Charlbury 2nd 207-9 (45 overs)
Tom Eaton 85
Shipton-Under-Wychwood 3rd 132 (39 overs)
Emilia Bartram 4-31
Mark Fitzgerald 3-15
Charlbury travelled the short distance to Shipton-Under-Wychwood for their division 8 clash. Charlbury batted first and so Michael and Simon opened the batting. Things did not start well as Michael got an edge early on and was caught by the wicket keeper meaning Tom Eaton had to come to the crease. The wicket taking bowler settled into a reasonable length and line, but the other bowler was not quite as accurate. Tom started quickly hitting a couple of boundary fours to get going. Simon had started slowly, playing defensively when needed and looking for the quick single when he could. Tom was a bit more cautious than his usual self, but if the ball was there to be hit then he smashed it to the boundary. The outfield was quick due to all of the recent warm weather and anything that broke thru the infield flew to the boundary. The fifty mark was brought up when Tom hit a boundary four thru the covers. Charlbury were batting well putting all of the pressure onto the fielding side. A change in the bowling was made as Shipton looked to take a breakthrough wicket. The new bowler started off bowling a reasonable length and line, but as both players began to attack the runs started to come. Then disaster struck as Simon hit out at one, miss-hit the ball and was caught. Andy now entered the fray. The other opening bowler left the attack and a new one entered it. Tom was looking in prime form as he stroked the ball around on both sides of the wicket. Andy started slowly, just trying to make sure Charlbury did not lose another wicket whilst also trying to give Tom the strike. The hundred mark was brought up and Charlbury were looking in control of the innings. Another change in the bowling was made as the first change left the attack and the one opening bowler returned. Then disaster struck as Andy missed one and was bowled. Jon now entered the fray. Tom was still going well and one big hit for six took him to a well deserved fifty. The overs were now starting to run out and so Charlbury began pushing harder for runs. Then disaster struck first Jon hit the ball straight to a fielder and was caught. Next over, Matt, who had just come to the crease was caught when he hit one straight back at the bowler. Abi now joined Tom at the crease. Then a couple of overs later Tom threw the bat at one, edged the ball and was caught for a great 85, leaving Charlbury 135-6.Martyn now came out to bat. The batsmen now just looked to push a few singles and twos, running hard for everything. The score went passed 150 and Charlbury were still looking in control. Another change in the bowling was made as the opening bowler left the attack and a new bowler entered it. The new bowler settled straight into a good length and line. Abi missed one and was bowled and so Nathan had to come to the crease. The other opening bowler now returned to the attack to try and blow away the Charlbury tail. Martyn was looking good as he pushed the ball around for ones and twos, making sure the scoreboard kept on ticking over. Another new bowler entered the attack and Nathan hit the new bowler for four. Only a couple of over left and Nathan hit out at the new bowler, but was caught going for a boundary leaving Charlbury 190-8. Emilia now joined Martyn at the wicket. Both players ran hard and pushed the score over 200. In the last over Emilia missed one and was bowled meaning Mark had to come to the crease. Mark and Martyn saw the innings out and Charlbury finished on 207-9.
Emilia and Matt opened the bowling for Charlbury and go them off to a reasonable start. Both bowlers quickly settled into a good length and line and both bowlers started causing problems with some movement and bounce. Emilia was especially tight, giving nothing away. The outfield was still quick and a couple of early boundaries were hit to get the Shipton score moving. Slowly the score moved along, but then Charlbury grabbed their first wicket when one batsman hit out at Emilia, but could only find Martyn who took a great catch. The new batsman hit an early four as Shipton started to try and take the game back to Charlbury. Matt was bowling well, using his extra height to get some bounce out of the pitch. Then Emilia grabbed her second wicket when the new batsman edged the ball and the wicket-keeper took a good catch leaving Shipton 48-2. Matt had now finished his seven over spell and so captain, Andy, now entered the attack. Andy quickly dropped into a good line and length and now, backed up by some great fielding, Charlbury started to really put a squeeze on Shipton. One of the opening batsman was still there and Charlbury would need him out if they were going to make the game easier for themselves. A couple more overs ticked by and the runs were coming albeit slowly and the required rate was rising putting pressure on the batting side. Then Charlbury had a major breakthrough. First Andy wrapped the opening batsman on the pads and he was given out adjudged LBW, then next over the other batsman hit out at Emilia, skied the ball and Andy took a fantastic catch. Shipton were now 76-4 and were going to have to start attacking hard if they were to get anything out of the game. The overs ticked by and the score continued to rise slowly. Emilia was looking in great form with the ball and had caused problems for all of the batsmen and before Shipton managed to reach the hundred mark She had her fourth victim. The batsman tried to play an attacking shot, but missed the ball and Emilia had bowled the batsmen. The overs were now starting to run out and so Charlbury made a double change in the bowling with Matt returning to the attack and Mark entering it for the first time. Charlbury were in complete control as both new bowlers dropped into a good length and line. Then Charlbury struck again as a mix-up in the calling saw a direct smash the stumps and one batsman was run out. Then last ball of the over and Mark clean bowled the new batsman. One of the batsmen then just tried hitting out as Shipton tried to pick up a few more batting points. A couple of boundaries were hit and the running became more frenetic. The hitting batsman then tried to hit out at Mark, but he missed the ball and was bowled leaving Shipton 128-8. Matt then wrapped one batsman on the pads and he was given out adjudged LBW. The game was nearly over and net over it was as Mark clean bowled one batsman and Shipton were all out for 132.
A great win for the seconds built on a brilliant innings from Tom and then backed up by some great bowling from Emilia and Mark.
Charlbury 2nd 25 points
