The 4th team’s poor batting form (when they actually get to play) continued away to Challow at the weekend. Having won the toss and elected to bat on a track that looked a bit flat banbury were looking to post a reasonable score in an effort to do the double of Challow.
Poor shot selection saw Banbury slump to 54-5 as K.Scott (22) was the only top order batsman to show any durablility before being trapped LBW. the middle order offered little resistance as well but it was Andrew Pallett (brother of Banbury Hostelry favourate Mark) who rallied the innings with 27 in a good 9th wicket stand to creep Banbury to 130 all out.
Banbury captain Barry Grant, tried to manouvre a straight turn around to get 2 goes at the Challow openers was blocked by stuben tea ladies and angered supporters. "it’s not my fault they got tea ready early" and "politically correct my foot" fell on deaf ears as the umpires and Challow skipper (eventually) sided with the tea ladies, tea was taken early…ish
Early wickets would be the key to Banbury, but these were not forth coming. Both Iffy and Dan Bartlett bowled very well, moving the ball in and away to the batsmen forcing numerous LBW shouts and a variety of played and missed.Iffy finally got the brake through, dismissing both openers in relatively quick sucession, followed by the big hitting number four to return tidy figures of 3-58. Andy stevens inroduction helped stem the flow of runs and also dissmissed Challow danger man Lynch cheaply, caught at slip in a bizare altercation that begged the question from the umpire "what are you appelaing for?, oh caught, well in that case it’s out!"
Another bolwing change saw the introduction of Mark Pallett (3-12), who took 2 wickets in his first 2 overs leaving Challow 129-7 as he approached his third. Marks first ball was ‘Alleyway’ straight and judge to be LBW. A shaking number 10 came to the wicket and with a massive heave inside edged the ball milimetres past leg stump for the win.
Although another loss was recorded, encouragement can be taken from a spirited fight in the field and a good team fielding effort.
Challow 25 Banbury 10