Windsor 2’s are “Out-Whitty’d”

Windsor 2’s 132 all out; 36.3 Overs (S Whitty 6 for 41)
Kidmore End 133 for 3; 36 Overs

Windsor 2’s wasted a great opportunity to close the gap at the top of Division 3a on Saturday. Having won the toss, Windsor elected to bat on what looked like a good wicket. However, reeling at 60-3, Windsor soon regretted the decision. It was Abe Smith (40) and Rob Noble (35) who eventually provided Windsor with some stability, both batsmen looking comfortable against the pace and bounce of Kidmore’s pacemen. A good partnership saw Windsor to 112-4, a good platform for the middle order to build upon. Unfortunately the normally reliable engine house of the batting line up failed to fire and Windsor slumped to 132 all out. The collapse was partly due to some lazy Windsor batting and partly due to some excellent bowling by Whitty who put the ball in exactly the right place. The Windsor batsmen had no answer to Whitty’s seam and swing and eventually succumbed in the 36th over.

Despite the low total, Windsor took to the field in buoyant mood knowing that some good bowling and a bit of luck would lead to 25 points. This positive mood was boosted in the first over when Birch dismissed the opener, caught behind for a duck. Unfortunately for Windsor the dismissal meant the Jeff Sheldon joined his brother Tom in the middle. The Sheldon brothers are well known in the division and have reputations for being fine cricketers, the pair bolstered their reputation on Saturday by setting about the Windsor total with vigour. Neither looked in any real danger despite the variable bounce of the pitch which Windsor had struggled with. When Tom Sheldon fell to the bowling of Smith, Kidmore had all but wrapped up the victory, a well deserved win which sees them move clear at the top of 3a, Boyne Hill being their nearest challengers, 8 points adrift. Windsor travel to Farnham Common on Saturday, eagerly seeking a win to get themselves away from the relegation battle.