Windsor 2nd XI 208 for 9; 52 Overs (Lines 58)
Amersham 2nd XI 209 for 4; 43.3 Overs (Colqhohoun 50, Aylott 51, Dolleymore 34)

Fresh on the back of a good win at Hampton Hill the week before, Windsor 2’s returned home to Windsor last weekend hoping to build a winning run. With the 1st team flying in their division, the team were hoping to add to the feel-good factor that they developed. On a dry wicket, Windsor skipper Davis had no hesitation to bat first in an attempt to set a strong total.

The Windsor innings got off to a good start as Chana (30) and Butt (24) registered a 60-run opening partnership. But as both fell to disappointing dismissals in the same over, the theme of the innings seemed to set in. With Ash’s off-spinners in particular gripping and turning, Amersham managed to register 5 successive maidens and crippled the Windsor run-rate. Huggins (16) and Nair (30) both tried to push the rate along, but both fell to soft dismissals trying to up the rate. Only Mark Lines managed to restart the flagging Windsor innings and along with Hill and Care, they managed to work the ball around the large ground and the pair took Windsor towards a respectable total of 208. This was only a par score and much less than Windsor had looked to be heading towards.

Amersham’s reply started in the worst possible way as, with old ball in hand, Kellard struck with the first ball of the innings with a sharp catch at short leg by Chana. This proved to be the last time Windsor had control of the innings as Colquohoun set about forcing the game away from the home team. Some inconsistent bowling was matched by merciless batting and he soon raced to 50. Windsor in the meantime had the disappointment of losing Hill (their leading wicket taker this season) to a groin injury. This greatly restricted the Windsor attacking bias and forced Davis to try to defend from one end with his bowling. Unfortunately, pressure could not be maintained and despite Condon removing Colquohoun for 50 and Kellard finally forcing a further wicket on the boundary. Some lusty blows from Aylott and Dolleymore kept Amersham ahead of the game and they coasted home with loss of only one more wicket. Whilst Amersham produced an excellent chase, it was a disappointing bowling performance by Windsor, especially considering the desire to be aggressive and win the game.

With a visit to league leaders Wooburn Narkovians up next on Saturday, Windsor 2’s need to return to doing the basics correctly. That being bowling one side of the wicket and building big scores out of good starts. This is basically the difference between winning and losing games, making Windsor somewhat unpredictable.

Hampton Hill 178 All Out (Hampton 78, Exworth 61, Condon 6 for 38)
Windsor 2’s 179 for 4 (Davis 58*, Huggins 57)

After a frustrating week of watching competitors in the league pick up points whilst not being able to play, Windsor 2nds got their league campaign back running again at Hampton Hill. On a hard looking deck, Windsor once again lost the toss and was invited to bowl first.

As in the previous game, Windsor got off to a flier with Hill picking up two wickets in his first 4 overs. With Condon bowling well at the other end Davis replaced Hill and also took a wicket with his first ball. Hampton Hill immediately found themselves on the back foot and it was at this point Condon blew the innings wide open. After struggling for form in the weeks of the season, Condon suddenly let fly removing key man Fullocks who shouldered arms to a ball that cut sharply back in. His first wicket seemed to relax Condon and with pace and accuracy he went on to take a further 3 wickets. When skipper Exworth joined Hampton the score was on 62 for 7 and the home side were in some trouble. However an incredibly resistant 8th wicket partnership of 116 saw Hampton Hill towards a competitive total and frustrated Windsor. When Exworth finally fell for 61, giving Condon his fifth wicket in the process, the game had truly turned on its head. Sensing the chance to close the innings out, Condon and Kellard quickly wrapped the innings up with Hampton the final wicket to fall for 78. Hampton Hill had reached 178 all out off 45.1 overs, giving Windsor 54 overs to reach the target.

Windsor started strongly, but were unfortunate to lose the wicket of Butt lbw in the 10th over. Huggins joined Chana and they quickly set about building the chase. A fifty partnership was formed as Huggins drove well and Chana was brutal on anything short. The introduction of spin seemed to bring out some demons from the Bushy Park pitch and the loss of Chana for 20 to one that kept low, slowed Windsor somewhat. Mirza, who had endured a number of tough overs, finally succumbed to a sharp catch by the Hampton Hill keeper. This wicket brought skipper Davis to the crease, who soon showed his intentions clear by hitting Hill’s skipper Exworth for three consecutive fours. With Huggins supporting well, Windsor drove towards the target and withdrew the last hope from the Hampton Hill bowlers. Huggins (57) would fall shortly after another fine fifty, but it was left to Davis (58 not out) and Murray (12 not out) to guide Windsor home to a 6 wicket win with 8 overs to spare.

It was a great bounce-back for Windsor after a couple of disappointing losses and showed good character in the team. Condon’s bowling stole the honours for the day as he really showed the promise he has long had.

This week Windsor 2nd team have Amersham 2nd team visiting them at Home Park for what should be an interesting encounter.

Slough 3rd XI 202 for 7 52 overs (Chagger 50, Uddin 62)
Windsor 2nd XI 185 All Out 46.3 overs (Chana 62, Murray 55)

After the thrills and spills of the game the previous week, Windsor 2’s looked to get back into winning ways with their short trip to Slough. On what looked to be a hard deck, Slough 3’ chose to bat first, with what proved to be a view to spinning their visitors out.

The Slough innings started in the worst possible way as both openers were dismissed cheaply by Hill. With the occurrence of Windsor’s Taz bowling at Slough’s Taz, the innings settled into a more settled pattern as Karim and Chagger took a hold of anything loose served up by Hill and Condon. Davis replaced Condon and immediately found the ball cutting off the seam, which helped to slow the score and saw the removal of Karim for 27. Skipper Chagger continued to build the score, but with Kellard producing prodigious spin at one end, Davis was able to remove him shortly after passing 50. Unfortunately, the next 15 overs would prove to be costly for Windsor as a number of catches were shelled and run-outs narrowly missed and Slough fought their way towards a competitive total through the partnership of Uddin (62) and Ghazi (35). Slough finished their innings on 202 for 7 off their 52 overs.

In reply, Windsor got off to the worst possible start. With Slough opening with spinners and using the old ball, Windsor quickly found themselves at 20 for 3. With Huggins, Gould and Mirza all dismissed cheaply to the fine bowling of Kahn and Mustafa. It took a fantastic partnership from Chana and Murray to put Windsor back into the game and both reached fine fifties. However, with the Slough heads down and a winning position in sight, Windsor managed to bring about disaster. First Murray was run out after a mix-up (which could only be settled by a mid-pitch chat) saw him run out with yards to spare for 55. Then, shortly after, Chana inexplicably walked past a straight one and was bowled for 62. With George and Davis briefly restabilising the innings, it was the wicket of Davis that saw the start of the final disastrous collapse. Hill, Condon and Care all quickly followed the skipper, leaving number 11 Kellard to help George bat out the final 6 overs. Despite a valiant effort, Uddin managed to gain the final decision and had Kellard lbw with 8 balls left. Windsor had collapse to a 41 run defeat.

This was an incredibly disappointing result for the Windsor 2nd team, but one that can be addressed through hard work as a team. Windsor this week face top of the table Stoke Green at the Home Park, looking to restore some confidence with a good performance.