Charlbury 267-8 (50 overs)

Stuart Atkins 86

Charlie Sinton 60

 

Abingdon Vale 2nd 145 (35.1 overs)

Jake Godfrey 3-18

Charlie Sinton 4-17

 

Abingdon Vale won the toss and elected to field first. The two Toms, Nash and Harris, opened the batting for Charlbury and got them off to a reasonable start. Tom Harris got things moving when he stroked a couple of deliveries to the boundary for four. The outfield was fairly quick and the ball would fly off towards the boundary if it beat the infield. A no-ball was bowled and Tom Nash made the most of a free hit by hammering the ball back passed the bowler for four. After eight overs Charlbury were 25-0. Both batsmen were playing a cautious game against some tight bowling, both playing defensively when needed, but also looking for the quick single. After ten overs a change in the bowling was made and this had an instant impact as Tom Nash missed the first delivery and was bowled. Graham now strode to the crease. Graham was quickly off the mark, hitting one shot over the top for a one bounce four. Another change in the bowling was made as the other opening bowler left the attack and a new one entered it. Graham hammered an early boundary off of the new bowler to try and put some pressure onto the fielding side. Then disaster struck as first Graham miss-timed one and hit the ball high into the air and was caught. Then two balls later Tom edged one to the keeper and was caught leaving Charlbury 43-3 off of 16 overs. Ben and Ashley had now entered the fray. Ben was quickly off of the mark when he drove the ball for four. Ashley got off the mark next over when he pushed the ball to the boundary before Ben finished the over with another four. Both batsmen were playing well and it looked like Charlbury were getting back into the game. In the 20th over Ashley launched one back over the bowler’s head and the ball hit the middle of the side-screen for a six. Then disaster struck as Ben edged one and was caught by the keeper. Bimalka now came to the crease. The two bowlers slowly settled into a better length and line and started to make run scoring slightly harder so both batsmen contented themselves with pushing a few singles around. Then Ashley edged one and he too was caught by the wicket-keeper leaving Charlbury 77-5 off of 24 overs. Stuart now came to the crease. Stuart was quickly off of the mark with a couple of fours. Bimalka was batting cautiously, trying to make sure Charlbury did not lose any more wickets. A change in the bowling was then made. Bimalka edged one off of the new bowler to slip and was caught meaning Charlie had to come to the crease. Charlbury still had many more overs to bat and were still some way off a defendable target. Charlie was quickly away with a boundary four. Stuart was looking good at the crease, always on the lookout for a single, but also punishing anything loose. Another change in the bowling was made as a new bowler entered the attack. Charlbury attacked the new bowler from the off hitting him for several fours and so after two overs he left the attack and a new bowler came on. Charlie was busy at the wicket, constantly on the lookout for the single, but also playing defensively when needed. Charlie hit a couple of fours prompting another change in the bowling as one of the opening bowlers returned to the attack. Stuart attacked the returning opening bowler, hitting him for a couple of fours before Charlie finished the over off with another boundary. Charlbury were now flying along as they reached 183-7 off of 41 overs. Stuart then launched a massive six out of the ground before pushing a single to take him to a well deserved fifty. Next over Charlie pushed a single and he too reached a well deserved fifty. The overs were now running out fast and so Charlbury had to start attacking harder. The hundred partnership was brought up as both batsmen continued to press hard. Stuart then hit back to back fours as Charlbury started to really push on. Next over and the partnership was broken as Charlie missed one and was bowled for a great 60. Matt now entered the fray and just tried to give the strike to Stuart. Next over and the other opening bowler re-entered the attack. Matt hit the returning bowler for four before Stuart finished the over off with another massive six. The first change bowler then had to come on for the 49th over as the other opening bowler had finished his spell. Matt launched into the returning bowler, powerfully pulling three consecutive boundary fours. Last over and Stuart tries to hit a six, but is caught on the boundary for a fantastic 86. Some hard running in the last couple of balls took Charlbury to an impressive 267-8.

