Long Itchington Cricket Club

Long Itchington C.C. vs. Tanworth in Arden C.C – Sunday 17th April – 40 Over Friendly

Bright sunshine and an enthusiastic Tanworth in Arden team greeted Long Itchington on their first outing of the season in a 40 over a side friendly.
After losing the toss away skipper Steve Chapman (Tino) and his team were asked to bat first on a good looking track which turned out to have a bit in it for good displays of either discipline.
Opening pair Tom Perks & Alex Jack got Long Itch off to a steady start putting 39 runs on the board off the first 10 overs despite a good opening spell by bowler Lacey.
Unfortunately for Jack his 13 of the opening partnership was as far as it would go as he was dismissed LBW in the 11th over by Tanworth Skipper Pearce. More steady bowling saw Pearce add to his wickets column dismissing Clarke for 11 in the 15th.
With the score at 61 for 2, Steve Franks joined Perks in the middle where the two of them put on 54 runs in 10 overs and during their half century partnership Perks made his first half century of the year including a beautifully timed straight drive for 6. Franks was dismissed in over 26, caught behind off the bowling of Aston Snr leaving Itchington on 115 for 3.
Without ever really taking a firm grip on the game thanks mainly to some good bowling, Perks saw himself to 85 before giving Pearce his 3rd wicket of the game via a smart catch at cover & Long Itch finished their 40 overs on 180 for 7.

After a well-earned tea break the home side embarked on their quest for the 181 runs that would win them the game.
Things did not get off to a good start for the home side as Carl Elkerton dismissed opener Robb completely bamboozling him into playing a very loose shot ending with a comfortable catch for Man of the Match Perks.
The other Pearce joined opener Carey and they slowly rebuilt Tanworth’s innings, taking them on to 57 from 15 overs. At this stage Nick Brooks and Skipper Chapman were into the attack and in Chapman’s third over opener Carey fell to an attempted sweep that was caught at short fine leg by Brooks.
Success in the third was followed by double success in the fourth as Chapman took two wickets in two balls bowling both Braithwaite & Patel.
The start of potentially a match winning partnership was then forged as Hill Joined Pearce and they more than got the home side back on track taking them to 142 for 4 from 32 overs.
With Chapman throwing the ball around searching for a breakthrough, that man Perks popped up with the perfect Yorker to clean up Pearce’s middle stump and with it a way back into the game.
Perks also accounted for the Tanworth skipper as he top edged a bouncer and was caught comfortably by Brooks running round from mid-wicket.
With the game still very much in the balance the returning and extremely impressive Elkerton and Alex Jack reduced the home side to 162 for 9 as the tail was struggling to wag but importantly for Tanworth, Hill was still at the crease and the 19 required from the last 2 overs was still possible.
Jack & then Elkerton both held their respective nerves as Tanworth fell 5 runs short of Itchington’s score, needing a 6 off the last ball to tie the game, only managing a single.

Both captains’ shook hands after the game agreeing that either side could not have had a better first game of the year regardless of result, a result which could all so easily been reversed.
Both teams showed a great amount of enthusiasm and resilience during the game, traits which should stand both teams in good stead for the upcoming season.

Long Itchington Performances
Batting – T. Perks 85
S. Franks 23
Bowling – S. Chapman 6/1/27/3
C. Elkerton 8/4/17/2
T. Perks 4/1/19/2
A. Jack 4/1/8/2

Due to the fact several players are away over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of June this year, we will be unable to get enough players to formulate a side to play at Horley on Sunday 6th

The selection commitee has come to that conclusion this evening, and Brian Phillips will contact Horley to see the if they are able to relocate the fixture to one of the Sundays that we still have available

