Long Itchington Cricket Club

Played Saturday, September 1st 2007

Itchington pushed perennial rivals, and already promoted, Leamington all the way in another good game of cricket on Saturday.

Having been put in the visitors lost a wicket at 15. Martyn Rawbone and Alex Jack added 88 in reasonable time before the latter was dismissed for 43 in the 28th over. Rawbone followed 5 runs later for 45. At 144-3 a base was there for acceleration but 3 quick wickets quashed these hopes. Nick Brooks (25) and Stephen Rawbone (15n.o.) added some late runs as the total reached 185-8 despite 4-44 from Ryan and 3-32 from Cheslin.

Leamington struggled early on following a fine spell from Neil Hudson (10-1-29-2), who dismissed both openers, and it was 30-3 when 15 year old Hugh Perks took a superb one handed diving catch to dismiss the dangerous Cheslin.

Skipper Dale survived chances but when Richard Cressey accounted for him for 25 the home side were in big trouble at 78-6. Youngster Zac Grant was joined by the experienced Damian Dixon and together they turned the game around aided by some poor ground fielding from LI.

Grant finally went for an excellent 44 at 142. Dixon was 8th out for 38 and it was left to another teenager Credgington to hit the winning runs finishing on 26 n.o. with 2 balls left despite all 5 bowlers sharing the wickets.

Played Saturday, August 25th 2007

Match Sponsored by The Harvester Inn

Itchington finished their home campaign with a disappointing defeat and ended their faint hopes of promotion in the process.

After electing to bat the home side lost an early wicket with 11 on the board in the 4th over. Aaron Jones joined Martyn Rawbone and against accurate bowling they struggled to get the ball away. Rawbone was out for 26 at 66 and the middle order perished trying to accelerate. Jones was 5th out for a very patient 38 and at 104-7, Singh 4-21, LI were in trouble. Late double figure contributions from Brian Phillips and Richard Cressey steadied the ship and took the final total to 141-9 with Gardener and Webster both producing 2-25 returns.

In reply, and despite a flurry of boundaries from Singh in his 30, Staff were never comfortable against the home attack particularly Martin Clark and Stephen Rawbone.

Wickets fell at regular intervals and when Rattan was 6th out for 18 at 98-6 the game was still in the balance. Several difficult chances were then missed as Duncan Gardener (43 n.o.) played very sensibly and mixed careful defence with some big hits as 37 were added and Staff eventually got home by 3 wickets in a good competitive game of cricket.

Played Saturday, August 18th 2007

Unfortunately the game fell victim to the weather with Claverdon’s wicket proving unplayable.

Played Saturday, August 11th 2007

Itchington came out on top in a high scoring encounter against first time visitors Twyning on Saturday.

The home side had first use of a belter of a batting track and opened with a first wicket partnership of 62 before Martyn Rawbone was dismissed for 33 in the 13th over. Fellow opener Graham Foster and Alex Jack added value with a stand of 111 before Foster was dismissed in the 31st over for 51. Jack followed shortly after for 73.

After a minor blip the experienced duo of Stephen Rawbone (30 n.o.) and Brian Phillips (17 n.o.) boosted the score by 45 in 6 overs to a final 261-6 which seemed an insurmountable total. Brooks avoided the battering with 2-42.

Twyning were not overawed however and opened up with a flurry of boundaries before losing a wicket at 42 in the 9th over. Powerful opener McVicker was 2nd out for 59 at 106 in the 20th. When Teal was 4th out for 41 the game appeared over but skipper Goodwin (53) and no 6 Allen (37) had other ideas. They launched an onslaught which took the visitors within touching distance but ultimately ended up 9 runs short in a great game of cricket. Steve Rawbone finished a good personal match with creditable figures of 2-46.

Played Saturday, August 4th 2007

Itchington got their season back on track against struggling Woodbourne on Saturday.

The visitors elected to field and the home openers made good use of excellent batting conditions. The first 50 came up in 10 overs and despite a slowing of the rate following bowling changes the score had reached 130 in the 29th over when Martyn Rawbone was first out for 83.

Fellow opener Graham Foster followed 4 overs later for 46 at 151. Alex Jack (22), Aaron Jones (34) and James Clarke (20) added the ‘icing’ against the tiring attack with the board reading 242-5 after the allotted overs. Only Jenkins 2-54 and Rooney 2-58 came away with any reward.

Brian Phillips got a wicket with the first ball of the reply and got another in his 2nd over at 10-2. Stephen Rawbone joined the party and took 4-14 in 6 overs including no 3 Heard for 20 as Woodbourne slumped 69-7.

The pitch was flattening out and the batsmen were playing only for bonus points as Rooney (21) and Caldicott (25) added 41. LI couldn’t dislodge the last pair as the score ended on 135-9 with Itchington winning by 107 runs. Phillips finishing with 3-12 in his 10 overs.