Long Itchington Cricket Club

Cotswold Hills League Division 5
Played 15th August 2009

Acting Skipper Andy Crump maintained his unbeaten run as Itchington convincingly beat Winchombe IIs, away, by 144 runs.

Inserted on a hard track, openers Graham Foster (104) and George Insall (50) set Itchington on the way with a fine stand of 131, before Insall was run out.

Foster hit 16 boundaries in a superb innings, taking full advantage of some good fortune before being 7th out at 209. Wickets tumbled in the search for quick runs but Tom Crosthwaite (22) and Steve Franks (19) maintained the momentum with Itchington closing on 222 (the same score as their first team). Hobbs 4-42 was the pick of the bowlers.

Neil Hudson opened Itchington’s attack and bowled with pace and hostility taking 2-24 off 6 fine overs. Veteran Dave Buchholz maintained control at the other end and took 3-35 off 10 overs as Winchcombe slipped to 53-5.

Craig White replaced Hudson and soon got in on the act taking 3-12 off 5.1 unplayable overs. A run out and a wicket for Crosthwaite off his solitary over saw Winchcombe bundled out for 78.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 222-9, Winchcombe 2nd XI 78 all out.
Long Itchington 2nd XI won by 144 runs.

Long Itchington 2nd XI 22 points, Winchcombe 2nd XI 4 points

A good all round team performance was backed up by good catching as well as enthusiastic fielding from Martin Greaves.

With two games left Itchington remain top but need to maintain this level of performance to avoid being overtaken by the chasing pack.

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

Played Saturday 26th July

Cotswold Hills League – Division 2

Itchington came out on top in an ultimately tight encounter against first time visitors Winchcombe and gained revenge for their early season thumping by the same opponents. Continue Reading »

Played Saturday 24th May

Cotswold Hills League – Division 2

Winless Itchingtin 1st XI continued their poor run with a woeful performance at windy Winchcombe. Continue Reading »