Windsor vs Slough

Windsor 2’s claimed a vital 20 point victory on saturday against local rivals Slough 3’s, in a hard fought encounter at Home Park. Slough opted to bat first on a damp wicket but considering the apocolytic rain the day before the ground and pitch held up remarkably well.

Slough took the attack to Windsor and their openers certainly played their shots. Windsor however stayed calm and with the score on 83, Chris Edge dissmissed one opener , and Tom Hartridge nos 2 and 3 to leave Slough suddenly on 83-3. Windsor picked one more wicket before thundery rain forced off the players after 27 overs with Slough on 101-4.

With the rain steadily falling and puddles forming on the square it looked as if the wretched weather this summer would cause another abandonment.Remarkably however, the rain just about eased off at about 4.45 ,and thanks to the enthusiasm of both sets off players and sensible co-operation from both umpires, a start time was agreed for 5.00pm. Slough would now have 37 overs and Windsor 33.

In a rather surreal scenario, Slough then came out to bat for 10 more overs in bright sunshine but to the bewilderment of everybody, steady rain, which nobody could really work where it was coming from. Under a huge rainbow, Chris Edge and Tom Hartridge continued to run in at Slough, but with the field flug far and wide, the game took on a the feel of a 20-20 contest. Slough played their shots and Windsor’s fielders slid around the outfield in a desperate attempt to cut off boundaries. Wickets inevitably fell and Slough ended on 169, which was was certainly competative.Windsor only used three bowlers, Chris Edge gallantly plowed through from one end taking 4-90 off 16 overs. Sam Condon went for 52 off 11 overs but can count himself unlucky not to get a wicket, while Tom Hartrige impressed with figures of 11-2 off his allotted 7 overs.

Set 170 to win, and knowing that most other games would be called off, Windsor had a great chance to pick up a vital 20 points. Openers Rob Noble and Nilesh Patel walked out under increasingly dark and thundery clouds, and it seemed almost inevitable that the game would done for within five minutes or so, as one more rain break would certainly have caused an abandonment. Somehow, the rain stayed away and Noble and Patel gave Windsor the start they needed, taking quick singles and putting away the bad ball when it came. At 10 overs windsor were 47-0 and looking good, despite it being so dark that cars going along the Datchet road had their headlights on full beam.

With the score on 57, Noble clipped one off his legs straight to square leg to be dismissed for 17, and Windsor lost their first wicket. Soon after that, Patel was run out for a vital 32. Chorley and Riches both found conditions tricky as Slough’s seamers tightened up. The skies brightened but not Windsor’s fortunes as Riches and Chorley then perished in quick succession for 12 and 11 respectively.Windsor were now 88-4, with plenty of work still to do. Tom Bullock and Richard Charters then formed a superb partnership which took Windsor to the brink of victory.

Excellent running between the wickets and punishment of the bad ball was a feature of a partnership. Bullock in particular hit a couple of enourmous sixes, which kept the run rate managable. Charters then fell for a well made 35, and this brought in Tom Hartrige who ably partnered Bullock to see Windsor home in the last over. Hartridge ended on 9 not out but it was Tom Bullock who fittingly hit the winning runs to finish on 47 not out, and the pair recieved a rousing reception from the balcony as Windsor celabrated a deserved and hard fought win in which everybody had played their part.