Windsor 202-6 52 Overs
H. Chana 62
A. Weston 51
Finchampstead 176 All Out 46 Overs
M. Lines 6-50
After a stormy morning the clouds subsided to provide a warm, but blustery setting at the Home Park as Windsor entertained Finch 3’s. The afternoon started well for Windsor as Skipper Huggins finally won his second toss of the season and opted to bat first on what appeared to be a firm flat track.
The new look opening partnership of Nair and Chana were watchful to start with as the Finch openers found some early movement with the new ball. Nair was the first man out though for 5 as he was yorked by Smith. This brought skipper Huggins to the crease who appeared to be in no mood to hang about as he struck his 3rd and 4th balls to the boundary. After a couple more boundaries off the bowling of Smith he was replaced by Clarke who together with Jubb slowed the run rate with some disciplined bowling. Despite this Huggins and Chana managed to keep the score board ticking with some good running and putting away the occasional bad ball.
Windsor were well placed for a good total reaching 70-1 in the 22nd over. However, Huggins departed caught behind for 31 off the Clarke bringing Malik to the crease. On this occasion Malik’s stay was a brief one as he was pinned LBW by Rose for 2. Next up was the returning Mark Lines who looked to be in fine touch with some crashing cover drives mixed with some deft flicks into the leg side. His promising start was brought to an end as he was well held at mid on off the bowling of Rose for 18 and the Windsor innings was in the balance at 103-4 in the 31st over. Weston was up next returning from injury and was slow to start as he struggled to adjust to the variable pace and bounce which the wicket was now offering. The introduction of slow bowler Brown also served to slow the scoring rate as both Chana and Weston struggled to find the boundary.
In the 42nd over with the score on 137-4 both batsman started to kick on as they pushed the Finch fielders and the boundaries started to come. Chana completed a patient 50, but was next out as he was caught behind off the returning Jubb for 62. Hartridge was next, in the kind of situation he has played well so far this season. Quick runs were what was required with the score on 163 for 5 and 6 overs remaining. These came courtesy of a big over from the bowling of Brown as Weston struck him for 6 followed by two 4’s from Hartridge. Weston collected a well earned 50 as Windsor passed the 200 mark in the 52nd over as the innings closed on 202-6 as Hartridge perished off the final ball of the innings for 21. The score looked to be a competitive with the wicket wearing and the pace and bounce becoming more variable.
Windsor went out in search of an early wicket and found one as Baglow was trapped LBW for 5 by Hill by a delivery which didn’t get up. This brought Clarke to the crease who together with Biggs, set about dispatching some wayward bowling from Hill and Bean. Edge was introduced at the expense of Bean and despite a more disciplined approach he too struggled to make further inroads as he toiled away into a stiff breeze. Hartridge was introduced in place of Hill and he also failed to make the break through required.
With the score at 82-1 for at drinks Huggins turned to spinner Lines and this was instantly rewarded as Biggs played on for 47 in his first over. Hartridge then removed Clarke bowled for 24 and it was game on and from here wickets fell regularly. Potter was next well held by Malik off the bowling of Lines for 6. Lines then removed House bowled for 11 and the game was swinging in Windsor’s favour. Edge returned in place of Hartridge to remove skipper Jones caught behind by George for 15 and then Lines bowled Rose around his legs for 10. Despite the flurry of wickets Finch continued in pursuit of Windsor’s total. Jubb came in and looked to play shot a ball cricket and this only served to bring about an early down fall as he was held by Hartridge off the bowling of Edge for 0. Huggan next to go for 1 off the bowling of Lines for his 5th wicket and victory was in sight.
Finch number 10 Smith appeared to have other ideas as he set about the Windsor bowling dispatching Lines and Edge to the boundary. However, the faint hope of a Finch victory was ended as Smith was held by Hartridge in the deep off the bowling of Lines for 38 to give Windsor victory and Lines the excellent figures of 6-50 as the innings closed on 176 in the 46th over.
It was great to see the team bounce back well after defeat the previous week. The batting looked be in good order again with solid contributions from Chana and Weston and the bowlers performed well with Lines the pick of the bunch collecting his first 5 wicket haul in the second XI.