Windsor 2nd XI vs Chalfont St. Peter 2nd XI 21.6.2008
Windsor 216-5 52 Overs
P. Huggins 51
U. Malik 46
M. Huggins 44
Chalfont St. Peter 183-9 48 Overs
After a wet morning Windsor entertained basement side Chalfont St. Peter 2nd XI. With the wicket looking damp, green and soft Skipper Huggins was desperate to win his second toss of the season. However, it was not to be and Windsor were asked to bat first.
A cautious start ensued from openers Noble and Riches as the wicket provided variable bounce and movement off the seam. Riches was the first to depart for 2 edging to second slip as Ali got on to move away off the seam. This brought Paul Huggins to the crease who looked to consolidate with Noble and it was Huggins who initially pushed the score along clipping a couple of loose deliveries to the short leg side boundary. However, former Windsor player Javid continued to get the ball to pop from a good length and it was Noble who was next to go as he fended a ball to short mid-wicket for 21. Next in was last weeks centurion Malik who after taking his time to assess the conditions was soon upping the tempo. Opposition Skipper Razaq felt the brunt of Malik’s aggressive approach as he opted for the aerial route.
Spinners Gill and Wigley were introduced to try and stem the flow of runs. After both batsman had worked the spinners round picking up the singles and collecting the occasional boundary it was Malik who cut loose striking Gill for two long straight six’s in his final over. Just as Huggins completed a hard worked 50 Malik was yorked by the returning Javid for a run a ball 46. This saw Mark Huggins head to the crease to join older brother Paul. However, the two were not together long as Paul was bowled for 51 aiming a big shot into the leg side off the bowling of Wigley.
It appeared Windsor may struggle to reach the 200 mark with the score at 132-4 at the end of the 41st over with two new men at the crease. However, as has been the case this season Windsor’s middle order stepped up to the plate. Mark Huggins fresh off a hundred in the 3’s the week before was in no mood to mess around as he soon set about the Chalfont bowlers while ably supported by Murray at the other end. Both batsman mixed aggression with good running as they started to take the game away from Chalfont. When Huggins departed for 44 off 28 balls in the 51st over Windsor were safely past the 200 mark and it was left to George and Murray to finish things off. The Windsor innings closed on 216-5 from 52 overs with Murray on 32 not out at better than a run a ball. The score looked to be competitive on a wicket that would continue to offer assistance through out the game.
In reply after a couple of lusty shots from the Chalfont openers they were soon on the back foot as Edge claimed the first wicket courtesy of some sharp work by Riches at second slip. Worse was to come though as Hill at the other end removed Kayani and Razaq both bowled in the same over. The Chalfont innings looked to be in trouble at 15-3. From here the Chalfont batsman launched a counter attack looking to bludgeon there way back into the game. This appeared to work initially as they moved to 73 in the 13th over, however, regular wickets fell and it was Edge who claimed the next one as Lewis clung on safely at cover.
The introduction of Kellard into the attack soon slowed the scoring and it was he who struck next as Gill holed out to Riches at long on and Windsor were still well in the game. The wicket saw Javid come to the crease and he started off in determined fashion striking Hill for 2 sixs. However, he attempted one big shot too many as he skied a pull shot to Paul Huggins who clung on safely at mid off and Chalfont’s hopes of victory looked to be slipping away. From here Windsor continued to push hard for the win, Lewis claimed his first wicket as Mallinder struck a full toss to Hill at extra cover who did well to hold on. Kellard was the next into action as he claimed two more wickets to leave Chalfont 9 down with 6 overs to go.
Huggins turned back to openers Edge and Hill as Windsor went in search of the elusive last wicket. However, dogged defence from Crossley and Ali though saw Chalfont home for the draw as the innings closed on 183-9.
It was another good performance when Windsor had the worst of the conditions for the second week running and with a bit more luck in future will convert these positions into wins. There were good performances with the bat from the Huggins brothers, Malik and Murray and Hill was firing on all cylinders with the ball in his second game back after a 3 week absence. Next week Windsor travel to Cookham Dean, who lie second in place, looking to reinforce their position at the top of the table and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.