Long Itchington Cricket Club

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 22nd August 2009

Long Itchington 2nd XI lost every facet of their game against an Ashton Under Hill 2nd XI who punched above their weight to win convincingly by 7 wickets.

Itchington batted first with their strong batting line up but unfortunately no one player played a big innings and the top score was 30 which was well below par on a well prepared wicket which look conducive to high scores.

Confidently the Itchngton bowlers took the field after the break but unfortunately appeared to go back to early season nerves with a number of wides added to the extras total.

The Ashton batsmen started confidently with the dangerous Capaldi looking well set until he was well caught at short cover by Franks off White. This brought Pearce to the wicket to play an innings that none of the Itchington bowlers had come up against this season, from the outset he played attacking shots to all parts of the ground to quickly accumulate a big score.

Smith changed his bowlers at regular intervals using seven bowlers in total to try and make the important break through it was all to no avail until with only 15 runs needed for victory first Martin who had supported Pearce well was bowled by the returning Hudson for 29 then Pearce was well caught down the leg side by Rogers off White for an excellent 80.

Ashton scored the winning run in the 35th over to record a resounding win and the title hopes of the Itchington players were left to hang in the balance until next Saturday in a must win game against Ealswood.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 169-9, Ashton under Hill 2nd XI 170-3.
Kineton 2nd XI won by 144 runs.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 2 points, Ashton under Hill 2nd XI 20 points

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 15th August 2009

Acting Skipper Andy Crump maintained his unbeaten run as Itchington convincingly beat Winchombe IIs, away, by 144 runs.

Inserted on a hard track, openers Graham Foster (104) and George Insall (50) set Itchington on the way with a fine stand of 131, before Insall was run out.

Foster hit 16 boundaries in a superb innings, taking full advantage of some good fortune before being 7th out at 209. Wickets tumbled in the search for quick runs but Tom Crosthwaite (22) and Steve Franks (19) maintained the momentum with Itchington closing on 222 (the same score as their first team). Hobbs 4-42 was the pick of the bowlers.

Neil Hudson opened Itchington’s attack and bowled with pace and hostility taking 2-24 off 6 fine overs. Veteran Dave Buchholz maintained control at the other end and took 3-35 off 10 overs as Winchcombe slipped to 53-5.

Craig White replaced Hudson and soon got in on the act taking 3-12 off 5.1 unplayable overs. A run out and a wicket for Crosthwaite off his solitary over saw Winchcombe bundled out for 78.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 222-9, Winchcombe 2nd XI 78 all out.
Long Itchington 2nd XI won by 144 runs.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 22 points, Winchcombe 2nd XI 4 points

A good all round team performance was backed up by good catching as well as enthusiastic fielding from Martin Greaves.

With two games left Itchington remain top but need to maintain this level of performance to avoid being overtaken by the chasing pack.

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 8th August 2009

Long Itchington 2nd XI fielded a strong team in all departments for their first encounter of the season with close neighbours Kineton 2nd XI, the first fixture being a washout.

Kineton lost the toss and Itchington skipper Smith asked the visitors to bat. Buchholz and Hudson opened the bowling and Kineton’s first wicket fell with the score on 8 when Hawkins was bowled by Hudson. The next wicket fell at 63 only after an excellent spell by Buchholz his ten overs going for only 18 runs.

Kineton throughout their innings found that runs had to be earnt as the Itchington bowlers stuck to their task, unfortunately missed fielding and dismissal opportunities by the home team would prove the difference to the outcome of the game.

Good sensible batting by Johnson (36 n.o.) and some lusty blows by Wullatt (33) boosted the Kineton score to a respectable 165 for the loss of 6 wickets.

At tea Itchington were confident of reaching the required total but Kineton soon had the home team on 16 for 3 before a good stand between Jones and Rogers (37) of 105 tilted the game towards Itchington but good captaincy by Brown who used his bowlers skilfully to make the task of reaching the required total extremely difficult.

