Match report by Neil Megson
What a weekend for our first team..it’s not often i get to see them play but with our game on Saturday finishing early we got to see the last 20 overs as Lloyd and Simmo took Oxford apart to keep us right in the title hunt! Then yesterday i had the privilege to watch them win the regional T20 tournament at the wonderful Finedon Dolben ground near Wellingborough..
In the semi final we played the hosts Finedon, toss lost by us, Finedon bat,but dear me we are all over from ball one,2 early wickets for Ollie Wright,soon they are 40-5,wickets falling regularly to everyone, some excellent catching too.
Dave Eaton, Kieran Coyne, Charlie Hill all with 2,one also for Joe Thomas in a terrific shift by the boys.. Finedon all out for 111…
In reply we are 16 from 2,all good, we then lost 5 wickets quickly to crash to 35-5…enter Ali Short and Charlie Hill,a big over from Shorty with 3 six’s turned the tide as him and Charlie batted absolutely superbly, great running mixed with putting the bad ball away, Shorty out for 36,Charlie seeing us home with 4 overs to spare in with a very mature 36 not out.. Great win.
On to the final against Leicestershire Champions Sileby Town. Toss lost again and we bowl… And early Ollie Wright wicket but a good partnership saw Sileby to 72-2 at half way and well placed, but 2 wickets in a over for Joe Thomas changed the game as we ran through them to shoot them out for 100…2 wickets for Charlie Hill who by now is getting greedy and 2 also for Waqas Hussain in another brilliant performance in the field,catching and ground fielding out of the very top draw.Joe Thomas finished with 5-21 in a sensational spell by the big fella. Simmo out early in the reply but dear dear me, we then witnessed the best display of controlled hitting anyone could wish to see by Waqas Hussain,with Lloyd Sabin 24no knocking singles at one end Waqas took 30 from an over with 4 massive six’s,he hit 7 fours and 7 sixs in a chanceless exhibition of power hitting,a truly wonderful innings,he finished 77no in 30 balls as we cruised home in 8.5 overs.Waqas striking at 256 as someone who has a career strike rate of 4 and a half those numbers are insane.
The Banbury supporters all round the ground loving every single second of it.. Just a joy to be there to see it.. We are now into the National last 8 with the South Area Finals day on Sunday August 28th at the wonderful Basingstoke ground,… people, please clear your diarys and get down there to support the team,you are absolute mugs if you don’t ..
Finaly a name check to our superb support, the Hills & extended family,the Sabins & extended family & hound,the Thomas’s & extended family, the Kyffins,Paul Short & hounds, Lord Manley of Hardwick, John Woodworth,John Woodhead,Lord and Lady Hawkins,my long suffering wife, but pride of place to Shazad Rana,24 hours earlier he’s at a wedding in Florence,top top notch Pinch … All treated to the best free show in yonks by our wonderful side.. Onwards i tell you onwards..