Long Itchington Cricket Club

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 4th July 2009

Long Itchington 2nd XI visited the picturesque ground of Stratford Bards, Alscot Park near Preston on Stour, one of the nicest grounds in Warwickshire and usually a home for batsmen to score plenty of runs. Not so this day.

Itchington were short of several recognised regulars and were keen with their full bowling attack to ask Bards to bat first which duly happened and the ever reliable Itchington opening bowling soon had the Bards openers in trouble helped by the flare for catching of Steve Franks who caught both openers one to the bowling of Dave Buchholz the other to Neil Hudson.

Wickets fell at regular intervals and were shared equally amongst the bowlers including Franks who mopped up the tail taking 3 wickets for 5 runs. The Bards innings finished on 102 for 9 with the only sour note of the day being an injury to the home captain who sustained a cut above the eye which required hospital treatment.

Long Itchington reached their target for the loss of 3 wickets with Foster achieving a patient 27 n.o, Franks a bright 22 and Crosthwaite 13 n.o. to keep them top of Division 5.

Other highlights of the day was the debut for the season of Hugh Perks who fielded very well and the support that all of the players showed on the day for each other.

Stratford Bards 2nd XI 102 all out, Long Itchington 2nd XI 104 for 3.
Long Itchington 2nd XI won by 7 wickets.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 21 points, Stratford Bards 2nd XI 2 points

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 26th June 2009

It was a game of two halves with each team being dominant either side of the tea break.

Itchington 2nd’s were asked to bat first and struggled throughout their innings which was held together by the patient Foster who top scored with 53 he was well supported by a bright cameo innings of 20 by Franks but unfortunately no other batsmen in the top 6 scored double figures and Itchington 2nd’s struggled at this stage to 109 for 6 then 113 for 7 before Crump ably supported by Andy Smith, added 43 for the 8th wicket Crump was last man out for a fine 33 and Itchington 2nd’s innings closed on 162 all out leaving Earlswood the favourites at tea to take the honours.

Smith opened the bowling and bowled well initially troubling the batsmen with his tight controlled line. At the other end Hudson started waywardly before finally finding his radar to trouble the Earlswood top order taking 3 for 36 in his 10 overs including the dangerous McGovern for 0 caught behind by Rogers.

The game began to turn Itchington 2nd’s way with some good bowling and enthusiastic fielding by everyone helped the cause. Crosthwaite’s leg spin reaped rewards taking 4 for 24 off 10 overs and the dangerous White taking 2 for 26 off his 9 overs and the returning Smith 1 for 23 off his 10 overs. Earlswood’s innings closed on 115 giving Itchington the win by 47 runs.

The Itchington 2nd’s side are starting to play as a unit for each other and as individuals they are beginning to know the job they have to do to reap the benefits, this can only be good for a side that is learning that winning is a habit and no one gives out league winner medals without having to work extremely hard.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 162 all out, Earlswood 2nd XI 115 all out.
Long Itchington won by 47 runs.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 20 points, Earlswood 2nd XI 6 points

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 20th June 2009

Stand-in skipper Andy Crump elected to bat and was rewarded by 2 early wickets for young Andy Smith (6-0-24-3) who outbowled his normally reliable opening partner Dave Buchholz (10-0-49-2). Buchholz was punished by Ashton-under-Hill’s skipper Capaldi (37) before he became one of 4 Steve Franks’ catches.

Craig White replaced Smith and bowled with pace and hostility to take 4-18 from 6 overs, he deserved more. Neil Hudson took the other wicket from his 2 overs after replacing Buchholz and the innings ended on 95 leaving Itchington 66 overs to get the runs.

When Itchington batted, their batsmen found it equally difficult with Insall falling without scoring. Graham Foster (10) & Jeff Rogers (16) then took the score to 23 before they went in quick succession. Soon after Itchington were 30-5 but that brought Crump in to join Aaron Jones and with a mixture of controlled aggression, stout defense, luck and good running, they saw Itchington home with almost 30 overs to spare and earn 19 points to keep them in the promotion race from Division 5. Crump finishing on a quickfire 35 n.o. and Jones a more sedate 29 n.o.

