May 11 2009
Henley in Arden v L.I.C.C.
Played Sunday 10th May
After another pre-arranged team called off Henley-in-Arden stepped in as hosts to Itchington Sunday team. On a lovely day skipper ‘Tino’ lost the toss and his team were put in to bat first on a seemingly good wicket.
Openers Buchholz & Clarke (35) got Itchington off to a good start getting to 69 in 17 overs before change bowler Griffis removed Buchholz for 38. This brought a first appearance in a year for Nick Aldridge who showed some aggressive intent hitting a quick fire 24 leaving Itchington on 111 off 25 overs. Some indifferent batting and tight bowling from Perry (7-1-31-6) and Herndon (8-1-27-3) saw Itchington creep to their closing total of 168 failing to use 5 balls of their innings.
After a very appetising tea, Itchington took to the field believing they had a defendable total only to be blown away by one of the most destructive batting displays I have ever seen.
Without wanting to sound too bitter about the loss, Stibbons knock of 113 n.o. took the contest out of the game which was ended in the 25th over by almost hitting every ball bowled at him to some part of the boundary.
The home side had started quite slowly and opener Neil Hudson (6-1-48-2) took an early wicket only to bring Stibbon to the crease. From that point his big hitting forced a defensive outlook only to then prove the field nowhere near big enough for his fabulous stroke play, Brian Phillips (8-0-32-2) chipping in with 2 wickets amongst the mayhem.
On the whole a day to forget for Itchington after such a crushing defeat but with 6 of Henley’s first team (inc Stibbon) playing it showed the kind of standard Long Itchington’s first team need to aspire to.
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