Long Itchington Cricket Club

On a lovely sunny summers evening Oakfield were the visitors with the Itchington lads on a good winning run. Having lost the toss the lads were inserted into bat and the regular openers of Brennan Lumby and Harry Mitchell made a steady start putting on 10 for the first pair. James Rawbone and Lucas batted well to increase the score by 17 and a solid platform was set for the last pairs. They duly obliged with Ned Mitchell and Bean Dunkerton putting on 19 with no outs including a memorable straight drive from Ned. George Heaven and Jamie Haywood then continued the good work to also put on 19 with Jamie hitting two excellent 4’s in his 10. Aided by a few wides from Oakfield a score of 265 looked to be reasonable to defend but would still require a good bowling performance.

The innings could not have got off to a better start with Ned clean bowling one opener and Brennan catching the other off Jamie. Bean and Lucas also bowled well to ensure a tight start was achieved. James and George then bowled a fantastic four over spell with only one run being added to the total with James bowling 2 overs for 1 run and George’s overs only going for 4 runs with one wicket. The pressure was kept on Oakfield as Jamie came back and bowled a wicket maiden. Brennan and Ned shared the last overs and both bowled immaculately both taking a couple of wickets and the icing was put on the cake with a run out by George off the last ball. Itchington ran out winners by 36 runs with an excellent all round performance, well led by Ned and Harry M performing admirably behind the stumps. Both will be missed for the last couple of matches due to hols but a fantastic first season by both.

With only two matches left and only one defeat so far the lads need to keep up the good performances.

LONG ITCHINGTON V CHIPPING CAMPDEN
Cotswold Hills League Sat 30/07/11

Reporting from the Ground…Martyn Rawbone

LI put in another good performance to defeat visitors Campden on Saturday. With several senior players unavailable for the home side for various reasons their replacements did the side proud. Having lost the toss LI were asked to take first use on a belter of a track. Aaron Jones and Alex Jack battled gamely against probing lines from Reason and Groves with Jack by far the most fluent. He reached a fine 47 out of 93 before a superb one handed catch from visiting skipper Lindner ended his knock. After his dismissal Jones’ scratchy innings improved as he dominated a 2nd wicket stand of 43. Tom Perks then joined Jones adding 75 before Perks was third out for a run a ball 45. Jones was finally dismissed for 86 with the score at 228-5 leaving Steve Franks (13 n.o.) and Martyn Rawbone (16 n.o.) to put on 34 in the final 4 over’s producing a healthy 262-5 with Groves 2-49 the best of the bowlers. LI bowled very tightly from the start in reply with Andy Wood (2-21) particularly effective dismissing last year’s century maker Lindner and the hard-hitting Groves for 12 in his opening spell both giving edges to stand-in wicket keeper Jack. Change bowlers Matt Cox and debutant teenager Andy Smith then took charge particularly after Cox out thought Guy Nicholls who reached 49 in his usual boundary laden way. Only Rich Grey reached double figures with 16 as he became one of three victims for Smith in an 8 over spell of 3-31. Cox took 4-46 being very harshly treated by no 9 Coombes who slogged his way to 36 before being last man out well caught on the boundary to finish off a good fielding display (Jack ending with 4 victims) as Campden were dismissed for 138 with LI winning by 124 runs.

Team Score Overs Points
Long Itchington 262-5 45 20
Chipping Campden 138 all out 35.2 4
Best Performances:-
Team Bowling Batting
Long Itchington M.Cox 10-0-46-4
A.Smith 8-2-31-3
A.Wood 10-5-21-2
A.Jones 86
A.Jack 47
T.Perks 45

Chipping Campden G.Nicholls 49 J.Groves 10-0-49-2

LONG ITCHINGTON 1ST XI v EXHALL & WIXFORD 2ND XI

MATCH SPONSORED BY PAUL MONTGOMERY – A LIFE LONG PLAYER, AND CLUB VP (MANY THANKS PAUL)

23rd July 2011

MATCH REPORT – AN UMPIRE’S PERSPECTIVE!

Following a night of heavy rain, players turned up wondering just what conditions might await them. Don’t worry lads – Groundsman Foster and his able assistant Rawbone (S) had done their usual magnificent job and a bone dry pitch awaited them. The coin was tossed – Exhall skipper Rodgers correctly calling Her Majesty and chose to put Long Itch in. Openers Jack and Jones made a steady start, interspersed with some near suicidal calling. One could only assume Jack saw his partner as a threat to the batting average trophy and felt the need to take appropriate action. No need to worry Alex – after a stand of 69 in 20 overs Jones took the hint, and having hit the ball all of 10 feet surprised everyone, including himself, by calling for a quick single. Bowler Simpson gathered, turned, flung and threw down the wicket with a well aimed throw. Exit Jones.

Ex-captain Martyn Withawhy-Rawbone (48) joined Jack at the crease, and together upped the pace, until Jack fell for 58 – perhaps not his most fluent innings of the season, but welcome runs nonetheless. Middle order big hitters Grindal and Cox flattered to deceive, both being back in the pavilion after making a couple of lusty blows apiece. Franksy joined the fray, and immediately took advantage of the short boundary by crashing his first ball for four, and adding a further 27 more quick runs for an excellent 31 in just 15 balls, and earning himself match sponsor Monty’s MOTM nomination. Good running added valuable runs at the end, with the home side being finally dismissed in the final over for 246.

