out shone in the sun……

Windsor 131 all out

lost to

Falkland 132 for 4

Windsor faced Falkland at home park on Saturday, desperately needing all 25 points if they were going to make it out of the last spot in the league that they have been held in for weeks. Windsor lost the toss and were put in by a confident Falkland team. Windsor had decided to pick an extra batsman this week to go all out for the maximum points possible.

Windsor got off to its normal dreadful start by Noble being removed for 0 in the 3rd over. Channa and Davis looked as if they might be able to steady the ship and got Windsor up into the early 40’s by the 14th over. The opener Trumper bowled some very tight lines, which pinned back any big strokes. Davis fell first with Channa following the very next over leaving Windsor reeling on 47 for 3 in the 16th over. Charters, Bullock, Patel and Weston all got small starts but none capitalised, and Windsor were looking down the barrel at 101 for 6. The attack turned to spin, and Falkland extracted some good bounce and turn which it hard to get off the square. Hill edged one in the air whilst trying to rotate the strike, attempting to allow more of the strike to a good looking effort with the bat by young Hartridge. The tail folded and Windsor were all out for 131 in the 46th over giving Falkland 6 extra overs to get the small target.

Hill decided to not change anything and opened with himself at the castle end let Edge plough a furrow from the river end. Both bowled tight lines and got the new ball to swing early doors, not allowing the Falkland openers any free reign. Hill removed the opener LBW for 4 with Edge removing the other opener and number 3, returning good figures of 9 overs 2 for 16. Windsor felt optimistic that they could make things hard for Falkland, and earn some extra valuable points if they kept bowling well and picking up wickets. After getting used to his lines, Hill replaced himself young Hartridge who unfortunately bowled a tad short which the Falkland bowlers were quick to punish. With Kellard missing, Hill had to keep changing the attack and brought Malik on try and slow the run rate down. Needing some medium pace seam up Hill brought under used Patel, and returning Weston into the attack, and they did well to make the batsmen think about their shots, and slowed the run rate slightly. Weston picked up a well deserved wicket in the end, but Falkland were too strong and didn’t buckle under the small pressure Windsor imposed, and got to 132 loosing only 4 wickets in the 38th over.

Plenty of people have said that Windsor should have batted first more often this season. Obviously winning the toss helps, but again, this week shows that bating was not strong enough batting first or second. Being given a life line with an opportunity to post 200 and try and get 25 points proved too much of a challenge. Windsor are still bottom and deserve to be. 2 games to go and the season is all but over. Windsor will go into next weeks away game against Farnham Common wanting and trying to win. Let’s end the season on a little high, but the batsmen have to knuckle down…..