Long Itchington Cricket Club

Played Saturday, July 28th 2007

After performing miracles to get their game on after last weekends inundation Itchington let themselves down with a below par effort on the field.

After being sent in the home side lost a wicket in the 5th over but Martyn Rawbone and Aaron Jones took the score to 76 in the 23rd over before the latter was dismissed for 13. Rawbone was 3rd out for 79 in the 33rd over having added 57 with Alex Jack. The required acceleration failed to materialise however, despite Jack (27) and George Insall (21), with the final total being 185-7 with Wickson and Harper getting two wickets apiece.

In reply Harper and Bishop put on 43 as the wicket flattened out as the Itchington’s bowlers didn’t get much luck. Bishop was first to go at 43 for 27 but Wickson joined Harper for a match winning stand. Batting with care but dispatching anything loose they added 129 before Wickson finally succumbed to Martin Clark for 53. Skipper Hedderman hit the winning runs with 8 balls to spare with Harper completing a fine match with an unbeaten 88. Clark (10-2-36-2) being the only wicket taker.

Played Saturday, July 7th 2007

Itchington produced their worst overall performance of the season as they lost at bogey team Campden.

Opener Rose, a heavy run scorer against Itchington, was reined in to the extent that he was dismissed for ‘only’ 41 at 63-2 in the 20th over. At this point the visitors were in the box seat but aggressive knocks from Nicholls (24) and in particular Harrison (46) playing around a solid knock of 44 from Grey saw the home side escape the shackles to 212-8 off their allocation. Martin Clark was the pick of the bowling with 10-3-24-4.

Itchington replied with a solid 44 but from 60-2 they floundered against tight bowling. Stephen Rawbone (29) and Aaron Jones (24) did their best but all rounder Nicholls produced some superb figures of 9-5-7-5 in two spells as the middle and lower order succumbed to finish on a very disappointing 120 all out in only 38 overs and defeat by 92 runs.

Played Saturday, June 23rd 2007

Unfortunately the 1st XI’s game fell victim to the weather allowing Leamington to make up ground and join the 1st’s at the top of the table on 115 points.

Played Saturday, June 16th 2007

Itchington were rewarded for a lot of hard work which enabled their game to go ahead despite the weeks deluge.

Late arrivals meant the visitors forfeited the toss and were asked to bat on a surprisingly firm wicket. The Claverdon openers raced to 32 in the 7th over before losing their first wicket. The dangerous Titterton soon followed for a boundary laden 24 and at 39-3 the Itchington were back in the game.

At 78-4 the innings was finely balanced. The six strong home attack was not to be denied however as they chipped away with some good catches being taken and despite a valiant 23 from skipper Cheshire Claverdon were dismissed for 118 in the 42nd over with Brian Phillips (10-4-31-3), Will Grindal (3.3-0-13-2) and Richard Cressey (7-1-20-2) taking the lions share of the wickets.

The home innings mirrored that of the visitors losing its first wicket at 26 and slipping to 31-3, all wickets to Richardson in a 3-19 spell. Alex Jack and James Clarke battled through however adding 39 before the former fell for 21. Will Grindal (19 n.o.) joined Clarke (29 n.o.) and powered Itchington to victory in the 35th over by 6 wickets and to the top of the division for the first time this season.

Played Saturday, June 9th 2007

Itchington battled well in the face of adversity on Saturday but ultimately came up short.

Arriving for their first ever game at the well appointed Twyning ground with a depleted bowling attack they lost a player immediately prior to the start of the game and after losing the toss appeared to be in for an afternoon of leather chasing.

An eventful first over saw chances to dismiss both openers not taken. The top six batsmen all got to double figures as they liked to put bat to ball but the visitors came back into the match after 49-0 had been posted in 8th over.

Martin Clark 2-34 and Will Grindal 1-23 bowled well despite 35 from S Goodwin, and 25 apiece from McVicker and skipper M Goodwin. At 153-6 off 39 overs, with Martyn Rawbone taking 2-29, the home side escaped via a quickfire 22 from Coates although Richard Cressey proceeded to take 3-1 see a rapid decline to 187 all out in the 44th over.

In reply Itchington got off to a solid start before losing their first wicket at 41 in the 15th over. However some tight bowling by M Goodwin (1-17 off 10) aided by some poor shot selection enabled Walker to take 5-46 as Itchington slumped to 90-6, George Insall 35, by the 29th over.

James Clarke was joined by Martyn Rawbone as 37 was added in controlled fashion before the returning Coates took 3-9 (all lbw) including Clarke for an excellent 48 and Rawbone 18. The last pair took the total to 167 before the game was brought to its conclusion with 4 overs still remaining.