Sat 27th July Charlbury 2nd vs Oxford Downs 3rd

Oxford Downs 3rd 153-6 (34 overs)

Emilia Bartram 3-28

 

Charlbury 2nd 126-6 (34 overs)

Andy Glass 64 not out

 

Charlbury won the toss and elected to field first. Some morning rain reduced the game to 34 overs a side in this game at Cokethorpe School. Charlbury opened the batting with Miyuru and Emilia. Charlbury got off to a great start as early on Emilia found the edge and wicket-keeper Abi did the rest with a fine catch. An early change in the bowling was made as Andy came on for Miyuru. The outfield was slow and this meant the batsmen had to run hard for every run. Emilia was bowling a fabulous spell, getting the ball to move around a bit off of the pitch and causing problems for all of the batsmen. Andy too quickly dropped into a good spell, using his variations in pace and movement to get the batsmen to play false shots. Slowly the runs started to come, but mostly ones and the odd two. Charlbury were fielding really well, chasing after every delivery, forcing the batsmen to run hard for every run. The opening batsman looked set and Charlbury needed to get him out if they were to lower the score. Finally Charlbury got a breakthru when Andy found the edge of the bat and wicket-keeper Abi did the rest behind the stumps. Next over Emilia grabbed her second wicket when the new batsman, mis-hit one straight to Rob who gratefully took the catch. Things got even better in Emilia’s next over when she clean bowled the new batsman to leave Downs four wickets down. A change in the bowling was now made as Emilia had finished her allotted spell and so Alex entered the fray. The new batsman did not last too long as skied one off of Andy and Rob took a very good catch. Not many overs left in the Downs innings so the batsmen started to hit out a bit more, finding a couple more boundaries and with light rain falling it became hard for the bowlers to grip the ball. Andy left the attack and brought on Ayan, but only for an over and then he was replaced by Miyuru. Miyuru dropped straight into a good line and length and this started to slow the score down. The score was passed the hundred mark with not many overs left and the running was becoming frenetic. Then Alex got his due rewards for a good spell when one batsman skied the ball and Rob took his third catch of the innings. The batsmen ran hard for the last couple of overs and finally reached a score of 153-6.

 

Charlbury would need to bat well if they were to reach their target. The drizzle had by now stopped falling and so Abi Flory and Simon opened the batting. Things did not start well as Abi edged one early on and was caught bringing Ayan to the crease. Ayan was quickly off and going with a boundary four to get the scoreboard moving. Simon was playing well, defending when necessary , but also on the lookout for the quick single. The scoring was slow as both Downs bowlers had settled into great lines and lengths and with a difficult pitch they were making run scoring difficult. Ayan hit out at one, missed the ball and was bowled meaning Jon had to come to the crease. Jon was not there too long as he edged one and was caught leaving Charlbury three wickets down early on. The captain, Andy, now joined Simon at the crease and they took a couple of overs to ensure no more quick wickets fell. Downs made a change in the bowling as they searched for more wickets. The new bowler was not quite as tight and Andy took advantage by hitting a couple of early fours. Another change in the bowling was made as the other opening bowler left the attack and a new one entered it. The new bowler quickly dropped into a great line and length and scoring was again made more difficult. Charlbury were slipping behind the required rate and would need to start attacking more if they were to win the game. Another change in the bowling was made and the new bowler made a quick breakthru as in his first over he had Simon caught. Alex now joined his captain at the crease. Alex took the attack to the bowlers, quickly getting off the mark with a boundary four. Twenty overs gone and Charlbury were not even half way to their target, things would have to change quickly if they were to win. Another change in the bowling was made and this benefitted Charlbury as Alex hit a couple of fours. The new bowler quickly left the attack and was replaced by a new one. Not many runs off of their first over, but in the second Andy launched a big six before following it up with a four, Charlbury were on the charge. More than a run a ball still needed and Charlbury would have to keep this pace up, with the overs running out quickly. Then disaster struck as Alex went for another lusty blow, missed the ball and was bowled. Rob now entered the fray. A change in the bowling was now made as the opening bowler returned to the attack. Andy pushed a single and reached a well deserved half century. The game by now appeared to be heading for a draw, but then Rob edged one and was caught by the wicket-keeper meaning Abi Currie had to come to the crease. Andy was batting really well, holding the innings together, but also scoring runs at a good rate, running hard for every run. Despite their best efforts in the last couple of overs Charlbury could not score the runs they needed and had to settle for a draw.

 

A well earned draw for the seconds built on a good, solid bowling display and then the batting of Andy kept them in it right to the end – well played lads and lasses.

 

Charlbury 2nd 8 points