No one left in the hutch in Tiddington

Sunday 13th Windsor 1st XI vs. Tiddington 1st XI (MASL)

Tiddington 300 for 4 40 Overs (Gasmier 165, Brooks 60)
Windsor 244 All Out 34.4 Overs (Gould 100)

An early start due to a distant game later saw Windsor CC travel to the far reaches of the league over to Tiddington in week 3 of the MASL. On what proved to be a batsman’s paradise, Windsor lost the toss and was duly put in the field.

Within the first few overs the Windsor bowling began to disappear to all parts by Western Australian Gasmier. Pitt and Huggins toiled away but struggled to find the right length to stop the left-hander’s high scoring rate. Along with J Mackie (38) the pair put 130 on for the first wicket in just 19 overs. Only the introduction of the wily Andy Wigley saw the partnership break. This however only brought a short break in the frenetic scoring, as Brooks (68) joined Gasmier and began to build up the momentum in the innings again. Defending a short boundary to one side only encouraged the Tiddington batsmen, as they would strive to hit ball to furthest parts of the ground instead. Poor fielding and missed catches cost Windsor dearly, as it wasn’t until Pitt (3-48) deceived Gasmier with a slower ball when on 165, that Windsor got their man. Pitt then also picked up Brooks and Windsor managed to slow the rate and avoid chasing a higher total than 300. Granger, despite claiming a wicket was the pick of the Windsor bowlers going for only 35 off his 8 overs, well below the innings run rate of 7.5 runs per over.

After a fantastic tea, Windsor set out to chase down the target. Despite the loss of Davis (4) to an ugly wipe, Windsor managed to maintain a high run rate from the very start of the innings. Granger (24) and Gould built a strong 2nd wicket partnership until the former was run out trying to find that extra run. Both Paul (9) and Mark Huggins (26) scored their runs quickly; maintaining the high run rate, but wickets continually fell and caused Windsor to struggle. Noble (7) and Pitt (9) both assisted Gould’s free scoring, before falling. But it was not until Birch (21) joined the fray that a firm partnership grew. As the Gould reached his second successive century with two consecutive sixes, the Windsor cause looked well set. However, an unfortunate miscue the next ball saw Gould’s innings end and as such Windsor’s chase. Griffiths (9 not out) saw his partners disappear as Windsor innings fell away, finally running out of wickets on 244 with 5 overs still to go.

Despite the loss, the Windsor run chase was very encouraging positive of this very well contested match. With 318 runs in three league matches so far, Gould is setting an amazing pace in the competition. Bowling though will be the key when Marlow visit Windsor this Sunday as Windsor look to return to winning ways.

Records tumble at Home Park

Sunday 6th Windsor 1st XI vs. Burnham 1st XI (MASL)

Windsor 280 for 3 40 Overs (Gould 170, Noble 82)
Burnham 140 all out 38.1 Overs (Suhbarkar 3-15)

With the sun burning down on Home Park, Windsor Sunday 1’s entertained league rivals Burnham in a Maidenhead and Advertiser Sunday League match. With a full strength side, Brian Davis won the toss and decided to make use of the hot conditions and bat first. This proved to be a wise choice.

Early pressure by Burnham’s Zubair on Windsor opener Paul Huggins saw fellow opening bowler Tawaz pick his wicket up cheaply for 9. This brought young prodigy Michael Gould to the crease to join Noble and Windsor CC’s two most in form batsmen began to impose themselves on Burnham’s attack. Gould and Noble worked the ball around the field well, scoring freely with no great effort and brought up their hundred partnership at the end of the 18th over. Both passed fifty and the scoring continued in earnest as they took a hold of spinners Mohindru and Asif, taking them both for 6 an over. When Gould passed three figures, bringing up his third century of the season, he began to cut lose and unleashed an array of shots sending the ball to all parts. With Noble taking the support role, Gould sped past 150 and the partnership flew past 250, breaking the previous club record for the second wicket. Heat exhaustion from all the endless twos that had been run caused both to fall in the last over of the innings. Noble finished with 82, (his second fifty of the weekend). However, Gould finished with a huge 170, a personal best for him and one of the finest innings to be played in front of the castle in many years. The final partnership was 263 for the second wicket off 35 overs, a record that may stand for some time to come.

With a huge target to chase, it soon became evident that Burnham did not have the firepower to get the innings going. Fine opening spells from Pitt and Condon, saw early pressure placed on the visitors and the run rate began to grow as the swing and seam of Granger and Griffiths further curtailed any chase. With suicidal runs taken to Wigley and Granger, the Burnham innings fell away and it seemed destined for the visitors to bat the overs out. Only Swallhall (24) and Evans (22) managed to get a start. The spin of Suhbarkar accounted for a further three wickets in another fine spell on his adopted pitch. With Mark Huggins and Wigley picking apart the tail, it was left to Pitt to return to take the last wicket of Windsor Saturday 1s’ Raul Mohindru. Windsor came out victors by 150 runs.

Despite Burnham having to field a depleted side due to cup commitments, this was a fine win for Windsor. Plus with all the records broken, (including longest wait at number four to bat), it will be long remembered. Windsor travel to Tiddington this Sunday looking to continue the strong start to the Sunday League.

Windsor seamers cut Taplow order open

Sunday 30th Windsor 1st XI vs. Taplow 1st XI (MASL)

Taplow 117 All Out 25 Overs (Granger 4-51, Griffiths 3-18)
Windsor 119 for 4 20 Overs (Gould 48*, Granger 30)

It was a wet Sunday that saw Windsor Sunday 1st XI play their first game in this year’s Maidenhead and Advertiser Sunday League away at Taplow. Upon losing the toss, the Windsor side, were somewhat surprisingly put in the field on a green pitch in damp overcast conditions.

The South African duo of Pitt and Granger opened the bowling for Windsor and immediately found movement off the pitch. Some strong early hitting by Dunlop (20) saw the Taplow innings start quickly. But the fire of Granger was to make the big impression early on. Ripping through the heart of the Taplow top order, Granger picked up 4 for 51 in a fine spell. As with most of the innings, the main run contribution against him being the extras conceded due to the exaggerated movement off the pitch. Endacott (1-30) and Griffiths (3 for 18) then joined the attack and managed to extract movement and bounce out of the pitch, causing more Taplow wickets to fall on regular occasions. With the re-introduction of Pitt (2 for 15), the Taplow innings ended at 117 all out. Then came the rain.

After an elongated tea interval due to the sudden rain shower, Windsor set out to try to achieve the target quickly in case of further interruptions. As such both Huggins and Davis fell early playing shots. It was left to Gould (48 not out) and Condon (12) to steady the ship and begin the run chase in earnest. Aided by a well-crafted 30 from Granger, Windsor was steered home by Vice-captain Gould and marathon man Wigley to a fine 6-wicket victory with 20 overs to spare.

With Burnham the opposition this Sunday, Windsor is certainly in for a test of their credentials. With a strong Windsor side keen to avenge losses in recent years, it provides to be an interesting contest.