Over-confident Windsor come up short
Saturday 12th August

Windsor 168 all out; 52 Overs (Clarke 53, Harris 7-39)
Basingstoke 2’s 172 for 5; 44 Overs (Bissoon 55)

Buoyed by the win over local rivals Datchet the week before, a confident Windsor entertained Basingstoke last Saturday at Home Park looking for a win to further enhance their push for promotion. Upon winning yet another toss, Windsor skipper Bird elected to bat first in an attempt to push for maximum points.

After an expensive initial over, the Basingstoke openers bowled a tight opening salvo and were rewarded in the 10th over with the wicket of Davis. Bird and Millman began to increase the stroke play slightly, but neither could break free and Windsor struggled to pick up the run rate. The introduction of off-spinner Harris further curtailed Windsor’s scoring and a flurry of wickets saw Bird and then Granger go in the same over to leave Windsor at 64 for 3 as they neared the half way mark. Clarke joined Millman and the two looked to pick up the run flow, but an injudicious shot from Millman curtailed his innings at 37 and Windsor hit another roadblock. Both Nichols and Watkins pushed hard for runs but had no real penetration. It was Clarke’s belligerence and stroke-play that helped Windsor reach a workable total, but when he fell for an excellent 55, the innings quickly petered out. The final total of 168 all out off the full 52 overs was well short of the target desired and was in much part due to the fine bowling of Basingstoke’s Harris, who finished with a excellent 7 for 39.

Basingstoke’s reply was put under immediate pressure as Windsor spinners Watkins and Mohindru took the old ball and looked to attack. The desired affect was found when Basingstoke’s opener was caught out at short leg by Davis in the 9th over. Watkins struck at the other end, picking up two quick wickets, one via a fine catch at slip by Clarke. Their then followed a period that would most likely decide the game. Having survived two relatively straight forward chances early, Bissoon realising his luck was in, played a cavalier knock for the visitors, surviving two run out chances and a missed stumping. He reached his half-century with a characteristic drive back over the bowler’s head that just cleared mid-off’s head. When his luck finally ran out on 55, Windsor again sense the opportunity to attack with Basingstoke still needed over 80 to win. The fifth wicket though proved to be a difficult one to take as the obdurence of the senior player and fearless of youth combined to deny Windsor. When Watkins picked up his fourth and Windsor’s fifth wicket, the game was all but up. Basingstoke, finally reach the target with 5 overs and 5 wickets to spare.

The loss was a difficult one to take for Windsor, but as it would happen, events elsewhere would work in their favour. As many of the top clubs lost to lower opposition, Windsor in fact reduced the gap on leaders Chiswick by 1 point. This Saturday sees Windsor travel to Chiswick in a top of the table clash. With four games to go, a winner here will be in the box seat.