Long Itchington Cricket Club

Played Saturday, April 26th 2008

Itchington collapsed to defeat to their old league rivals on Saturday in their first outing of the season. After deciding to bat first the home side found life difficult against the Itchington seam attack losing wickets at regular intervals with only Chris Cheslin (12) getting to double figures with the board reading 89-7. The visitors policy of given all their bowlers an opportunity with league action pending probably backfired as 2nd teamer Mark Davison showed his class particularly against the slower bowlers and he found a solid ally in youngster Nathan Credington. Together they added 77 before the returning Brian Phillips (7-1-26-2) bowled him for an excellent 92. Credington finished unbeaten on 27 as Leamington totalled 180-8 despite good spells from Neil Hudson, Craig White (9-0-39-2) and Stephen Rawbone.

Itchington were soon up against it with veteran Steve Montgomery only giving away three scoring shots in his first 7 overs. They lost their first wicket at 19 and were 55-4 in the 21st during a good spell from Cheslin, Graham Foster accumulating 28 of those. Brothers Martyn and Stephen Rawbone started to pull things round but the loss of the former for 29 after he played on to Billy Hallet (2-14) and the introduction of Mark Ryan (4-6) saw LI collapse bizarrely from 88-4 to 91 all out in just three overs and a disappointing defeat by 89 runs.

Played Sunday, April 29th 2007.

Itchington enjoyed a fairly comfortable workout in their last opportunity prior to the league commencing when taking on youthful local rivals Hunningham at home on Sunday.

After losing the toss Itchington were asked to bat and Graham Foster and Aaron Jones made the most of a firm wicket and quick outfield with an opening stand of 51 before the latter was dismissed in the 14^th over for 12.

Foster was joined by Alex Jack and they proceeded to put the change bowlers to the sword. Both reached their 50 with Jack first out for 58 with Foster out for exactly 50. Good middle order runs from George Insall (19 n.o.) and Brian Phillips (21) aided by a plethora of extras saw a 40 over total of 227-7 despite 4-42 by Sandford and 2-21 from Blower.

Itchington made quick inroads as the visitors slumped to 24-5 thanks to some accurate bowling from Brian Phillips (8-3-24-2) and Richard Cressey (8-1-33-2) plus good fielding. Thoughts of an early finish though were banished by Mundy (44) and Weller (35) who added 78.

Skipper Martyn Rawbone bowled both in a 3-40 return but more lower order runs from Greaves (38) and Hills (30 n.o.) , who aided by some lethargic fielding, saw both swing to good effect took the final total to a respectable 183-9 with five bowlers sharing the wickets as Itchington got home by 44 runs.