16th June Home to Banbury 4ths

Having spent the previous evening consulting the league handbook (you see you can teach an old dog new tricks) West decided that on winning the toss the only prudent decision in the face of the met office forecast of six hours heavy showers was to bat.

The new look 4^th team containing only four members of the previous weeks hammering looked tentative as the new top order of Hutchence, Baines and Baldwin nervously negotiated the Banbury 4^th bowling getting to 15 off 12 overs.  The middle order then started to ‘accelerate’ looking for singles and playing with a little too much adventure in the case of Hutchence and West who were run out in quick succession both going for runs which weren’t there.

This allowed the middle order powerhouse of Kerr Senior and Richmond to pick the pace up until Richmond fell to a good return catch and as a good honest and upright cricketer walked when the facing umpire was unsure.  Chambers joined Kerr Senior and the two judged the last few overs well to ensure we got to 125 for 7 although Kerr fell for 42 in the process.

The excellent teas courtesy of the Blacks Head were the only thing to brighten the faces of the Blondies senior players who felt that 125 wasn’t enough to trouble Banbury into losing many wickets unless rain interrupted their chase……so it won’t be a great surprise we took the field under bright sunshine.

With Norton returned to his favourite Pavilion Road end he bowled an accurate and penetrative spell of seven overs and was as unlucky as any bowler can be not to have picked up the Banbury opener (J. Best) who quite clearly edged the ball in a leg side strangle which was well taken by Kerr Senior but didn’t walk and even more unbelievably wasn’t given by the standing Banbury umpire.  Norton was supported well with  a tight spell at the Field end from Richmond and then by an improving Nelson who after a lose first over bowled well to return 2 for 29 off seven.

The spin twins of Taylor and Baldwin then bowled with great control through 25 overs for just 55 runs between them.  Taylor was unlucky to have two strong LBW appeals turned down and Baldwin picked up two via catches including an excellent return catch and a bear hug of a catch by Hutchence at mid wicket.

Fielding was very good from Blondies this week helped by a great return by man of the match Kerr Senior with two catches and again no byes behind the stumps.

A much improved performance from the 4ths, another 30 runs and some honesty from Banbury umpires would have made this a much tighter game though Banbury made it home with three overs to spare.