Cherwell League Division 3- Sept 1st

On a cool overcast afternoon at Bletchington the first team knew that a win against visiting Cropredy would finally clinch the Division 3 title. A win against Long Marsdon the previous week had guaranteed a place in Division 2 next year but the team were desperate to win the championship that they richly deserved.
Cropredy won the toss and decided to field, seeing something in the wicket that was not obvious to everyone. However, there instincts seemed vindicated when Degan found movement and bowled Stevo for 6. This brought Baggs and Bilyfard together and the boundaries soon stated to flow. There was enough movement in the pitch to ensure that batting was not entirely straightforward and Matt enjoyed a couple of lives. The pair added 87 before Bilyard perished in familiar style, dragging a drive to mid on for 36. Baggs soon reached his 50 before finding point attempting a cut. Mead became Degans third victim when he was caught behind for 11.
This sudden clatter of wickets exposed the middle order much earlier that has been the custom this season and they were found wanting, as first Chris Day and Ed Pettit-Mills were clean bowled by the impressive Degan. Six wickets down with barely 120 on the board was not in the script.  Mark Strong and Sanjay set about rebuilding the innings, first with astute placement and sensible running and then, with a barage of boundaries from Mark, they put on 60 runs. Mark reached his fifty before falling to Somerton, the skipper came and went quickly before Ross guaranteed a final batting point with a boundary off his first ball. Sanjay remained undefeated on 18 as the score finished on 200-9.
Cropredy's reply began with some hostile bowling from the skipper and Ross, with Ross in particular finding considerable movement. The openers threw their bats at anything pitched up and a number of edges flew through or over the slip cordon as the total soon reached 30. Ross then calmed nerves with 2 wickets in a over as Naylor edged to the keeper and Manger was castled by a swinging yorker. There was time for Stanners to drop a stiff one in the gully and the third wicket pair to take the score past 50, before the skipper made a double change. Sanjay struck in his first over, inducing the dangerous Naid to sky to mid on and then in tandem with Mark Strong strangled the run rate.
Wickets fell at regular intervals as the visiting batsmen attempted to break free of the shackels. Once the consistent Cooling was held in the deep by the diving Stevo it became a matter of inevitability that we were, again, in for an early finish. The end came with the total on 110 when Mark took his fourth wicket. Sanjay added 3 wickets to his useful contribution with the bat.

We now go into the final game with bottom club Chearsley with the challenge of wanting to win every game we have completed this season. That would cap a truly magnificent season and be a fitting tribute to a team that has responded to every challenge it has faced. Bigger challenges lie ahead but, for the moment, let us enjoy reflecting on a job well done.