Once any new information on this matter is forthcoming, it will be posted

Best Regards

Martin

Long Itchington vs Ansley Sports – Sunday Friendly 02 May 2010 I Steve (Tino) Chapman never thought I’d see the day I’d be happy after losing a game of cricket I was captaining; yet Sunday 2nd May 2010 was that day. Not only that, it was one of the proudest moments of my 3years leading the Sunday team. Let me explain . . . . . On a very cold day L.I. took to the field with no less than 7 players 17 or younger and based on their performances the future of L.I.C.C. looks extremely bright! Ansley were asked to bat first on a decent looking pitch as opening bowling pair S.Chapman and A.Jack bowled the first 9 overs for a meagre 30runs. Enter the juniors. As listed below the remaining 31overs were spread amongst the younger contingent. In his first over R.B-Shaw removed opener Kelm who struggled to 5 before being caught at mid-off by J.Clarke, next came slow left arm bowler M.Jeffs who removed No.3 Smith also for 5 and also caught at Mid-off this time by S.Chapman. A couple of good partnerships dominated by Vernon(122) saw Ansley looking to post a rather sizeable total but some very tight bowling by S.Hain & M.Jeffs didn’t allow the home side to get away, thus allowing a fantastic effort from Y.Elkerton to remove Davies(19) and Vernon(122) as the pair looked to accelerate. The returning S.Hain got a well-deserved wicket in his final over as Ansley finished on 193-5. In reply, a wonderfully spirited display saw L.I. fall only slightly short of their target being led most of the way by J Breakwell who batted the last 25overs of the innings finishing on a fantastic 56n.o. The innings got off to a solid start with openers J.Clarke and the very impressive S.Wood returning 34runs in 9overs before the former was removed for 14 in bizarre fashion. Only 12runs later Wood was caught out playing a big shot to the leg-side holing out on the boundary for 22. The wicket brought the impressive Breakwell to the crease who was ably supported by the big-hitting J.O-Lawson and A.Jack who scored 13 & 15 respectively before the away sides innings came to a close on 166-6. All I can say to the current senior players is beware as your place could very well be in jeopardy to anyone of the young lads who played on Sunday, and I mean it 100% when I say they all did not only me but themselves proud, and I would gladly skipper them all again. Good performance lads and once again very very well done!!!!!!! Team Score Overs LI 166-6 40/40 Ansley 193-5 40/40 Best Performances:- Team Bowling Batting Long Itchington R.B-Shaw 5-0-25-1 M.Jeffs 6-0-24-1 Y.Elkerton 6-0-43-2 S.Hain 6-0-22-1 J.O-Lawson 4-0-23-0 J.Breakwell 56n.o. S.Wood 22 Ansley Root 4-0-30-2 Vernon 122

Played Sunday 10th May

After another pre-arranged team called off Henley-in-Arden stepped in as hosts to Itchington Sunday team. On a lovely day skipper ‘Tino’ lost the toss and his team were put in to bat first on a seemingly good wicket.

Openers Buchholz & Clarke (35) got Itchington off to a good start getting to 69 in 17 overs before change bowler Griffis removed Buchholz for 38. This brought a first appearance in a year for Nick Aldridge who showed some aggressive intent hitting a quick fire 24 leaving Itchington on 111 off 25 overs. Some indifferent batting and tight bowling from Perry (7-1-31-6) and Herndon (8-1-27-3) saw Itchington creep to their closing total of 168 failing to use 5 balls of their innings.

After a very appetising tea, Itchington took to the field believing they had a defendable total only to be blown away by one of the most destructive batting displays I have ever seen.

Without wanting to sound too bitter about the loss, Stibbons knock of 113 n.o. took the contest out of the game which was ended in the 25th over by almost hitting every ball bowled at him to some part of the boundary.

The home side had started quite slowly and opener Neil Hudson (6-1-48-2) took an early wicket only to bring Stibbon to the crease. From that point his big hitting forced a defensive outlook only to then prove the field nowhere near big enough for his fabulous stroke play, Brian Phillips (8-0-32-2) chipping in with 2 wickets amongst the mayhem.
On the whole a day to forget for Itchington after such a crushing defeat but with 6 of Henley’s first team (inc Stibbon) playing it showed the kind of standard Long Itchington’s first team need to aspire to.

Played Sunday 26th April

Long Itchington travelled to local rivals Southam with a strong Sunday second team. Skipper James Clarke lost the toss and Itchington found themselves fielding on a quick outfield, but made the best possible start when Jamie Greaves dismissed Neale in the second over with the score reading 1-1. The afternoon then suddenly changed when Matt Goatley entered the field and Itchington spent most of their time fetching the ball from the boundary. Carl Elkerton became the hero by clean bowling Goatley for a very impressive 73. C. Elkerton continued to bowl well and could have taken more wickets but ended up with impressive figures of 8 – 32 – 1. Itchington pegged back Southam from then on with some good bowling from the Perks brothers. Clarke then turned to the king of spin Simon Parsons who skittled out the middle order with figures of 6-40-3. Lee Toose then made his comeback with 2-15-2. Southam finally finished the innings on 234 and this would have been a lot more if it wasn’t for the brilliance in the field from debutant Johan Elkerton, who also bowled an impressive over taking his first senior wicket. Well done Johan!

Chasing 235 to win Itchington made the worst possible start losing Clarke (4) with the second ball of the game. It got worse after that and Itchington found themselves 9-4, mainly down to some exceptional bowling from Heath and Neale. The Perks brothers then joined each other at the crease and both of them batted maturely and got the tempo started. Hugh Perks looked dangerous before being run out for a fine 21. Tom Perks then made a fine 57 and was joined by the promising all rounder Jamie Greaves who smashed Southam’s attack all around the park for a brilliant 56 ( 4X6). Itchington finally ended 188 all out which was a fantastic effort after being 9-4.
Itchington’s first loss of the season, but skipper Clarke was very impressed with the attitude of his team and was especially exited by the array of young talent that is coming through the junior ranks