Windsor Blaze in Sunday Sun

Sunday 23rd Windsor 1st XI vs. Aldershot 1st XI

After negotiating a new route to Windsor via Slough, Aldershot 1st XI were visitors to the Home Park ground, looking to navigate themselves to a win in the final week prior to the commencement of the Sunday league season. Upon winning the toss, Windsor took the opportunity to bat first and test out the long batting line-up.

Despite an initially wayward start, the Aldershot opening bowlers settled down and Ford picked up the early wicket of P. Huggins for 7. This brought in Granger, who was in no mood to hang around. Taking just 14 balls to get 37, Granger was suddenly stuck on the score and this led to him being caught off the leading edge at mid-on. With Noble holding court at one end, the Windsor middle-order again creaked and lost Wigley (14), M. Huggins (5) and Gould (7) in relatively quick succession leaving the innings at 137 for 6. This brought in Davis, who for the second week running, had to consolidate after the middle order collapse. With the loss of Noble for a solid 38, Pitt joined Davis at the crease. With shots blazing all over Home Park, the pair put on 67 in 70 balls to rejuvenate the Windsor effort. After Pitt fell for 23 and Davis for 53, it was left to Condon (13) and Griffiths (14 not out), to steer the Windsor innings home and re-write the coaching manuals in the process. Windsor finally closed on 231 all out of their 40 overs. Ford was the pick of the Aldershot bowlers with a fine 5 for 54.

With bellies full, Windsor began after tea with the pace and swing of Pitt and Condon complementing each other. Aldershot openers Fraser (17) and Gass (10) both worked hard for their runs, but with Condon drying up one end and another outstanding catch from Granger, Pitt’s inswing managed to pick them both up. Pitt finished with 2 for 24, and Condon was very economical with 0 for 14 off 6. A change in bowling to the spin and seam of Suhbarkar and Griffiths, further dented the Aldershot effort. Griffiths tore a hole in the visitors’ middle order, picking up 3 for 25. The Aldershot batsmen struggled with the Windsor attack, and only Anslow (26) managed to get into the twenties. With the Home Park pitch again spinning like a top, Windsor introduced the unorthodox spin of Rob Noble. Much to the delight of the Windsor balcony, Noble picked up 3 for 14, including being on a hat-trick at one stage. It was left to Granger and Mark Huggins to fight over the final wicket, with the latter taking it on his return to Windsor CC colours. Aldershot were finally bowled out for 146 and Windsor were victors by 85 runs.

Next week sees the start of the Maidenhead and Advertiser Sunday League with Windsor starting their challenge at Taplow.

Windsor
P Huggins Bowled Ford 7
RW Noble Ct. Anslow Ford 38
J Granger Ct. Anslow Ford 37
A Wigley Ct. Fraser Ford 15
M Huggins Ct. Gass Ford 5
M Gould Bowled Lamb 7
B Davis Bowled Hamed 53
D Pitt Ct Arthur Anslow 23
W Griffiths Not Out 14
K Condon Run Out 13
A Suhbarkar Bowled Hamed 0
Extras 19
Total 231 All Out
39.5 Overs

Anslow 11 1 69 1
Ford 13 1 54 5
Lamb 5 0 31 1
Abbas 4 0 26 0
Hamed 6.5 0 46 2

Aldershot
M Fraser Ct Granger Pitt 17
A Gass LBW Pitt 10
G Arthur Bowled Suhbarkar 18
A Taylor Bowled Griffiths 17
F Abbas Ct. M Huggins B.Griffiths 17
C Olley Ct. P Huggins B.Griffiths 0
D Anslow Ct Pitt B. Noble 26
J Arthur St Davis B. Noble 9
A Hamed Ct M Huggins B. Noble 5
J Lamb Ct Pitt B. M Huggins 6
J Ford Not Out 2
Extras 19
Total 146

Pitt 7 0 34 2
Condon 6 3 14 0
Griffiths 6 1 25 3
Suhbarkar 9 1 47 1
Noble 4 0 14 3
Granger 1 0 1 0
M Huggins 0.3 0 3 1

1st XI vs Aldershot 23rd May 2004

1. B Davis (capt)
2. RW Noble (wkt)
3. M Gould
4. W Griffiths
5. J Granger
6. P Huggins
7. M Huggins
8. D Pitt
9. A Wigley
10. K Condon
11. A Suhbarkar

Please meet at ground 1.15pm.