 

Charlbury would have to bowl well as it seemed to be a good wicket. Matt and Stuart opened the bowling. The outfield was still quick and a couple of shots broke thru the infield and shot off to the boundary. Matt quickly dropped into a good line and length and started to cause a few problems for the batsmen. Stuart took a couple of overs to find his length and line, but when he did he started to make life awkward, using his pace and bounce to cause problems. After eight overs Abingdon had reached 33-0. One batsman was dominating the strike and he was also doing the bulk of the scoring, Charlbury were going to need him out quickly if they were to stay in the game. A couple more boundaries were hit and both batsmen were looking fairly comfortable. Then in the twelfth over Stuart got one to swing back in, the batsman left it and was bowled, Charlbury had the man they wanted. Chasing a big total meant that the batsmen had to keep on trying to go for it just to keep up with the required rate. After 14 overs a change in the bowling was made as Matt left the attack and Bimalka entered it. Bimalka was quickly into a good length and line, finding some turn which made run scoring slightly more difficult. After 20 overs Abingdon had reached 91-1 and were still looking in a good position to make an assault on their target. A change in the bowling was now made as Jake came on for Stuart. Jake dropped straight into an immaculate length and line and the batsmen found him almost impossible to get away. In his third over Jake got the breakthru as he wrapped one batsman on the pads and he was given out adjudged LBW. Next over things got even better for Charlbury as the new batsman tried to hit Bimalka for six, but could only find Tom Nash on the boundary and he took a great catch leaving Abingdon 113-3 off of 25 overs. A double change in the bowling was now made as Charlie came on for Jake, who changed ends replacing Bimalka. The change made an instant impact as the new batsman miss-hit one off of Charlie and the ball flew up on the leg-side and Bimalka took a good catch. In his next over the new batsman hit one high in the air and again Bimalka took the catch. Jake then got amongst the wickets as he clean bowled the new batsman, leaving Abingdon 122-6 off of 29 overs. Abingdon had really collapsed and Charlbury were now going for the kill. The two Abingdon batsman just tried to see off a few overs, with the opening batsman now playing more attacking shots. The score started rise, but then Charlbury got a massive bonus. The batsmen took a single off of Jake, Ashley threw at the stumps and missed, the ball was then miss-fielded and the batsmen went for the second, Bimalka quickly recovered the ball and threw it Steve who executed the run out. The game was all but over now as in the next over Charlie found the edge and the ball flew to first slip where Ben took a good catch. Next over Jake found the edge and Steve took a good catch behind the stumps leaving Abingdon nine wickets down. It was all over first ball of the next over as Charlie wrapped a batsman on the pads and he was given out adjudged LBW and Abingdon Vale were 145 all out.

 

A great win for the lads built on a club record seventh wicket partnership of 126 between Stuart and Charlie and then Jake and Charlie ran thru the Abingdon innings to seal victory and sixth place in Division 4 – well played lads.

 

Charlbury 25 points

Charlbury 252-7 (45 overs)

Ben Forrester 46

Bimalka Liyanarachchi 58

Stuart Atkins 40 not out

Barry Nutt 30 not out

 

Long Marston 2nd 128 (35.5 overs)

Bimalka Liyanarachchi 4-19

Jake Godfrey 3-30

 

