The fourth team lost their first league game (that actually started) of the season to new OCA arrivals Horely away on saturday. With the start time pushed back and the overs reduced, Banbury batted first looking to pick up points in what was going to be a testing game as Horely looked to put a marker down for their first season in the Cherwell league.
After losing an eraly-ish wicket Mitch (23) and Asif (49) batted very well, and would have picked up more runs if the wet ourfield hadn’t held up any shot hit along the ground, as the 4’s reached 90-1. Queue an infamous batting collapse as numbers; 4,5,6 & 7 put on only 3 between them and Banbury were finally dismissed for 126 offering all but no resistance.
With a small total on the board and playing on a small ground the 4’s would have had to make early inroads to stand any chance. Iffy did just that, removing Horley opener Tarrant in his first over and then nipping one back 6 inches up the hill in his 4th to remove Horely’s number 3. Unfortunaly this brought Dave Clarke (86) to the crease. although slighly troubled at times he made light work punishing any lose bowling as he guided Horely to a 6 wicket victory.
(cakes makes no excuse for inacurate batsmen’s scores)