May 18 2009
Match Report – Long Itchington 2nd XI v Catherine-de-Barnes 2nd XI
Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 16th May 2009
Long Itchington Second II met on a dull, windy, rain-threatened Saturday afternoon at Whitehall Farm. The ground looked in excellent condition thanks to the hard work of the LI grounds men who had strived to ensure the game could go ahead after a wet week.
Catney arrived and the two captains eagerly awaited the spin of the coin both desperate to ask the opposition to take the first knock on a real ‘sticky dog’ of a wicket. Eddie, the Catney Captain smiled as the coin landed on tails ‘you can bat’ he gleefully said. Smith and Insall opened the Itchington innings and put on a stand of 43 in 11 overs with the ball spitting like a cobra on an Indian afternoon.
Fogarty the home umpire had to make a crucial decision of giving the in-form Insall out caught behind for 17. Rogers quickly followed caught brilliantly at slip before he had opened his account. Phillips at 4 mixed cautious and swashbuckling shots, including a huge 6 over point, to get to 34 at a run per ball before a bizarre injury to an upper arm muscle had him retire injured. A rain storm hit the game and 8 overs were lost from the second innings of the match.
On resumption Franks played a short cameo innings before being out with the score on 113 for 3. Smith carried on in an uncharacteristically patient way on the damp wicket making 39 in 95 balls before he was out in the 32nd over. Buchholz then took up the mantle and when the innings closed at 161 for 7 he was not out for 20 which would prove to be a crucial knock to the outcome of the game.
Catney, chasing a revised target of 133 in 37 overs to win, started abysmally and was soon in real trouble at 24 for 6. The game looked to be won easily by Long Itchington the bowlers and fielders were strutting their wares magnificently when a mini revival, lead by the Catney Captain, took them to 53 for 7 then 60 for 8 with Buchholz returning figures of 10 overs, 4 maidens, 4 for 20 and Hudson 10 overs 2 maidens, 4 for 43.
Catney players had rung wives and girlfriends to get themselves ready to be taken out for an early supper, however cricket is a funny game, with its twists and turns, suddenly Long Itchington had their backs to the wall. The young number 10 for Catney, Hancock, started to play some well judged shots to all parts of the ground to put Long Itchington to the sword. The home captain changed bowlers frequently and to help save the day found an ally in Franks’ left arm seam bowling who had Hancock well caught by Smith at mid wicket for 30, with only 19 needed for victory the innings closed at 114 all out, Franks finishing with 2 for 13.
Long Itchington claimed 20 points to Catney’s 4 and recorded their 3rd straight win of the season to date. The game was played in good sprit by both sides, the discipline that Long Itchington players need to learn when putting in a challenge for promotion is to reduce the number of extras, 24 wides were recorded against Catney which could have been the difference between the two sides in a close fought encounter.
Long Itchington 2nd X1 161 for 7, Catherine-de-Barnes 114 all out.
LI 20 points, Catherine-de-Barnes 4