Long Itchington Cricket Club

Under strength LI gave run away unbeaten champions Moreton a run for their money before finally succumbing by 52 runs on Saturday. Makeshift opener Richard Cressey captured a wicket in the 4^th over but once Jamie Hurrell and Shurmer overcame the early dampness in the wicket they built towards a good total. Dealing mainly in boundaries off short balls (the first single didn’t come until the 12^th over) they advanced to 107-1 off 30 overs. The shackles then came off and the rate increased as Hurrell passed a very well constructed century. He was finally out in the 44nd over for 124 having added 211 for the 2^nd wicket. Shurmer was out off the last ball for a more patient 78 and LI were left to chase 224 to win. Cressey was the pick of the bowlers with 2-43. In reply Martyn Rawbone and Aaron Jones put on a 3^rd consecutive 50+ opening partnership before Rawbone was bowled by Shurmer for 23 at 62 in the 19^th over. Jones was next out for a fine 50 and despite another quick wicket Cressey and James Clarke took the total to 152-3. With overs running out Cressey was dismissed by the impressive returning Ashley Hurrell for 34. When Clarke fell to Shurmer  for 30, and the win the only outcome LI were interested in, the tail fell away with Shurmer finishing on 5-46 and Hurrell 3-16 off 9 overs as LI slid to defeat but with some consolation in having achieved their highest ever league finish of 3^rd place.

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LI were involved in an excellent game of cricket on Saturday and despite having scored their highest ever total they still lost! On their first visit to the well appointed Blockley ground the playing arena looked full of runs. The home side made the most of batting first scoring 48 off the first 10 overs dealing mostly in boundaries. Stephen Rawbone accounted for the dangerous Sipthorp for 26 at 78 and Williams for 56 at 125 in the 22^nd over. Knight, who smashed some early big shots, was joined by his skipper Dyer. They played relatively sedately, especially against the returning Nick Brooks, although at 204-2 off only 35 overs they were in a good position to post a massive score. This they did adding 101 runs in the last 10 overs before both fell in the last over to boundary catches, Knight for 96 and Dyer for 98. Rawbone finished with 2-59, Martin Clark 2-80 and Brooks, although wicket less only conceded 32 off his 10 overs. The visitors, needing a win to maintain their promotion challenge, were not deterred in chasing such an imposing total. Martyn Rawbone and Aaron Jones took 65 off the first 10 overs but had been pegged back slightly when Jones was first out at 125 in the 22^nd over. Three wickets then fell in the next 6 overs including the in form Richard Cressey, James Clarke and Martyn Rawbone for 63. Tom Perks and Alex Jack then joined forces and some great running and hitting saw 87 scored in 11 overs before Perks succumbed for 53. More wickets fell as the total needed reduced. 19 were needed off the last over and despite a 4 coming off the first ball two wickets fell to boundary catches including Jack off the last ball for an excellent 75 as LI fell only 8 runs short on 297-9 with 602 runs having been scored in the 90 overs and many players admitting it was the best match they had ever played in.

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LI came out on top in another high scoring encounter against visitors Winchcombe to put behind them their disappointing defeat last weekend. The Gloucs side, batting first on a true and pacy LI wicket, lost their first wicket at 20 in the 7^th over. Skipper Hugget was dropped 2 balls later and again in the following over before hammering four 4’s in an over to celebrate his good fortune. He survived two more difficult chances as he and Durston added 110 before finally succumbing for 74. Durston was 3^rd out for 45 at 153 to spinner Steve Chapman who proceeded to trouble all the batsmen as the visitors slipped to 191-7. No 4 Foster was still in residence however and his unbeaten 43 aided by 17 n.o. from Didcote pushed up the final total to 221-7. Chapman finished with an excellent 5-37. Having chased down 238 at Winchcombe earlier in the season the home side began positively reaching 39-0 off the first 10 overs. Aaron Jones was first out at 72 for a well constructed 29. Richard Cressey joined skipper Martyn Rawbone adding 79 in just 14 overs when Rawbone was 2^nd out for 60 at 151 in the 31^st over. Another 70+ stand followed as Cressey (89 n.o.) and Tom Perks (27 n.o.) saw LI home with 8 balls to spare for an 8 wicket win. S Jones taking both wickets to fall in a 2-49 return.

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LI didn’t do themselves justice in their top of the table clash against promotion rivals Leamington. The home side were asked to bat and lost the potentially dangerous Ainscow for 2 in the 4^th over. That would be LI’s only success for the next 35^th overs as opener Bellfield was joined by Gill who together put on 158 runs in that time punishing virtually every bad delivery. Belfield was 2^nd out at 169 for 67 with the more forceful Singh making the most of two dropped catches and several other let offs as he accumulated 79 before being 3^rd out at 183. The visitors managed to snare another couple of wickets, using 7 bowlers, but a 208-5 total was probably above par on a slow outfield. In reply the villagers found themselves 10-3 in only the 5^th over, two wickets falling to Zac Grant. Richard Cressey and James Clarke then mounted a recovery adding 65 in 15 overs before Clarke was caught on the boundary for 25. Another boundary dismissal followed before Cressey was 6^th out for a top score of 38 at 97. In dire straights LI gained some respectability with double figure contributions from Nick Brooks and Steve Chapman but they were dismissed for 131 in only the 34^th over with Rob Grant’s 3-17 polishing off the innings providing Leamington with a victory by 77 runs.

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LI were left frustrated by the weather on Saturday. Having travelled down to Campden and found a slightly damp but firm pitch the home side were given first knock. Opening bowlers Andy Wood and Tom Cooper bowled probing lines and both Chippy openers edged through the slips off Cooper. Anything full or short was hit away however before home skipper Lindner was yorked by Cooper in the 8^th over for 18. Reason followed next over expertly caught by George Insall off Wood in the slips for a single. After a brief rain interruption the players returned as the score moved to 44-2 in the 16^th over before further heavy rain waterlogged the pitch thus abandoning the game with the experienced Nicholls unbeaten on 21. Wood finished with 1-14 and Cooper 1-28.  

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