Long Marston won the toss and elected to bowl first. Tom and Rob opened the batting and got Charlbury off to a reasonable start. A no-ball was bowled in the first over meaning there was a free hit. Tom took a stride forward and smashed the ball back passed the bowler for four. Both batsmen then pushed the ball around for twos and threes on the huge outfield. Then disaster struck as Rob was wrapped on the pads and given out adjudged LBW. Ajit now came to the crease. Bot h Long Marston bowlers had now settled into a great line and length and both batsmen were struggling to get the ball away for any runs. In the eighth over Ajit edged one and was caught at first slip to leave Charlbury 26-2. Ben now strode to the crease. Tom was batting very cautiously, pushing the odd single around, but mainly playing defensively against some good bowling. Ben started more aggressively, getting off the mark with a hard run three before in the next over hitting back to back fours. After eleven overs a change in the bowling was made and Long Marston brought on a new bowler. The new bowler quickly dropped into a good length and line. Ben pulled a delivery into the leg-side and the ball quickly flew to the boundary for four. Then disaster struck as Tom missed on and was bowled leaving Charlbury 46-3 off of 18 overs. Graham now entered the fray. Ben was looking good as he stroked the ball around on both sides of the wicket, always on the lookout for a run, but playing defensively when needed. Some rain began to fall and the players had to leave the ground, on the resumption the game had been reduced to 48 overs a side. Ben then crashed two more boundaries thru the off side as Charlbury started to try and accelerate the innings. Graham lofted the ball back over the bowler’s head and to the boundary for four, then next ball flicked one leg side for another boundary. Next ball Graham tried to repeat the act, but got a leading edge and the ball flew high into the air and the bowler took the catch. The captain, Bimalka, now came to the wicket. Ben cracked another couple of lovely shots and on each occasion the ball flew to the boundary for four. A change in the bowling was now made as the opening bowler had finished his allotted overs and a new bowler entered the attack. Ben drove the new bowler to the boundary for four, but then late on in the over he missed one and was bowled for a good 46. Charlie now strode to the crease. A couple of overs later a new bowler entered the attack replacing the first change bowler. The new bowler was a spinner and in his first over Bimalka hit him to the boundary for four. After 27 overs Charlbury had reached 127-5 and now needed to push on hard if they were to set a defendable total. Both players ran hard for every run and Charlie hit a couple of fours to keep the score moving along at a good rate. Bimalka was looking good, playing defensively at first just to get himself in before looking to attack. Then disaster struck as Charlie was wrapped ion the pads and given out adjudged LBW. Before new batsman Stuart could face a ball down came the rain and the players left the field once again. On the resumption the game had been reduced to 47 overs a side. Now with the overs running out fast Charlbury had to try and put their foot down. A change of bowling was made as one of the opening bowlers returned to the attack. Both batsmen took a couple of overs to get going. Then Bimalka pulled one to the leg-side and the ball flew all the way over the boundary for six. Stuart was looking comfortable at the wicket, pushing a few ones and twos around and trying to give Bimalka the strike. Then Bimalka hit out, running hard for twos and threes whilst also hitting a couple of fours off of one over to take Charlbury to 174-6 off of 37 overs. Next over Bimalka pushed a two and went to a well deserved fifty. A change in the bowling was then made as the opening bowler left the attack and the Long Marston captain brought himself on. Then disaster struck as Bimalka miss-hit one straight at a fielder and he was caught meaning Barry now came to the crease. Both players ran hard and both found a boundary four before yet more rain came with Charlbury 212-7 off of 42 overs. An early tea was had and on the resumption the game was reduced to 45 overs a side. The last three overs were carnage  with both batsmen running hard for everything, Stuart hit a couple of fours and the score raced along. Then came the last over. A couple of singles were pushed leaving Barry on strike. Barry leant into one shot and the ball flew out of the ground and into a neighbouring field for a massive six. A boundary four soon followed before last ball of the innings another massive six was hit meaning Charlbury had hit 40 runs in the last three overs taking them to 252-7.

 

Matt and Stuart opened the bowling for Charlbury and got them off to a reasonable start. Matt was quickly into a great line and length and caused a few problems for the batsmen. Stuart did not quite find as good a line, but when he did he managed to rush the batsmen and get them playing and missing. The fielders backed the bowlers up from the off, diving around to stop the ball and chasing everything to the boundary. Then Charlbury got a bonus when the non-striker called for a run and the striker hesitated. Rob quickly fielded the ball and threw it in to Matt who executed the run out. Charlbury were bowling well and making sure that the batsmen had to work hard for every one of their runs. After ten overs Long Marston had reached 46-1. A double change in the bowling was then made as Bimalka came on for Stuart and then an over later Jake replaced Matt. Both bowlers immediately dropped into great lines and lengths and made run scoring very difficult. In Bimalka’s second over Charlbury got a big wicket when the Long Marston captain lofted the ball into the deep, but could not clear Charlie who took a great catch. Then Charlbury had a big three over spell. First the other opening batsman tried to hit out at Bimalka, but just hit the ball high into the air and Stuart stood at long-on took a good catch. Next over Jake came to the party and clean bowled one batsman and then in the next over Bimalka bowled a batsman leaving Long Marston 74-5 off of 20 overs. Charlbury were in the driving seat and kept the pressure on, keeping close fielders in. The batsmen now contented themselves with pushing the ball around for the odd run or boundary while trying to make sure no more wickets were lost. Then Bimalka finally broke thru one batsman’s defences and bowled him. After 28 overs Long Marston were 100-6 and Bimalka had just finished his great nine over spell. Jake now bowled his last over and it was a great one. First he bowled a slower one, deceived the batsman and bowled him and then two balls later he clean bowled the new batsman, Charlbury were nearly there. Stuart now entered the fray in place of Bimalka and Charlie came on for Jake. Both bowlers kept up the pressure on the batsmen. In his second over back Stuart was too quick for one batsman and bowled him. The last couple of batsmen put on a few runs, but when the last man missed one from Charlie he was bowled and Charlbury had won by 124 runs.

 

A great win by the lads built on innings from Ben, Bimalka, Stuart and Barry and then some great bowling from Bimalka and Jake sealed the victory – well played lads.