Too little too late.

Sunday 16th Windsor 1st XI vs. Slough 1st XI

With the sun blazing down on the Upton Park ground, Windsor travelled to Slough on Sunday for their final warm-up game before the Sunday league starts. After losing another toss, Windsor was asked to field first.

To their delight, the Windsor opening bowlers Condon (1-47) and Granger found the bouncy deck much to their liking after such a damp early season. With it came a breakthrough each, with wicket keeper Noble snaring both chances. This only brought Parved to the crease, and he took to the second string bowling with much aplomb. With able support, Malik (53), Parved attacked all that came at him and racked up a marvellous 106, scoring at well over a run a ball. However, Windsor battled valiantly with only 10 men after losing Thompson to a finger injury. With the loss of Parved, Slough’s innings lost momentum as they reached 208 off their 40 overs. Granger was the pick of the Windsor bowling, taking 4 for 65 off 17 overs.

The Windsor reply started well, with the unusual feat of the first run off the bat coming in the 5th over, with 20 already on the board. Both Huggins (21) and Noble (26) batted well, putting on 75 for the first wicket. However, the introduction of the spin of House (4-55) and Hussain (2-12) slowed the scoring rate and both fell in successive overs. With Dawson soon joining them, it was left to Gould and new boy, Harris, to try to push the rate along. After Harris (11) fell, trying to force through the legside, Granger quickly followed. Skipper Davis, joined Gould to rebuild the innings with still well over 100 to get. With some lusty blows, the run rate began to increase, but with 60 still needed with four overs left, Gould was caught for 30. Banajee (16 not out) joined the fray, and with some unorthodox stroke play, helped Davis (42 not out) take Windsor to a respectable 182 off their 40 overs, some 26 runs short at the end.

With Taplow being the hosts next Sunday, Windsor looks to bounce back from this loss. And with key players coming into some form, it will be the middle overs that will be the target to be worked on over the next few weeks.

Windsor shine on a merky day.

Sunday 9th Windsor 1st XI vs. Wokingham 1st XI
After a frustrating weekend with their feet up waiting to see some cricket action, Windsor Sunday 1’s returned to action against Wokingham at Home Park on Sunday. On a damp wicket, it was surprise when Wokingham decided to bat first upon winning the toss, but in slippery conditions, it was with caution that Windsor took to the job of bowling.

Opening bowlers Griffiths and Granger took to the job well, bowling tight lines and causing Wokingham to try their hand in order to get the scoreboard moving. It was with this that the experienced Sosa (8) was run out by sprightly work from vice-captain Gould. Granger (2-18) and Griffiths (1-21) then removed a further three quick wickets, including their overseas player Dickinson, to leave Wokingham reeling on 36 for 4. The introduction of Mohindru and K.Condon further slowed the scoring, with the variation of spin and seam regularly taking wickets. With only Hayter and Fisher reaching double figures, Mohindru worked his way through the Wokingham order to pick up 5 for 10 off 7 overs, including a sharp stumping from keeper Noble. New boy Amit Suhbarkar picked up the final wicket and left Wokingham all out for 87.

After a hearty tea, Windsor openers Chorley and Huggins set about the chase of the low total. Some fine bowling by Dickinson and Fisher made the chase tough going, with the latter achieving the remarkable figures of 5 overs for 2 runs. Despite looking in good touch, Chorley fell chasing a wide one for 18. Huggins (8) soon followed and the Windsor reply was stagnating at 34 for 2 off 14 overs. Each batsman found batting tough going, with the leg spin of S.Condon (1-14) causing great concern. Both Dawson (13) and Davis (9) got starts, but didn’t go on to finish the job. However the low target never seemed to be in too much doubt. With a quick fire 25 from Gould, and with Granger in support, Windsor eased to a victory by 5 wickets in just 23 overs.

Next Sunday sees Windsor take the short trip over the M4 for a local Derby with Slough. It should prove to be a hotly contested match, being the only fixture with the old rivals this season, and the last game before the Sunday league starts.