Jones with an excellent 77 did his utmost but when he was out with the score on 150 the other batters could not maintain the charge and Kineton won the match by 6 runs.

Kineton 2nd XI 165-6, Long Itchington 2nd XI 159-7.
Kineton 2nd XI won by 6 runs.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 6 points, Kineton 2nd XI 18 points

With three games to go Long Itchington are still very much in control of their destiny to win division 5, they need to win the remaining 3 games to finish as champions. What they do need to do as individuals is to look at their own performance on the field should they have chased the ball harder, should they have concentrated more at the wicket, did they play that big shot to early, should they have run that first run quicker, should they have bowled a tighter line, to be an ultimate winner they all need to up these things by at least 10% and the Division 5 title is theirs.

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 18th July 2009

A strong looking Itchington 2nd XI visited Catherine-de-Barnes on Saturday and were thoroughly beaten by the home side who bowled very well on a damp green track to bowl the league leaders out for 85.

Itchington batsmen did not help themselves with 7 out of the 10 wickets falling to either bad shots or poor shot selection. However the Catney opening bowlers Prince and Dixon bowled very well and got figures of 3 for 21 and 3 for 18 off their respective 10 overs each.

The Itchington innings closed in the 34th over and the Catney batsmen had a difficult 10 overs to face the very good Long Itchington bowling attack before the tea interval.

At tea Catney had been reduced to 23 for 3 so Itchington were still in the game and the introduction of spin started the wickets tumbling with Crosthwaite bowling his best spell of the season 10 overs, 2 maidens 3 for 8 with excellent support from the reliable Buchholz (2 for 24 off 9) and the pacey Hudson (2 for 16).

However the Catney tail-enders kept on track and achieved the required total in the 30th over handing Itchington only their 2nd defeat of the season.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 85 all out, Catherine de Barnes 2nd XI 86-7.
Catherine de Barnes won by 3 wickets.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 3 points, Catherine de Barnes 2nd XI 18 points

NB:
As an a matter of interest every side in the fifth division that batted first on Saturday lost !

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 11th July 2009

The day started very wet and it was obvious to all that this would be an in and out game if it was to start at all.

Now we are into the 2nd round of matches teams are getting to know each other, players knowing players, Captains pitting their wits against each other. This was so on Saturday with Itchington claiming the toss and asking Alvechurch to bat first on a damp but good looking wicket.

White opened the bowling and soon dismissed the dangerous Brookes who shouldered arms to leave a ball which jagged back in to remove his off stump, first scalp to the home side. Smith the home captain attacked at every opportunity often having three slips and two gullies, several very good catches were taken in this area notably by Insall, A Smith and Jones but others, which on a better day may have been taken, were shelled.

Such an attacking field did allow some boundaries but the strong bowling stuck to task extremely well with good displays by all the bowlers, special mention must go to Hudson whose performance is improving weekly and his 10 overs were rewarded with 3 for 20.

A Smith 2 for 21, Franks 1 for 26, Cooper 2 for 18 and White 1 for 26 also all bowled very well.

The late order of Alvechurch wagged with Captain Haywood top scoring with 33. The innings ended on the last ball with Cooper running out the last batsman with the score on 150 all out.

Smith and Foster opened the Itchington reply but both fell cheaply to Reck. Insall and Rogers built a very good stand against accurate Alvechurch bowling.

Insall was bowled for 37 and with the rain clouds gathering the quick scoring Franks was sent in to boost the score in case Duckworth Lewis was to strike. He hit a breezy 13 in quick fire fashion and was caught brilliantly by 12 year old Clifford in the deep.

Jones was the next man in and he and the reliable Rogers got to the required target in the 39th over with Rogers 48 not out and the double secured over Alvechurch.

Alvechurch 3rd XI 150 all out, Long Itchington 2nd XI 151 for 4.
Long Itchington won by 6 wickets.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 21 points, Alvechurch 3rd XI 5 points