Windsor 2nd XI vs Bagshot 2nd XI 14/6/2008
Windsor 231-5 52 Overs
U. Malik 101*
M. Lines 57
Bagshot 183-8 48 Overs
D. Dawson 69
Edge 8-64 (including hat-trick)
Windsor travelled to Bagshot on Saturday looking to build on the superb win against BA and consolidate their place at the top of the league. With Paul Huggins back at the helm Windsor lost their 5th straight toss and were invited to bat first on what looked a soft green wicket and as suspected it provided ideal bowling conditions with the warm overcast weather. Huggins and Noble found the going extremely tough as opening bowlers Sutherland and Grinstead found extravagant swing and seam and the ball regularly passed the outside edge. The scoring crawled along with only Huggins occasionally cutting loose when the opportunity presented itself. Noble was the first to go for 3 in the 19th over bowled by Budd as he attempted to up the scoring rate. Riches came to the crease and with Huggins and the scoring started to accelerate with Huggins picking Budd off for a couple of good looking straight drives. However, just as the partnership started to gain momentum Huggins attempted a single as he pushed the ball wide of mid on only for a direct hit to leave him a couple of yards short of his ground for 30 leaving the score at 46-2 in the 26th over.
Riches was joined by Malik and both made steady progress until Riches played all round a straight one from Budd for 16 and it was starting to look as if a score of 170-180 would be realistic at best. However, younsters Malik and Lines had other ideas. Both were watchful to start, but, with the wicket flattening and the bowling tiring both batsman started to up the pace. Lines was driving and pulling with aplomb and Malik struck a couple of sweetly timed straight sixs and with the score at 135-3 in the 42nd over Windsor were well placed to go for broke in the final 10 overs. What ensued was a period of exceptionally clean hitting from both batsmen with Malik in particular striking a number of towering sixes as Bagshot rotated their bowlers to no avail. Lines was the next to depart shortly after completing a stylish 50 in a partnership of 112 with Malik. With the score on 174-4 in the 47th over Malik was in no mood to relent as he continued on his way to his first senior 100 for Windsor off the final ball of the innings which contained 8 sixs in total! Malik was well supported by Murray who departed for 4 in search of quick runs and in the finish by George. The Windsor innings closed on 231-5 from their 52 overs and this looked as if it could be a par score given the improving batting conditions and small boundaries.
The Bagshot reply got off to positive start with openers Young and Dawson quick to pounce on any loose deliveries on offer as Windsor struggled to make best use of the new ball. It wasn’t until the 16th over with Edge introduced into the attack that Windsor made their first break through as Young was smartly caught behind by George for 32 with the score on 71. Timms was to follow him shortly miss timing a pull off Edge to mid wicket to leave the score at 73-2 and Windsor were gradually feeling their way back into the game.
Dawson and Rowlett soon set about consolidating Bagshot’s position with Dawson providing some big hitting of his own as he passed 50. With the score at 131-2 with 18 overs to go Bagshot appeared to be in the box seat, however, next came three balls that turned the game on it’s head. Edge with ball in hand had Rowlett caught at mid off after some juggling by skipper Huggins for 19. With the batsman crossing Edge then cleaned bowled Dawson for 69 and then with the field in Reed hit his first ball to Lewis at short midwicket to give Edge his first ever hat trick. The passage of play left Bagshot reeling at 131-5. From here the run chase looked out of the question and wickets continued to fall. Grinstead was next to go smartly caught down the leg side by George off the bowling of Edge for 6 and Sutherland followed quickly after with Murray taking a sharp chance at slip also from the bowling of Edge. Windsor were in the ascendancy at this point and Edge had all seven wickets to fall. After some dogged defence Edge had Rowley trapped LBW and the finish line was almost in sight. Windsor continued on the all out attack, but, could not get through the stout defence of Holloly and Grinstead. Hill was re-introduced without success and the game finished in draw with the score on 183-8. Edge returned the exceptional figures of 8-64 from 18 overs.
It was disappointing not go away with the win, but, it was great to come away with another solid performance given the opposition had the better of the conditions. There were also some fine individual performances from Malik and Edge who put in the best batting and bowling displays seen in the 2’s for some time. With BA and Wooburn also only managing draws Windsor have slightly extended their lead at the top of the table and will go into Saturday’s home game against bottom side Chalfont St. Peter full of confidence.