After a delicious tea provided by Angela Cox, (Grindal being most reluctant to leave the table) Itchington took the field and from the first ball put the visitors to the sword, with accurate bowling by openers Andy Wood and Steve Rawbone, with the former using the wind well to take 3-21 in his 10 overs. A good day for the Wood family was compounded with news from the 2nds at Exhall that “the young Seb” was showing his elders how to bat with an excellent 31. Back to Long Itch, and Rawbone’s spell came to a sudden end when his long suffering calf muscle yet again cried foul, leaving captain Brooks to try to find fielding positions where the veteran bowler could rest his troubled leg. Not sure whether slip was that position (and neither did his brother!) where Simmy later made a creditable impression of a dying Swan to spill a catch travelling at a speed of at least 5 mph. Exhall opener Hollands stood out as a class shot maker, and held the innings together for some time, until being trapped in front by Martin Clark for a well made 48.

Realising that the target of 247 was probably out of their reach, Exhall’s remaining batsmen batted sensibly but well within themselves, aiming for batting points rather that the glory of the win. Captain Brooks changed his seven bowlers on a regular basis, but ignored heavy hints from Martyn to try a bit of very slow off spin. The match itself went a bit flat, petering out in the end to a total of 162-8 in the allotted 45 overs. Perhaps the home side were missing the cacophony of noise that is James Clark? However, another win was posted, and the march to Division 1 continues.

Match stats

Long Itchington 246 all out 44.4 overs
Exhall & Wixford 162-8 45 overs

Long Itchington U11s vs Southam Junior Section
Southam Junior section hosted a friendly game against LI U11s on Tuesday. LI had the younger side with 4 U11s and 4 U10s whilst Southam had 6 U11s and 2 U12s. LI’s skipper Brennan won the toss and elected to bat after a good chase in their last game.
LI Generally bowled quite tightly coming under the target of 10 wides bowled. They also took 5 wickets though the bowlers and 2 run outs with an outstanding catch by Harry M the highlight of the fielding display with Peter also keeping well.
James 2 Over’s, 9 Runs for 1 George 2 Over’s 11 runs for 1 Harry G 2 Over’s 6 runs for 1 Harry M 2 Over’s 12 runs for 2
Southam ended on a competitive 244 with Kyle top scoring on 15.
LI batted sensible with Brennan, Harry M opening up well again with Jamie and Will keeping the score going. 16 runs were needed by the last pair, James and Harry to win the game. 5 runs were scored off the 1st over, followed by 9 off the next with James hitting 2 fine 4’s. 2 was hit off Owens last over who bowled with good pace throughout his 3 over’s. The scores were level before the last over and LI just needed to keep their nerve to win. Unfortunately for Southam they bowled a wide so James just needed to keep the last 3 balls out to win which he duly did. Congratulations on Brennan on his first taste of Captaincy.
The lads have shown some good maturity in the last 3 games with batting in particularly showing some improvement. Keep it up lads

Long Itchington 1st Team Cotswold League Div 2 vs Leek Wootten 16/7

As seen through the eyes of our Match Reporter..Steve Rawbone

LI turned up wondering whether any play could take place, Alex in particular not wanting to spoil his average wondering whether he had the technique and bravery to cope. After a delay at the start to allow conditions to dry the skippers agreed a reduced 35 over game. LI keen as ever took to catching practice in the resulting delay with Alex (Oh the irony again) looking as safe as houses. Stand in skipper Clarke promptly won the toss and decided to field. The wicket although damp in places did not do as much as expected and there was a good contest between bat and ball.
Openers Couchman and Taphouse were not adverse to some hard hitting but were contained by some tight bowling. S. Rawbone who went from fit, to one bad leg, to two bad legs, got both the openers in a tight opening spell supported by the pacier Wood who was unlucky not to get a wicket when the snickometer went to 98decibels.
Another quick wicket followed and then Dart and Cox put on near 100 partnership which only ended in the last over with Cox going for a fine 60. LI’s fielding again had some good points:- Jones superb if badly judged catch, Steve Franks and Tom (am i a better fielder than my Dad was (Yes)) Crosthwaite putting some sterling work in the outfield matched by the indifferent:- Alex again spilling two and Martyn clearly suffering on the only icy patches in Warwickshire. The bowling again was a good team effort with all doing there bit through the innings. The only issue with the Leek Wootten’s score was with only 4 wickets down maybe more acceleration could have happened.
In reply Jack and Jones scored freely right from the start. Aaron in particular looking like drug testing might need to be introduced with some positive batting and running. Alex was again serine until miss pulling a short one. Rawbone senior then came to the crease and saw off some tricky deliveries putting on a 50 partnership with Aaron despite some debatable (one to the bowler) calling. Aaron was out to LBW…. my dad thought it was out from LI for a fine 33 bringing in James ‘one more fag’ Clarke. He fidgeted around for a ‘scratchy, itchy and need some antibiotics for that’ 6 before being caught to trudge back to the pavilion for some ointment. This bought in the brave Grindle who minutes before had been stung by a bee. I was holding his hand to comfort him but he wiped the tears from his eyes and the little soldier that his is put duty before pain and went to LI’s rescue.
Rawbone was then out at the other end for a typical redoubtable 30 to bring Cox to the crease. With Will and Matt at the crease the bar emptied to see these fine stoke players at the crease. Matt launched a huge 6 over the tree at square leg to further excite them but then hit one straight to mid off, so we all went back to the bar. Matt was inconsolable and Martyn had to take all the sharp objects he had plus his shoe laces off him just in case. To coin a phrase ‘cometh the hour cometh the man’ and so Franks confidently strode to the crease. Steve and Will safely saw LI home with 3 overs to spare. Will with another devastating 35 of 28 balls and Steve with an assured 9 of 12. We should still be top of the league lads so let’s keep playing positive cricket.
PS No more playing cards at the Green Man. Aarons got enough money already.
Leek Wootten 149 for 4 Cox 60, Dart 26no. S.Rawbone 8-1-23-2
LI 150 for 5 Grindal 35no, Jones 33, M.Rawbone 30. Cox 6-2-15-1, Couchman 8-0-27-3