Ashton under Hill 2nd XI 95 all out, Long Itchington 2nd XI 99 for 5.
Long Itchington won by 5 wickets.

Long Itchington 19 points, Ashton under Hill 2nd XI 2 points

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 13th June 2009

Long Itchington Second XI fielded a team loaded with batsmen for their fixture with Winchcombe Second XI and the home team captain on winning the toss elected to bat on a green even wicket.

Insall and Smith looked confident against a good opening attack but both fell to very good catches, Smith for 16 and Insall for 29. This bought in Rogers and the Jones coming back from a lengthy two year absence due to a back injury.

They went on to build an extremely good unbroken partnership of 121, Rogers hitting 85 n.o. in 88 balls and Jones delicately carved 53 from 65 balls. The Long Itchington innings closed on 193 for 2 and 4 batting points.

The Winchcombe batsmen were met with the tireless bowling of Buchholz and the ever improving Andy Smith with Buchholz finishing with 1 for 31 from 10. He was unlucky not to finish with more wickets but dropped catches and unlucky umpiring decisions thwarted him. Smith finished with 2 for 20.

Wickets fell at regular intervals but a good stand between Davis 47 and Orzell 32 helped Winchcombe stave off an early defeat to finish 148 for 8 at the close.

The pick of the other bowlers were Crosthwaite 8 overs 2 for 16 and the talented White who bowled with pace and bounce to finished his 10 overs with 1 for 27.

On reflection the team is starting to play as a unit, it hurt players that they did not bat and the bowlers did not like being taken off. This can only be good in the weeks ahead to what promises to be a difficult league to progress from.

Long Itchington 2nd X1 192 for 2, Winchcombe 2nd XI 148-8.
Long Itchington won by 44 runs.

Long Itchington 18 points, Bidford on Avon 3 points

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 30th May 2009

Long Itchington 2nd XI visited Henley in Arden 2nd XI on Saturday 30th May and tasted their first defeat of the year in a close fought encounter.

Long Itchington once again lost the toss and the home skipper asked the Itchington team to take first knock on a hard brown wicket that looked ideal for batting and on a sun drenched afternoon as the great Geoffrey Boycott always says “if you win the toss always bat and if you have second thoughts bat anyway”.

The Itchington team soon found out why the toss was so important and decisive as the maximum the new ball bounced was 6 centimetres this quickly got the batsmen in trouble and led to the downfall firstly of the in form Foster who chased a low skidder and chopped it onto his wicket for 2.

Rogers and Smith took the score to 56 before the stylish Rogers was stumped for 28 calamity then struck with Smith running out Franks before he had faced a ball and then Crump being bowled off a ‘daisy cutter’ first ball.

Crosthwaite confidently strode to 34 before home skipper Sampson took a finely judged catch on the boundary to dismiss him. The inform Smith had fallen previously for 42 and a tumble of wickets followed to close the Itchington innings on 135 for 8 and a tough task ahead.

Henley reached the target of 136 in the 37th over only after a good bowling display from Buchholz taking 2 for 34 in 10 hard worked overs which at all times had the Henley batsmen struggling to score, he was assisted by Hudson who bowled quickly at times to give him figures of 4 for 28 with only one Henley batsman scoring over 20. The Henley 9th wicket pair then put on 30 to win the game even after Skipper Smith had juggled his bowlers to try and get the win the team deserved.

Unfortunately again the cause was not helped by indiscipline in the bowlers having given away 35 extras including 22 wides and if they want to push for promotion this has to improve.

Some positives coming out of the game was the continuing improvement of the two colts in the side Smith and Crosthwaite at both batting and bowling and the catching of Rogers who took 4 catches behind the stumps.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 135 for 8, Henley-in-Arden 2nd XI 136-8.
Henley-in-Arden won by 2 wickets.

Long Itchington 6 points, Henley-in-Arden 17 points