Sat 21st July Charlbury 2nd vs Witney Mills 2nd

Witney Mills 2nd 199-7 (45 overs)

Ellie Norton 3-54

 

Charlbury 2nd 183-8 (45 overs)

Richard Nash 49

 

On a warm day Charlbury travelled the short distance to Witney for their division 8 clash. Charlbury bowled first and so Emilia and Ellie opened the bowling and got Charlbury off to a reasonable start. The outfield was quick due to the recent hot spell and any delivery that broke thru the infield flew to the boundary. A couple of early boundaries were hit, but then Emilia got the first breakthrough as one batsman tried to hit out, skied the ball and Mark took a good catch. Ellie had dropped into a great line and length, getting some movement off of the pitch and causing a few problems for the batsmen. Emilia too was bowling well, getting a bit of bounce as well as some movement off of the pitch. Ellie found the edge of the new batsman’s bat and Nathan did the rest behind the stumps when he took the catch. The new batsman did not cause too many problems for Charlbury as he tried to smash Ellie out of the ground, but could only find Dean who took a great catch in the deep leaving Mills 49-3. The two new batsmen now dug in for a few overs just to make sure no more early wickets fell. Slowly the opening batsman started to play a few more shots, finding a few singles and a couple of boundaries. The new batsman was more attacking and found a couple of fours as the score started to move along. A change in the bowling was made as Dean entered the attack in place of Ellie. Dean quickly dropped into a good line and length and was getting some turn out of the wicket. Charlbury were fielding well, diving all over the place in an attempt to stop the ball reaching the boundary. Emilia was still bowling a great spell and still causing problems for the batsmen, but she just could not get a wicket. The runs continued to come and the hundred mark was passed with still only three wickets down. Mills had set a good platform and now with the overs beginning to run out they would have to attack more if they were to set a defendable target. Emilia finished her great spell of bowling and Mark entered the attack. Now the batsmen started to attack the bowling harder, finding several boundaries and the score started to move along much quicker. Mark was bowling well and getting some turn out of the wicket, but the batsmen now had their eye in and were attacking hard. Then Charlbury got a bonus when a mix-up in the calling saw one batsman stranded half way down the wicket as the ball flew into Nathan who ran him out. Things got even better for Charlbury in the next over as Mark wrapped the new batsman on the pads and he was given out adjudged LBW. Andy now came into the attack in place of Dean and was straight on the mark from ball one. In his second over Andy grabbed a wicket when the new batsman tried to hit him out of the park, but did not quite catch it and Dean took another catch in the deep. Ellie now re-entered the attack in place of Mark as Charlbury sought to bowl Mills out. The new batsman just looked to push a few singles around to get the set batsman on strike and let him do all the hard work. Only a few overs left and the running was frantic and with a couple of boundaries hit it looked like Mills might reach 200. Ellie had other ideas and clean bowled the new batsman. Mills eventually finished their innings on 199/8.

 

Charlbury would have to bat well if they were to get anywhere near their target and so Richard and Michael opened the batting. The Mills opening bowlers quickly settled into a good length and line and made run scoring awkward for both batsmen. Richard started in his customary fashion, defending the many good deliveries whilst also looking to push a few singles around. Michael was slightly more attacking and found a couple of early boundaries to get the Charlbury score moving along. Richard then found a boundary four, stroking the ball thru the covers. The score was moving along slowly, but Charlbury were just about up with the required rate and if they could keep this up then it would be a close game. Both players stroked the ball around and soon the fifty partnership was brought up, Mills were now getting desperate to take a wicket. A double change in the bowling was made. The change had a quick impact as one delivery from the new bowler wrapped Michael on the pads and he was given out adjudged LBW. Robert now strode to the crease. Robert looked confident from the off and decided to attack one of the new bowlers, finding a couple of early boundaries. Richard too found a boundary four as the score now started to accelerate. Both players attacked one of the new bowlers so much that he was taken out of the attack and a new bowler entered it as Mills tried to stem the flow of runs. Robert was looking in good form as he stroked the ball around and with Richard being a good foil Charlbury looked in good shape. Then disaster struck as Robert hit out at one too many and hit the ball straight to a fielder and was caught for a good 22. Andy now came to the crease. Andy played a bit more conservatory, just pushing a few singles and twos around, but still keeping Charlbury’s run rate up. Richard was looking better and better the longer he batted and hit another boundary to bring up the hundred mark. Just as it looked like Richard would make it to a well deserved fifty he missed the ball and was bowled for a good 49. Dean now joined his captain at the wicket. Both batsmen just looked to push the ball around and keep Charlbury in touch with the required rate, which was staring to rise as the overs began to run out. Dean hit a couple of boundary fours straight back passed the bowler as Charlbury tried to stay in the game. Then Dean missed one and was bowled meaning Neil had to enter the fray. Charlbury were now trying to make sure they did not lose the game before trying to win it. Both batsmen stroked the ball around and ran hard for every run, but by now the boundaries had started to dry up. One of the opening bowlers now re-entered the attack as Mills tried to go for the win. With the required rate rising Charlbury started to take some chances with their running and this led to Andy’s downfall as a direct hit saw him just short of his ground and run out for 22. Martin now came to the crease and continued to hard running. Charlbury were getting closer and closer to victory, but the overs were running out quickly. Martin tried to hit out at the opening bowler, missed the ball and was bowled. Nathan now came to the crease, but was not there too long as a quick run was called, but some quick fielding saw the ball thrown in and Nathan run out leaving Charlbury 170-7. Emilia now came to the crease. Charlbury were now looking at the draw as the required rate rose dramatically. With only a couple of over to go Emilia was caught when she hit the ball straight to a fielder meaning Mark had to come to the crease. Neil and Mark batted out the last few ball for a draw as Charlbury finished on 183-8.

 

Charlbury 2nd 14 points