Long Itchington Cricket Club

After inserting their hosts LI got off to a wayward bowling start allowing their opponents to reach 47-1 off 10 overs. The introduction of skipper for the day Nick Brooks and Martin Clark both slowed down the rate and wickets began to fall. Once the experienced Roger Wickson was run out for 22 and top scorer Welsby bowled for 33 the innings began to crumble. Only Cox and Bishop reached double figures as seven players perished to outfield catches four of whom went to Brooks. Clark finished with 3-23 off 9 with fellow slow bowler Steve Chapman taking 3-3 in 5 overs to mop up the tail as the total slipped from 97-4 to 119 all out. LI lost a wicket a 12 before Richard Cressey provided a hard hit 28. At 50-3 Shipston were still in it but once the change bowlers came on LI, via Martyn Rawbone (43 n.o.) and James Clarke (37 n.o.), took their time and saw the visitors home by 7 wickets despite Taylor taking 2-28 and Wickson a tight 0-23 off 10 overs.

Best Performances:-

LI succumbed to their first defeat of the season in their top of the table clash at Moreton. Asked to bat first on a spongy wicket they lost their first wicket at 21 in the 9^th over. Another soon went but Will Grindal and Richard Cressey added quick runs before Grindal fell for a fine 48 at 79 in the 20^th over. Cressey was dismissed for 21 but at 108-5 the home side were back in it. A fine 50 partnership between James Clarke and Stephen Rawbone in only 8 overs gave LI a good base from which to further accelerate but Rawbone fell for 18, shortly after sustaining a leg injury, and when Clarke was 8^th out at 165 the inning petered out to an ultimately disappointing 177 in the final over with Bandera 3-36 and A.Hurrell 2-33 the most successful bowlers. After a couple of testing overs the LI bowlers lost their way and some wayward deliveries were dispatched by the increasingly confident home openers. They raced from 50 to beyond 100 in no time and looked set for a big win. The returning Brooks snapped up Williams for 49 and got another wicket in the same over. Ever improving spinner Steve Chapman bowled ten very tidy overs finishing with 1-32. Opener Newbold was finally dismissed for 76 (the first opposition batsman to take a 50+ score off the LI attack in the league this season) with the scores level, but Moreton easily got home by 6 wickets with more than 7 overs to spare.  

Best Performances:-

Played Saturday 23rd August

Cotswold Hills League – Division 2

Itchington 1st’s finished their home programme in emphatic style thrashing visitors FISSC on Saturday. Continue Reading »

Played Saturday 3rd May

Cotswold Hills League – Division 2

Itchington 1st’s lost out in a very close game against newly promoted Temple Grafton on Saturday. Continue Reading »