Long Itchington Cricket Club

Played Saturday, July 28th 2007

Itchington II’s returned to wining ways with an emphatic defeat of Eckington after the floods had cleared sufficiently to allow access to their ground.

Itchington’s skipper won only his 2nd toss of the season and had no hesitation inserting their hosts on a green and slightly damp wicket. Andy Wood (6-1-18-2) and Tom Perks (6-0-19-3) rewarded him with excellent opening bursts reducing Eckington to 38 – 5. Steve Chapman (6-1-9-1) and Dave Buchholz (5.2-1-10-3) then took over and runs became very hard to come by as N. Graham and C. Fincher dug in to try and salvage something from the innings but Steve Chapman removed them both Graham through an expert piece of fielding to produce a run out and Fincher caught at gully. Buchholz then mopped up the tail to finish the innings on 60.

Itchington had an early scare as they lost two quick wickets to leave them at 14-2 but Buchholz and debutant Zach Aulakh calmed the nerves with a stand of 44 before Buchholz fell for 23 with only 3 runs needed for victory which duly completed 2 balls later as Michael Parsons despatched the last ball of the over for 4, Aulakh finishing with an accomplished 19 n.o.

Played Saturday, July 7th 2007

Itchington II’s started the 2nd half of their first league campaign with an emphatic defeat by Mickleton.

Due to an accident and subsequent road closure Mickleton forfeited the toss as the only had 9 men at the appointed time and Itchington skipper Dave Buchholz sent them into the field. However it was Mickleton’s 9 men that drew first blood with Tom Perks being bowled in the 2nd over (his first duck of the year). Buchholz (24) and Graham Foster (31) then built a patient stand of 52 before both falling victim to Ellis in quick succession which brought Michael Parsons into join Jeff Rogers and they provided the impetus the innings needed at that point, Parsons (45) just missing out on a deserved half century becoming Ellis’s 3rd victim, but Rogers went onto to make 55 n.o. to take the total to a competitive 184 off their 45 over’s.

Mickleton’s reply got off to a lightning start as Ellis plundered runs almost at will and when he was eventually dismissed by Luke Fogarty (5.1-1-36-1) for a destructive 111 the winning post was in sight and Mickleton duly cantered home in the 39th over with their skipper Ben Fairfax hitting the winning runs. Of the bowlers only Andy Wood escaped a mauling finishing with 6-1-10-1.

Played Saturday, June 23rd 2007

Itchington II’s had to contend with rising flood water as well as a stubborn Exhall & Wixford side to register a much needed victory.

Itchington were invited to bat after Skipper Dave Buchholz lost yet another toss and with the wicket and outfield still damp it was slow going. Only Will Grindal of the early batsmen was able to impose himself on the bowling and his 49 was by far and away the highest score of the game. Once he departed it took some sensible batting from No. 8 Steve Franks (14). and last pair of Jack Arthurton (8) and Tom Crosthwaite (11 n.o.) to secure a second batting point and set some sort of total for the bowlers to defend.

Exhall’s reply was interrupted by a downpour and on resumption saw the target reduced to 110 off 40 overs. Run rate never looked like being a problem as 26 was reached for the loss of one wicket after 8 overs.

The introduction of Steve (Tino) Chapman saw Hendricks removed with a stunning caught and bowled and then Grindal chipped in with a wicket to reduce Exhall to 33-3. Manders and O’Hare effected a recovery putting on 22 before Tom Crosthwaite removed them both in a spell of 8-1-31-2 and when Steve Chapman ousted Exhall’s skipper Jim Goldstraw the innings was finely balanced at 72-6.

The re-introduction of Grindal (8-1-19-4) into the bowling attack turned the game in Itchington’s favour as he took 3-1 in six balls to leave Itchington on the brink and Tom Perks applied the coup de grace bowling Burgess to give Itchington victory by 11 runs.

Played Saturday, June 16th 2007

Unfortunately the 2nd’s game fell victim to the weather with Claverdon’s wicket proving unplayable.

Played Saturday, June 9th 2007

Itchington II’s slipped to a second successive home defeat as Welford successfully chased down Itchington’s total.

Itchington were invited to bat after Skipper Dave Buchholz lost yet another toss and he and fellow opener Tom Perks put on 79 for the first wicket before Perks was caught just after he had reached his 50. Jeff Rogers then joined Buchholz to add 48 for the second wicket before departing lbw. Buchholz batted right through to record a season best 73 n.o. but he and his partners could not provide the necessary acceleration against a very tight Welford attack and the final total of 174-5 was at least 20 runs short of where it should have been, all of the Welford bowlers were frugal with Hoskin taking 2-25 and Khumalo and Sandhu only conceeding 30 and 32 respectively of their 10 overs whilst taking a wicket apiece.

Welford’s reply got off to a flyer through Hoskin and Lane scoring freely. Hoskin went first for 36 and then Steve Franks (7-0-29-2) took 2 quick wickets to give itchington hope but Jackson (21n.o.) combined with Lane to steady the ship. When Lane (36) became the first of Dave Buchholz’s 3 victims (9.1-2-23-3) the game was still in the balance but Khumalo made a rapid 31 to take Welford to the brink of victory which was duly completed in the 37th over.