A measured century from Tim Paine and another ruthless performance in the field saw Banbury to a second win on the bounce in the Home Counties Premier League on Saturday.
Luke Ryan’s men arrived at Tring Park to find another surface that would be challenging to bat on, though it was certainly not as wet as the previous week’s wicket. Ryan elected to bat, anticipating spin later in the day, though he knew he was setting his top order a stern test.
Thankfully for Banbury Tim Paine was up to the test as, while partners fell at the other end, he used a watchful approach and rotated the strike well early in his innings. The evergreen Simon Stanway was typically probing in the helpful conditions and Banbury were soon 50-3.
Paine was still managing to score regularly and the next four batsman, Bartlett (18), Briggs (10), Ryan (14) and Blanchard (15), realised the order of the day was to stay with the Tasmanian as he ushered his side to a total of 206 that was more than competitive given the conditions.
Nonetheless Banbury would need to hit the ground running and Ashley Blanchard gave them the perfect start as the dangerous Pritchard aimed through the leg-side 4th ball and only succeeded in edging to West at 2nd slip. Liam Manley was equally disciplined from the other end and following several LBW appeals he snared Maddison caught at the wicket and Grinham LBW in quick succession to leave Tring 18-3.
It was left to Tring’s Gumbs and Payne to rebuild but Banbury’s change bowlers did not let up the pressure. Gumbs edged Ollie Wright to 1st slip where Jimmy Phillips took the first of three catches in succession, as Maddison followed in the same fashion and Payne also edged a West off break to slip.
Luke Ryan (3-7) brought himself into the attack and swiftly mopped up the tail as again Banbury’s opposition could not pass 100. On the day Tim Paine was the only batsman to master the conditions.
Banbury are joint top with Henley and High Wycombe. They travel to Harefield next week.
Scorecard: http://banbury.play-cricket.com/website/results/2330637