Long Itchington Cricket Club

Played Saturday, June 2nd 2007

It was a case of deja vu for Itchington’s first XI as a good bowling display paved the way for victory.

The visitors arrived to find a wet and under prepared strip and chose to field upon winning the toss. After a wicket in the 2nd over the home side advanced the total slowly to 22 before a flurry of wickets saw the score slip to 35-6 (Jenkins 10).

Williams from no 7 batted doggedly and he and Harrison added 22 before another collapse to 56-9. Williams succumbed finally in the 44th over for a top score 20 with only 73 on the board and all 5 LI bowlers taking wickets. Brian Phillips (10-6-9-3) and Martin Clark (10-4-11-2) being particularly frugal.

With the pitch playing better Graham Foster (15) and George Insall (22) put on 39 before change bowler Bannister (10-4-22-3) began causing problems. Despite 18 from Aaron Jones there was a middle order wobble before victory eventually came by 5 wickets in the 36 over of a very low scoring encounter.

Played Saturday, May 26th 2007

LI paid their first Saturday visit to Shipston and imposed themselves on the home side from the off.

Neil Hudson (6-1-19-2) took two wickets in the first over, both caught by keeper James Clarke. With skipper Hedderman run out and the dangerous Harper (20) gone with score at 38 it was left to veteran Bishop (20) and Cox (15) to take the total to 73 when both fell.

Stephen Rawbone (5-1-21-3) and Martin Clark (6-1-14-3) disposed of the tail in quick time, aided by two more catches keeper Clarke, for an all out total of 96 in only 35 overs. Brian Phillips (10-4-16-1) only conceding 16 runs in his 10 overs.

After the loss of an early wicket George Insall (30) and Aaron Jones (31) advanced the score to 75 in drizzle before both were dismissed with the winning post in sight. LI got home by 7 wickets in the 25th over before the rains came despite 2-26 from M Schaus.

Played Saturday, May 19th 2007

Match Sponsored by Frank Haywood

Itchington ground out victory against Rowington on Saturday with bowlers generally on top throughout.

The visitors were asked to bat first and struggled against some tight bowling and fielding. After a couple of early wickets Pace (20) and Chinn (21) helped opener Sly take the score to 84-3 but the introduction of Stephen Rawbone into the attack to partner Martin Clark combined with the run out of Sly for 34 saw the total slump to 97-9.

Experienced campaigners Shaw and Jay batted sensibly using up most of the overs adding an important 33 before Jay was bowled for 21 with the final score on 130. All five home bowlers shared the wickets with Clark 2-13 off 10 and Rawbone 4-31 the pick.

Itchington got themselves to 33-1 but the introduction of L Clarke slowed the rate and he together with Oldfield began to make inroads after the dismissal of Alex Jack for 18.

At 75-6 and 96-7 the match appeared to be going Rowington’s way but number 4 James Clark (the third Clark/Clarke to make a prominent contribution in the game!) was joined by Martyn Rawbone (who had just spent 4 hours in casualty having a damaged finger repaired) and they took the total to 125 before Clark was out for a fine 40 but Rawbone saw Itchington home with two wickets and 5 overs to spare. L Clark taking 4-19 off 9.

Played Saturday, May 12th 2007

Ultimately a comfortable victory for Itchington on Saturday due to a very tight bowling and fielding display.

Stratford was asked to bat first on a wicket that escaped the worse of the weather leading up to the game. The openers somewhat fortuitously put on 44 in the first 11 overs before Glanfield fell for 21. Skipper Lamb joined Gardener and they took the score to 72 before the former was well caught for 16.

When Gardener was third out for 35, after a brief break for rain, the rot set in as Nick Brooks(10-2-27-2), Martin Clark(10-2-21-4) and Stephen Rawbone(5.1-2-19-2) turned the screw. Only Russell with 24 could break the shackles as the home side were dismissed for 123 in the 43rd over.

Stratford had a brief glimpse of victory as Itchington were 28-2 and 48-3 but good knocks from Aaron Jones 25 and James Clarke 30 n.o. took the total to 75 before the latter was joined by Martyn Rawbone 20 n.o. to see the visitors home by 6 wickets with 12 overs to spare. Russell (10-0-25-2) proved the pick of the home attack.

Played Saturday, May 5th 2007.

LI were heavily beaten in their opening league encounter on Saturday. After electing to bat they didn’t make best use of some wayward bowling and quick outfield and found themselves 44-4 in the 19^th over.

Martyn Rawbone and George Insall added 55 in good time to stop the rot before the latter was dismissed for 18. A couple of further quick wickets stemmed progress until Richard Cressey joined Rawbone and they managed to put on 55 in 7 overs with both unbeaten at the close with 26 and 77 respectively out of a final total of 192-7 with 5 visiting bowlers sharing the wickets. Godson (8-3-23-2) and Harrison (10-2-32-2) being the pick.

It was to prove well short of a defendable total as the Campden openers launched an assault from the off with Rose in particular, he scored a ton against LI last year, being particularly brutal. Length balls were smashed to the boundary before Grey was dismissed for 25 in the 17^th over with the score at 92.

Rose finally succumbed for 93 in the 27^th over at 158. Only one further wicket was taken as the visitors romped home by 7 wickets with 10 overs to spare.