Long Itchington Cricket Club

Played Saturday, September 1st 2007

Itchington II’s clinched promotion in their first season in Division 6 with a clinical batting display chasing down 179 to beat Catherine de Barnes by 9 wickets.

Catherine de Barnes forfeited the toss due to late arrivals and were invited to bat first. Itchington went back to the future with veterans Steve Crosthwaite (10-5-12-1) and Dave Buchholz (10-1-42-1) opening the bowling and it was Crosthwaite who struck first removing Jonker for 0 after opener Gallimore had retired hurt. Fellow opener Partington soon followed, the first of three victims for Tom Crosthwaite (10-0-47-3) who took over from his dad. Lewis (29) and Ballinger (41) then rebuilt the innings with a stand of 62 before Lewis fell to Tom Crosthwaite and Ballinger was bowled by Jack Arthurton (6-1-18-1) at the end of a tidy 6 over spell. Gallimore (35 n.o.) returned to the fray and a frenetic end to the innings saw 3 wickets fall but 35 precious runs added in the last 5 over’s and a total of 179 was set for Itchington to chase.

Itchington lost an early wicket but after a watchful start Aaron Jones and George Insall started to impose themselves and soon the runs started flowing as first Insall and the Jones reached their half centuries, Jones going on to make 82 n.o. and Insall 73 n.o. as they put on a unbroken 2nd wicket stand of 173 to see Itchington home in the 38th over. Lewis was the pick of the visitors bowling attack only conceding 27 runs in his 10 over’s and taking the solitary wicket to fall.

Played Saturday, August 25th 2007

Itchington II’s maintained their record as the division’s form side by recording their 5th win on the bounce and keeping the prospect of promotion in their own hands.

Itchington skipper Dave Buchholz won only his 3rd toss of the season and had no hesitation in batting first on a surprisingly (for this summer) hot afternoon. Itchington’s total was initially based around a half century from Jeff Rogers who built stands for the 2nd wicket of 59 with Tom Perks (29) and 72 for the 3rd wicket with Will Grindal before departing for 73. Grindal (54 n.o.) then accumulated his own half century and with a rapid 14 n.o. from Steve Chapman providing the impetus in the last couple of over’s a competitive total of 211-6 was reached. Dawkins opening spell of 10-4-19-1 and O’Hare finished with 5-0-32-3 to finish as Exhall’s most successful bowlers.

Exhall’s reply got off to a rapid start as Itchington’s young pace attack was punished for any deviation in line and length. A change of pace brought about much needed wickets as Tom Crosthwaite snared 3-24 and Steve Chapman 2-41 to put Itchington back in control. However opener Saunders was still there and he reached 65 before he become one of 4 victims for Steve Crosthwaite as Exhall tumbled to 151 all out giving Itchington a valuable 20 point return in their hunt for promotion.

Played Saturday, August 18th 2007

Match Sponsored by The Harvester Inn

Itchington II’s stole a march on their promotion rivals by not only finishing the game on a day when no other game finished in the division but also by taking the maximum 22 points available in the circumstances.

Claverdon forfeited the toss due to the lack of a full team and Itchington skipper Dave Buchholz had no hesitation in deciding to field first in a rain affected encounter. Youngsters Tom Perks and Zach Aulakh (6-2-7-1) rewarded him with excellent opening spells taking 3 wickets between them. Steve Chapman (2-21) and Steve Franks (1-19) then continued the good work before Perks (7-0-22-4) returned to finish the innings off with only Heath (25) and Hambleton (13) getting into double figures.

Itchington’s openers Tom Perks (43 n.o.) and Dave Buchholz (24 n.o.) then knocked off the required runs with a minimum of fuss giving Itchington a valuable victory in their quest for promotion.

Played Saturday, August 11th 2007

Itchington II’s 3rd away day win on the trot was earned on the back off a remarkable Man of the Match Performance from Luke Fogarty.

Due to a late arrival Itchington had to forfeit the toss and Welford skipper Dave Jackson had no hesitation in batting. Lane and Smith added 27 for the 1st wicket before Smith fell to Andy Wood (6-0-21-1) and then Jackson N. (22) added a further 36 with Lane before he fell to Dave Buchholz (5-0-25-1). From this point it turned into the Luke Fogarty show as he wheedled out the last 8 batsmen with a combination of flight and spin taking 8-22 in 9.4 over’s to dismiss Welford for 127, Lane making 20.

Debutant Martin Greaves (21) and Jeff Rogers (26) added 48 for the 2nd wicket and Michael Parsons quick fire 19 took Itchington well on the way to victory despite accurate and economical opening spells from Khumalo (10-3-18-1) and Sandhu (10-5-22-0). But they all fell to the spin twin combination of Jackson M. (6-0-33-2) and Lane who finished a excellent personal game with 3-29 off his 10 over’s and it was left to that man Luke Fogarty to see Itchington home with an unbeaten 25 finishing the game with a flourish with a massive 6 over wide midwicket to see Itchington home with 3 wickets to spare.

Played Saturday, August 4th 2007

Itchington II’s won their 2nd away game on the bounce to go 2nd in the table and give themselves a great chance of clinching promotion.

Usual service resumed for Itchington’s skipper Dave Buchholz as he lost the toss for the 8th time out of 11 this season and Itchington were asked to bowl on a green tinged wicket. Early chances were created by opening bowlers Wood and Perks but they were spurned and Hands (15) and Jelfs (32) compiled a half century opening stand for Broadway. They both fell to Luke Fogarty in an excellent spell of 10-2-28-3 and along with Buchholz 10-4-35-1 turned the screw conceding only 63 runs in 20 overs. R. Burford Jnr held the innings together during this period with an important 47 but when he fell to a stunning catch by Nigel Smith off the returning Tom Perks (9.1-2-36-2) he and Jack Arthurton (3-1-11-2) wrapped up the innings for 146 in the 40th over.

Itchington’s reply started well with Buchholz (19) and Tom Perks putting on 46 for the 1st wicket. Zach Aulach joined Perks to add 24 for the 3rd wicket but after they both fell in the space of 12 runs it was left to veteran Nigel Smith (30 n.o.) to see Itchington home, Wilkes finishing with impressive figures of 10-6-17-1 and Yorke 24-2.