S Rawbone

W Grindal

S Chapman

G Insall

N Smith (capt)

J Rogers (wkt)

A Smith

N Hudson

T Crosthwaite

S Franks

D Buchholz

M Parsons

G Foster

A Crump

S Parsons

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 23rd May 2009

On a sun drenched May afternoon, Long Itchington Second XI visited recently promoted Bidford-on-Avon Second XI. The pitch was hard and green which looked like a toss was needed to be won to insert the opposition. The home captain duly did exactly that and put long Itchington in to take first knock.

Foster and Smith opened the innings and quickly built a good looking stand with Foster retuning from injury looking confident and in-form. With the score on 51 Smith chased a wide delivery and was dismissed for 31 made up of 6 x 4’s and 1 x 6.

Rogers joined Foster and moved the score to 80 when Rogers was again caught at slip for 25. Franks at number 4 made 22 before Crump joined Foster and rolling back the years made a very good 29.

Foster meanwhile had departed for a very accomplished 63 and the Itchington innings were nearing 200. Crosthwaite played a delightful cameo innings of 19 and further good batting by Parsons, 22 runs in 12 balls, brought the 45 overs to an end with Itchington having scored a mammoth 240.

Bidford began their reply similarly to Long Itchington with the first wicket falling at 50 to Buchholz who bowled his 10 overs straight through taking 3 for 42.

Tom Crosthwaite replaced him eventually taking 3 for 62 off his 10 overs. He was assisted by some excellent catches including one champagne moment by Crump who hung onto a towering shot by a Bidford batsman.

The game swung to and fro when at the start of the last over Bidford needed 7 to win. Andy Smith showing maturity beyond his years, was the bowler and off the last ball Bidford needed 4, they scored a 2 which left them 1 short of the required target of 240 and a well earned 19 points were gained by Long Itchington.

In conclusion all eleven Long Itchington players played their hearts out and did everything the Captain asked of them. All players young and old will have learnt valuable lessons in playing such a high scoring close game in backing and believing in themselves, with the challenge ahead to remain top of division 5.

Long Itchington 2nd X1 240 for 7, Bidford on Avon 2nd XI 239-9.
Long Itchington won by 1 run.

Long Itchington 19 points, Bidford on Avon 8 points

LI overcame local rivals Ashorne despite a couple of scares in each innings. The visitors were given first use of the pitch and lost a wicket in the 2nd over. Skipper Jack Jones and Luke Sharples added 42 before Jones was dismissed by Nick Brooks for 14 in the 11^th over. Brooks also accounted for Sharples for 25 but some selective hitting by Hedges in particular saw Ashorne reach a launch pad at 126-4. Spinner Steve Chapman then dismissed Hedges for a fine 36 before the returning Andy Wood captured four wickets in 2 overs as the batting imploded with the total reaching an under par 140 all out with 4 overs unused. Wood finished with excellent figures of 5-20. He was ably supported by Chapman 2-32, Brooks 2-38 with Stephen Rawbone strangulating the middle order with 1-19 off 9. In reply LI got to the 10^th over before losing a wicket at 26 to Whitehead who bowled his 10 overs straight through for fine figures of 3-24 and with a run out not helping the home side were 64-4. Opener Will Grindal was still in residence however and together with Martyn Rawbone they drew the sting from the Ashorne attack. Bad balls were punished and the winning score achieved in the 36^th over with no more alarms as Grindal finished unbeaten on a superb 83 winning the game with a six.