 

Charlbury 25 points

Charlbury 100 (34.4 overs)

 

Brackley 104 (20.1 overs)

 

Charlbury won the toss and elected to bat first. The two Toms, Harris and Nash, opened the batting. The first over was good with a couple of runs pushed before Tom Nash hammered a free hit to the boundary, smashing the ball square of the wicket. Next over things started to go wrong. Tom Harris missed one and was bowled bringing captain, Ajit to the crease. Ajit was there a couple of overs, but when he edged one the wicket-keeper took the catch and Charlbury were 9-2 off of 4 overs. Ben Sinton now walked to the wicket. Tom flicked off of his pads and the ball rolled to the boundary, just making it over the white line. Tom was looking good, defending the many good deliveries, but always on the lookout for the quick single. Ben too started confidently, pushing a couple of singles, but looking to leave anything not on the stumps. Ben flicked a ball leg-side for four and then next over Tom hit two deliveries to the boundary, both of them teasing the fielders to stop them before trickling over the line. After ten overs Charlbury had reached 33-2. After 14 overs a double change in the bowling was made and this had an immediate impact. First over from one of the new bowlers and he wrapped Tom on the pads and he was given out adjudged LBW. Josh now entered the fray. The new bowlers had both dropped into a great line and length from the off and suddenly Charlbury found runs almost impossible to score. The overs ticked by with hardly a run being scored, then disaster struck. First Ben called for a quick single, but the Brackley fielder quickly got hold of the ball threw it at the stumps and a direct hit saw Ben run out. Then two balls later Josh edges one and the wicket-keeper took the catch. Steve and Charlie were both now at the crease and had to try and rebuild the innings. After 22 overs Charlbury had reached 48-5. Charlie then smashed one back over the bowler’s head and it ran away for four. Then disaster struck as Charlie got a fine edge and the wicket-keeper took another catch. Next over Steve was wrapped on the pads and given out adjudged LBW. Tom Eaton and Matt now came to the crease. Tom was quickly off and going when he smashed his second delivery to the boundary for four. Matt too was quickly off and going when he drilled one back passed the bowler for four. A change in the bowling was now made as the first change bowler left the attack and a spinner entered it. Matt now started to attack, launching one bowler for consecutive fours. Then next over Tom smashed the spinner for four to take Charlbury to 82-7 off of 29 overs. Matt hammered another delivery for four, but two deliveries later he got an edge and the wicket-keeper took a very low down catch. Ollie now came to the crease. Tom launched another boundary off of the spinner and so the spinner was taken out of the attack and one of the opening bowlers returned. Next over Tom tried to hit out at another delivery, missed the ball and was bowled. Dean now came to the crease. Dean pushed the ball for a two before playing a lovely lofted drive back over the bowler’s head for a one bounce four, taking Charlbury to 100. Two balls later Dean tried to play the same shot again, but did not quite catch it right and a fielder got underneath it and took a catch on the boundary.

 

Charlbury were going to have to bowl well if they were to stand any chance in this game. Matt and Ollie opened the bowling. The batsmen attacked in the first couple of overs to try and put the bowlers under pressure. The outfield was quick and a couple of early shots flew to the boundary for four. Then one batsman took a big swing at one of Matt’s deliveries, skied the ball and wicket-keeper Steve got underneath the ball and took the catch. After five overs Brackley were 21-1. After seven overs Ollie came out of the attack and Charlie entered it as Charlbury continued to search for wickets. The batsman was left handed and attacked from the off, hitting a couple of early boundaries. Brackley were pushing hard and with a low total to defend Charlbury could not have too many defensive fielders. Then Charlbury grabbed their second wicket when the left hander tried to hit Charlie for six, but could only find Josh on the boundary and he took the catch. Matt was bowling really well, getting some movement off of the pitch and with his height also getting a bit of bounce. Charlie too was bowling well, getting some turn and bounce and causing a few problems for the batsmen. Just before tea Matt left the attack and Dean entered it as Charlbury desperately searched for more wickets. The players went to team with Brackley 73-2 off of 13 overs. On the resumption Charlie and Dean continued to bowl. Dean had started slowly, but was now landing the ball in good areas and getting some turn out of the pitch. Charlie too was still bowling well and the batsmen were unable to get him away for many runs, he was also making the batsmen play a few false shots. The batsmen knew they had plenty of overs in which to get the runs so just contented themselves with pushing ones and twos around. Slowly but surely the target got closer and closer and when one batsman hit Dean for a four the game was over and Brackley had won by eight wickets.

 

Charlbury 3 points