Windsor Cricket Club

Three’s come back from brink
Saturday 26th August

Windsor 3’s 139 all out; 39.3 Overs (Dawson 57)
Wooburn Narkovians 136 all out; 43.3 Overs (Wigley 6 for 25)

With the top of the table exceptionally closed, Windsor 3’s played second placed Wooburn last Saturday in an important promotion clash.

On a sticky, green quagmire, Windsor batted first and were in immediate difficulties losing Ashraf, Murray and Noble cheaply in the early overs, leaving veteran Dawson stranded at the non-strikers end. Whilst the score did tick along, so the wickets mounted up and only a large partnership by Hartridge and Dawson saw Windsor past 100. Hartridge, an aggressive young batsman lived and eventually died by the sword, particularly aggressive on the back foot through the leg-side. When Dawson was finally dismissed for 57, the Windsor tail fold meekly and the tame caught and bowled of the final wicket signified a below par batting performance.

Wooburn in reply looked to be aggressive from the word go and despite some good bowling from Hartridge, who picked up some early wickets, they were seemingly cruising to the target with relative ease. Windsor skipper Noble rummaged through his bag of tricks, striving to find the right formula, using Lines, Endacott and Hodgson on the way.

When defeat loomed large, it would prove though to be the veteran swing of Andy Wigley who would change things around as bowling from the river end, he began to make breakthroughs. Wooburn went from 110 for 3 to 120 for 8 in next to no time and coupled with Hodgson, the Wigley tore through the batting line-up. Wooburn lost their 9th wicket as the score hit 130 and tension began to mount. Near missed run-outs, close lbw’s all acted as a precursor to the final dismissal by Wigley to win the game. The raucous scenes after such a huge win were enough to stop the game on the 1st team pitch for a moment, as Windsor 3’s re-opened the promotion race.

With the fourth team already promoted, the incentive for the third team is now clear at Windsor. Gain promotion or play in parallel leagues next season. A final push over the next two games will see success or failure and the six point gap to Wooburn is now a reasonable target to push for.

posted by Windsor at 12:15 PM | 0 comments

Hodgson: The King of the Swingers

Saturday 29th July 2006

Hurst 2’s 188 all out; 51.2 Overs (Murphy 64; Hodgson 6-86)
Windsor 3’s 191 for 6; 37 Overs (Ashraf 66)

A very impressive all-round performance saw Windsor 2nd XI gain a valuable 20 point victory on Saturday at Hurst.

Having lost the toss Windsor were forced to bowl in high temperatures but started well and backed up by tight fielding managed to keep Hurst’s openers to only 8 runs off the first seven overs and that pressure brought the first wicket when Wigley made a difficult catch at 2nd slip look easy off the bowling of Hodgson.

Hodgson’s tight bowling was well supported by Endacott and Wigley as Windsor continued to frustrate the Hurst batsmen. Hurst managed a slow 3rd wicket partnership but two wickets in two overs turned the screw even further. First a good catch at gully by Murray gave Wigley a wicket who then snaffled another good slip catch off the bowling of Hodgson to get rid of the Hurst opener and dangerman Murphy for 68.

After Lloyd had taken his 2nd catch of the innings behind the stumps, Windsor continued to fight for every run and the bowling was being backed up by some excellent fielding including good run saving work by Ashraf and Doys, who then took a magnificent catch in the deep to get rid of one of the main dangermen and keep Windsor on top.

Following a tight spell from Wigley, Malik’s leg spin entered the attack and despite conceding a few runs in his first over soon settled into a nice rhythm which yielded a deserved wicket as Windsor kept chipping away at the Hurst batsmen.

Hodgson picked up his 6th wicket in his 26th and final over after deceiving the Hurst tail-ender with a slower ball in between two run outs which ended the Hurst innings 4 balls early as they were dismissed for 188, a total Windsor could be proud of in the circumstances. A magnificent fielding effort kept the score below 200 and Windsor were confident of getting the 189 runs needed to win.

Despite losing Doye for a duck Rodwell and Ashraf settled the innings with a positive 70+ partnership until Rodwell was out for 44 after some impressive boundaries, but Ashraf continued his form and survived a strong appeal for a bat-pad catch to score an impressive 66 including one big straight six until he was bowled by a ball which kept very low. Following his dismissal Max Murray kept the Windsor innings together with a composed 48no and despite losing a few late wickets Windsor crossed the finishing line with over 15 overs to spare. A very pleasing win to which everyone can say they contributed.

posted by Windsor at 8:31 AM | 0 comments