Windsor Cricket Club

Windsor 4th XI seal deserved promotion at Falkland
Sat 26th August

Falkland 4XI 229 for 3 (48 Overs)
Windsor 4XI 234 for 3 (38 Overs)
Windsor won by 7 wickets

Windsor 4XI lost the toss and were asked to take the field on the damp, but but still very good Falkland track. The home side got off to a steady start, then pushed on at the fall of their first wicket reaching 60 for 1 off the first 20 overs. After a short interuption for rain, the batsman got back to work and started to stroke Windsor to all parts. All bowlers were tried, but none could contain the Falkland top order, when finally on 229 for 3 (48 overs), the rain came to Windsor's rescue and brought an early tea.

In reply, Windsor stated slowly, reaching 20 for 1 (10 over) with Dan Brown caught behind.. This brought Damien Bradbury to the crease, who then made batting look very easy. Captain Charles Light departed for 32, with the score on 102 (26 overs), but this only brought John Holmes out to the middle who decided to have some funby getting off the mark first ball with a six! A very quick fire 68, including 6 maximum's from Holmes, caused the fielders head drop and with the pair scoring at over 10 an over they new the game was up. Holmes fell late on with only 8 runs required, but this didn't deter Bradbury who finished things of and ended on a faultless 110 not out. Scott Martin's six over long off to win the game for Windsor, set the tone for some big celebrations, as Windsor 4 XI can now look forward to level 6 cricket next season.

posted by Windsor at 12:13 PM | 0 comments

Comfortable Afternoon for Windsor!

Maidenhead 4’s 175 for 9; 52 Overs
Windsor 4’s 177 for 3; 35 Overs (Saunders 76, Martin 49)

On a overcast day, with the constant threat of rain on the horizon, stand in captain Charles Light, won the toss and decided to put M&B in to bat on a dry Windsor wicket. With the normal opening bowling pair injured and on holiday, Khanna & Woodward did the honours keeping things tight and each taking a early wicket, before Khan came to the crease and hit an agricultural 60 to get the M&B innings moving. Following his departure, wickets were shared, including a misely 10-4-12-2 from Martin, and the away side limped to a below par 175 for 9 off their 52 overs.

In reply Windsor faltered at first losing Lickley and Woodward early, until Saunders & Martin steadied the ship. Saunders (76) especially showing a good variety of strokes, along with steady accumulation by Martin (49*) brought the home side to the brink of victory, until the improving colt was caught behind trying another big shot, bringing in Houghton, to see Windsor home.

posted by Windsor at 11:56 AM | 0 comments

Windsor 4’s roll on!

Eversley 4’s 214 for 9; 52 Overs (T. Hartridge 5 for 19)
Windsor 4’s 215 for 4; 32 Overs (D Brown 72)

Windsor's fourth eleven travelled to the beautiful grounds of Wellington College on Saturday, looking for a win that would keep them second and well and truly in the promotion hunt. Missing several key players, skipper Griffiths won the toss and elected to bowl first, fearing that he would not have the firepower to bowl the opposition out if Windsor went for a 25 pointer.

Griffiths' concern about lack of firepower seemed justified at first, as the Eversley openers got off to a flyer. Both Ahmed and Mohammed bowled some testing deliveries but too often strayed in both line and length and presented the openers with scoring opportunities. Eversley, steam rolling at almost 6 runs per over, looked odds on for posting a big score and Griffiths was ruing his decision to bowl. However, the introduction of Hartridge and Bhullar, swung the game back in Windsor's favour, with Hartridge swinging the ball in at a good pace, and Bhullar bowling booming outswing. Wickets began to fall at regular intervals, and Windsor's young seamers were backed up by the tidy off spin of Benawra and Saunders, and the whole team benefited from the impressive outfielding of Brown and Mohammed. As the Eversley innings came to an end, Ahmed and Hartridge returned to mop up the tail with some devastating yorkers, with Hartridge picking up career best figures of 5-19 (please note, Tom has promised to buy his jug next week and Ricky Saunders still owes one for his fifty last week). Eversley finished on 214-9 which was somewhat bolstered by the 54 extras that Windsor gifted them.

A fine al-fresco tea was taken and then Windsor began their run chase. What could have proved to be a tricky run chase seemed to be a mere formality after just a few overs. Both Saunders and Brown took the attack to the erratic Eversley bowlers, with Saunders unleashing some booming drives, and Brown punishing anything slightly short. Windsor reached the fifty in no time before Saunders was done by some extra bounce and fended away to gully. A team huddle from the Eversley fielders showed that they thought they were back in the game. How wrong they could have been. Out strode Bradbury who wasted no time in putting bat to ball and gave a masterclass in cut, drive, and thwack. Brown continued to play his shots and the Eversley skipper had no answers: it was just a case of which batsmen got himself out first. Eventually, Bradbury played one cut shot too many and was caught at point. Ben Lewis, playing solely as a batsman, also looked to be positive and played some elegant drives before top edging a pull. This brought Houghton to the crease, who in typical fashion, played his shots and was not afraid to hit over the infield. Brown and Houghton made a handsome partnership, and in the process Brown passed fifty. With just one run to win, a careless run out gifted Eversley Brown's wicket and another point. However, Griffiths hit his first ball for the required single and Windsor celebrated an excellent team performance, with all of the players demonstrating that they are capable of playing a better standard. The only down side of the day was the league points structure. Despite comprehensively defeating Eversley, Windsor only picked up eight more points than them.

posted by Windsor at 2:32 PM | 0 comments