Banbury continued their recent fine form with a comprehensive nine wicket win against newly promoted North Mymms. The Hertfordshire side won the toss and elected to bat on a day threatened by heavy showers, but it wasn’t long before Banbury made inroads into the home teams’ top order.
Simon Launder and Ollie Murray bowled magnificently in tandem with each other for the first 20 overs of the innings reducing the home side to 26 for 5. Murray picking up four wickets in a spell of 4 for 18, although Launder bowled equally as well, picking up the other wicket whilst only conceding eight runs. North Mymms’ batsmen had no answer to the control and discipline that Banbury displayed, their top five only mustering 15 runs between them.
It was John Wolstenholme who then continued the rout for Banbury knocking over Bamford, Canagasabey and Mahoney in a six over spell of 3 for 17.
At 50 for 8 the home side looked dead and buried and an early afternoon finish was on the cards but Wendell Roberts (45), the Leeward Islands paceman and Black (22 not out), the North Mymms wicketkeeper had different ideas and batted sensibly for 20 overs to frustrate Banbury’s attack. They took the score to 97 with Roberts playing the attacking role and Black the restrained one and Banbury found it difficult to penetrate the pair and a good pitch.
It was the introduction of Jimmy Phillips (2 for 5) that broke the deadlock trapping the West Indian LBW, not offering a shot to his arm-ball. Phillips wrapped the innings up by having Duggan caught by Simon Launder. The home side finally all out for 109.
Banbury’s reply started cautiously with Paul Taylor and Mark Rorich facing the barrage from Roberts and left-arm seamer Mahoney. Roberts bowled with pace and aggression but lacked the control that was shown earlier by Banbury. Rorich survived a confident caught behind appeal off Roberts and then, whilst turning twisted his ankle necessitating a runner for the Banbury opener.
The opening pair began scoring with relative ease as the North Mymms bowlers began to tire. The fifty partnership came up in the 13 over of the innings. Rorich (22) was the only wicket to fall off the bowling of leg spinner, Canagasabey, unluckily playing on. At this point the score had reached 78 off 21 overs.
With only 32 required Craig Haupt came in played aggressively hitting Duggan, the North Mymms left arm spinner for one almighty six. He finished the match off with another six off Canagasabey to reach 18 not out off only 10 balls. Taylor fished with 48 not out which include one six and 6 fours in what proved to be an emphatic win. It was an all-round professional performance from Banbury but the bowling this weekend was particular outstanding.
Banbury stay at the top of the table with the twenty five points gained out of this victory and look forward to the visit of High Wycombe to Whitepost Road next Saturday.