Rubbish

Windsor 119 (Huggins 63*)
Aldershot 120-2 (Mumby 72)

Windsor produced a substantially below par performance in a rain affected game at Aldershot on Saturday. Things didn’t bode well as Farnborough Air Show traffic delayed the majority of the teams arrival although heavy rain had set in to see the start significantly delayed and when play did get underway Windsor elected to bat first in a reduced 40-36 over game.

Windsor never recovered from losing Kevin Condon in the 2nd over and with the exception of Paul Huggins whose watchful defence and good use of the front foot drive none of Windsor’s batsman ever looked settled. Most threw their wickets away looking for demons in the pitch with loose strokes and bad judgements with none following Huggins determined knock. Windsor even then committed the cardinal sin of not even using up their allotted overs as they were dismissed for 119 in the 39th over with Huggins carrying his bat for a gritty 63 not out.

Although Windsor made early inroads to the Aldershot attack with Birch claiming a wicket in the 3rd over it was determined good hard hitting from Aldershots Mumby that took the game away. Ruthless on anything short or full he dispatched the seamers out of the game and made the same inroads into the spin duo of Abe Smith. Windsor’s fielding resembled schoolboy stuff as catches we spilt and runs leaked and although Sam Condon had success in removing Mumby the game was as good as up as Aldershot comfortably reached the target in just 18 overs.

Newbury given the Birch.

Newbury 139-9 (Birch 7-21)
Windsor 140-6

Windsor traded league places with Newbury in the sun at the weekend after a blistering spell of bowling from Oliver Birch who in the space of 4 overs completely turned the game on it’s head. Losing the toss on what looked like a batsman friendly wicket it looked like Windsor could have been in for a bit of hard work as Newbury elected to bat.

Opening with Chris Edge and the ever improving 16 year old Sam Condon Windsor were economical restricting Newbury to 3 an over from the first 10 overs with both Ansty and Uden lucky to survive a few close calls especially between the wickets at such an early stage. The restriction of Condon only being able to bowl in 6 over spells brought Abe Smith into the attack and although he became loose early on he then tightend the screw until Edge after beating Uden bat continually had him caught behind in the 20th over as Newbury reached 60-1. However it was the introduction of the blonde bomber Oliver Birch who produced a spell to remember as he quite literally tore through the Newbury top order. After trapping the dangerous Anstey LBW, Jones, Meerza, Hanabe and Ferguson all went cheaply to leave Newbury reeling with Birch claiming 4-16 in his first 4 overs. Although Newbury tried to recoup and finishing their 52 overs 9 down 139 was somewhat short of par. With Birch taking a superb 7-21 from his 14 overs.

With a tricky run chase to go Windsor started steadily with Rob Noble and Paul Huggins seeing off the new ball threat with Hanabe for Newbury picking up the pace and asking questions of the openers. After hitting 2 fours Huggins played onto his stumps and Newbury’s tails were up when Richies went LBW two balls later. However Abe Smith looked confident and he and Noble continued to score steadily although a good catch at backward point saw Newbury again get their hopes up. Mahmood Mirza and Noble took the score past 100 to take the pressure off although both again fell in quick succession. However, some good clean hitting by Ryan Doye and suitably to wrap up a great day for Oliver Birch as he pulled to fine leg for 4 to hit the winning runs Windsor in the 40th over.

Late collapse hands Eversley win

Eversley 270-8 (Saville 107, Parks 51)
Windsor 235 (Smith 60)

Over 500 runs were scored on Saturday at the Home Park with all three results possible for 95% of the game. Eversley won the toss and elect to bat and got off to a rapid start taking on the openers Edge and Birch had smashing 60 off the first 8 overs. A double bowling change saw the pace taken off the ball with Abe Smith and Rob Hodgson bowling in tandem and although the breakthrough came the momentum was certainly with Eversley. Continuing to play their shots Windsor had no real answer and with Saville passing 50 although wickets were falling, the runs kept coming on the lightening fast outfield. With 10 overs to go Eversley passed the 200 mark and with wickets in hand Saville and Parks accelerated the scoring using up all 52 overs to post an intimidating 270.

Windsor replied in steady fashion with Huggins and Noble seeing off the new ball threat although both were disappointed to be removed after making starts. Abe Smith accelerated the scoring keeping Windsor up with the rate although the real stand of the game came with Tim Smith and Oliver Birch who dominated the bowling and putting on a 100 partnership looked to have put Windsor in control as brutal hitting by Smith in particular, passing 50 on the way saw Windsor requiring 5 an over with 11 overs to go and 6 wickets in hand. However, Smith was undone by one that stayed low from Parks and Birch fell for 48 the next over suddenly the game opened up. However, chasing the runs there then followed a collapse of epic proportions as Woodward, Griffiths, Edge and Hodgson all went without scoring in the space of 4 overs and suddenly Eversley had wrapped up the points with 4 overs to go.

A very disappointing result for Windsor who at the least should have escaped with a comfortable draw and they have a bit to think about as they enter the 2nd half of the season at home to Newbury next week.

Boyne Hill turn the heat on Windsor

Boyne Hill 252-5 Declared (Winter 105*, Gannon 50)
Windsor 207 (Smith 59)

A hastily changed Windsor side were outdone by a classy Boyne Hill side in the heat on Saturday but the makeshift side did not give in easily pushing Hill all the way and looking in the box seat to make the target for much of their innings.

The toss on such a hot day was crucial and having won Boyne Hill had no hesitation in batting and opening with the inform Mellor and Gannon. Mellor started the more cautious to the shot-a-ball Gannon who was fortunate to survive on many occasions as he Chinese cut and edged his way quickly into the 20’s. The first breakthrough came when Edge cleaned up Mellor, and after being replaced a hostile spell by Birch had Latchford in all kinds of trouble taking a series of blows to the body and this clearly affected him after playing a defensive shot from Abe Smith to backward point, wandered out of his crease to be compressively run out by the return throw. However this brought Winter to the crease who would prove to be the backbone of Hill’s innings. Playing some good aggressive shots he kept the run rate ticking and with Pike set about forging the stand that would stretch past 100. Rotating the bowlers Rob Woodward, playing his first game of the season came in for some brutal hammer from Winter as Boyne Hill piled on the runs. A couple of wickets for Edge towards the end of the innings slowed the rate a little but with Winter undefeated on a great 105, Boyne Hill declared in the 50th over with 252.

As most eyes turned towards the events in Germany, Rob Noble and another season debutant Harmeet Channa, set about the total. Things were ticking over well at 3.5 per over when Noble was stuck on the shoulder by a return throw and was forced to retire hurt. This brought the onus to Abe Smith and in typical fashion he began to dominate the bowlers with some aggressive strokeplay. Although wickets around him began to fall the run rate was being kept up and at times exceeded as cameo innings from Ashraf, Smith and Birch in particular looking good. However when Smith was caught for 59 and Birch unlucky to pick out the fielder at Short fine leg the game swung back to Boyne Hill. Playing as a batsman, Warren Griffiths was undone by the spin of Gannon and with Noble coming back to the crease Windsor’s final hope rested with Rob Woodward, although when he managed to pick out the fielder at point, the arrival of Chris Edge at 10 saw Windsor try to close the game up. Noble and Edge soaked up a few overs getting Windsor past the 200 mark although when Edge played onto his stumps it was left to Gannon to pick up his 5th wicket with youngster Sam Condon undone by his spin to wrap up a deserved victory for Hill in the 47th over.