Long Itchington Cricket Club

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

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 Saturday 30th August

Cotswold Hills League – Division 5

Itchington II’s ended their season on a losing note as Henley avenged their defeat earlier in the season. Continue Reading »

Played Saturday 28th June

Cotswold Hills League – Division 5

Itchington II’s claimed another away day win with a well timed run chase. Continue Reading »