Pre season Friendly
Windsor 2nd XI (120-6) vs Enfield 1st XI (121-5)
On Saturday Windsor 2nd XI travelled to Enfield to play a game many thought would be called off given the rain over the past week. Windsor lost the toss and were invited to bat on what appeared to be a soft green track.
The innings got off to the worst possible start as Noble departed in the third over caught behind off the bowling of Brevier without troubling the scorer. This left skipper Huggins and Weston to set about rebuilding the innings. Both found scoring difficult as the Enfield made excellent use of the bowling conditions finding late swing and seam. With opening bowlers negotiated Weston and Huggins looked to push the scoring along. However, both batsman continued to find scoring difficult on the slow wicket and Weston perished as he was out stumped advancing down the track to the off spin of Jackson. This left Windsor at 46-2 in the 23rd over. With innings in the balance regular wickets fell in the middle order as the scoring continued to fail to gain any momentum. Riches was bowled playing inside the line of Jackson for 2, Davis was caught behind off Allena for 2 and George was bowled attempting to sweep the leg spin of Barry for 9. With the innings in real trouble Alam came and went LBW for 1 playing back to a full length ball off the bowling of Allena. The innings appeared to be on the brink of collapse at 85-6 in the 36th over. Malik and Huggins then set about the second meaningful partnership of the innings adding 35 in the remaining overs as the inning finished on 120 for 6 off 45 overs with Huggins 48 not out and Malik 21. The score was thought to be 20 to 30 runs short of par.
Windsor realised they would bowl and field exceptionally well if they were to have any chance in the match. Skipper Huggins had the desired response from the opening bowlers Lewis and debutant Bean. Bean was particularly impressive with his line and length, however, Windsor failed to take the early wickets required. The break through arrived in the 16 over with Lewis dismissing openers Bolt for 7 with Alam taking a fine diving catch at cover to leave the score at 21 for 1. Next came the partnership that swung the match in Enfields favour between Ryan and Barrell. Windsor rotated the bowlers looking for further wickets. Condon and Malik tried their luck without success as the Enfield pair continued to push the scoring of along with Barrell playing some big shoots off the bowling of Malik. This led skipper Huggins to turn to the unlikely bowling combination of Davis and Weston who both started to gain a strangle hold on the scoring. The second wicket came in the 23rd over courtesy of a run out as Plumb attempted 1 quick single too many and was run out for 25 leaving the score at 68 for 2. Despite the wicket though Windsor could feel the game slipping away with Enfield holding wickets in hand. Ryan and Barrell then added a further 20 to the score before Ryan was run out for 6 care of a good through from Condon in the deep and some smart work by George behind the stumps. Free then gave Huggins an easy catch at cover off the bowling of Weston as he departed for 4. Windsor knew time was running out and Huggins turned back to Bean, who removed Barrell bowled for a well made 56. It was all too little too late though as Enfield cantered home in the 43rd over.
Windsor go into next weeks league game knowing they will need to produce a much more determined performance with the bat if they are going to compete.