Banbury 2nds eventually ran out deserved winners against their boggy team Sandford on Saturday. On a cold, windy and occasionally wet day at White Post Road, the hosts won the toss and elected to field.
Banbury were soon on the front foot when Josh Megson got the first wicket of the day in the 2nd over, dismissing Paul Tew for a duck with his 5th ball. In his next over, he had Chas Taylor caught in the slips, via wicket keeper Sam Cheshire’s left knee into Olly Murrey ample stomach. This left Sandford on 4 – 2.
Runs were proving hard to come by, and when Megson claimed his 3rd wicket in the 12th over courtesy of an inswinging yorker, the score was only 17. At the other end, Ed Smith was bowling with good pace, and great control but no luck what so ever. Megson finished his best spell of the season so far with figures of 7-2-14-3 and Ed Smith 8-3-14-0.
The more experienced pair of Olly Murrey (5-2-13-1) and Oxfordshires Ashley Blanchard (9-1-20-1) were introduced to the attack, and the same theme continued, with lots of play and misses and slow scoring rate. Murrey removed the dangerous Alex Kill LBW for 10. Blanchard had Tom Goffe caught by Cheshire for 12. Sandford were really struggling now at 54 for 5.
Martin Anson joined Chris Thompson in what was a frustrating partnership for Banbury but a priceless one for Sandford. They put on 105 for the 6th wicket, Banbury were forced to bowl there spinners due to the over rate, and the batsmen punished the loose deliveries.
Paul Hill (9-1-44-2) on his return from the 3rd XI finally had Thompson bowled for 77 off 122 balls in the 48th over. Hill also had the last man out Paul Tanner caught on the boundary for 8.
Martin Anson was unbeaten on 51 off 84 balls when Sandford closed on 183-7 off their 53 Overs.
Banbury’s hare and tortoise opening pair of Cheshire and Sabin set about chasing the total down well, Sabin was knocking the ball around, while Cheshire took the attack to the Sandord bowlers, dispatching 2 huge 6’s into Bodicote.
Cheshire reached a well deserved 50 of 50 balls, before finally being run out for 65 of 68 balls. The pair put on 102 in 22 overs. Nathaniel Gregory joined Sabin at the crease, and continued the good work, until Gregory (14) pulled a short ball from Ian Reynolds straight to mid wicket.
Steve Beck joined Sabin at the crease and with dark clounds building in the distance, tried to up the run rate. When the rain came, it looked like the end of the world as we know it and 29 was still required off 13 overs.
The rain finally stopped, covers removed and play resumed but 6 overs were lost. Beck (25)was dismissed LBW by Risbridger (11-1-54-2) trying to force the pace, and Sabin followed shortly after for 63 off 124 balls, in a bizarre fashion. Goading the keeper to throw down the stumps, but failing to put his foot in the crease in time!!
Ed Smith (4) and Blanchard (4) saw Banbury home with 5 balls remaining.
Banbury 25 points Sandford 7