Callum Taylor produced a match winning display as Banbury 2nd XI beat Abingdon Vale 1st XI by 5 wickets. Banbury got back to winning ways following last weeks winning draw against Kingston Bagpuise.
After winning the toss Banbury elected to field, backing themselves to contain Abingdon Val and the chase their total down. Banbury started well claiming wickets at regular intervals leaving Abingdon Vale 35 for 3 and then 48 for 4. Callum Taylor, playing his first games for the 2nd XI after coming down for m the 1st team claiming three of the four wickets. Young Northants bowler Ashley Blanchard claimed the forth wicket, the pair bowled really well in partnership putting pressure on the home team.
Ed Tilly and Paul Lemon produced a fifth wicket stand of 48, Chris Board had Lemon caught for 23 to break the partnership. Taylor bagged another wicket before Tilly completed his half-century but not without a bit of luck as he was given not out by the umpire from a Neil Megson stumping, later the batsman admitted he was out.
Abingdon’s lower order rallied but Callum Taylor took the wicket of White to claim his fifth victim of the innings. Abingdon Vale scored 197 – 9 from 50 overs. Callum Taylor the pick of the bowlers taking 5 for 54 from 17 overs.
Eddie Phillips opened the batting in Ian Tew’s absence with Andrew Sabin. The pair made a watchful start as Abingdon opened the bowling with spinner Paul White and seam bowler
Dave Hartly. White bowled Eddie Phillips after playing a defensive shot only to see the ball role back to dislodge the bail. Ally Jarvis and Andrew Sabin continued to chase Abingdon Vale’s total and the pair had put on 48 for the second wicket before Andrew Sabin fell LBW to Hartly for 24. Callum Taylor then joined Ally Jarvis at the crease and the pair had a partnership of 38 before Jarvis was caught in the covers of the bowling of Humpage for 43. Abingdon claimed a couple of quick wickets and Banbury were 128 for 5.
Former 2nd team captain Julian Briggs batted sensibly and supported Taylor well to edge Banbury closer to their target of 198. Taylor went on to complete his half-century with his eighth four of his innings. With Banbury needing 36 from 8 overs Banbury had paced their innings well. Briggs then hit a couple of lust blows as he took a like to Griffins medium pacers, whilst Taylor was play playing the anchor role. It was fitting that Callum Taylor hit the winning runs to round off a superb individual performance. The pair produced a match winning partnership, the pair putting on an unbroken stand of 70.
Abingdon Vale
B Humpage B: Taylor 11
C Griffin Ct: Sabin B: Taylor 1
J Cook Ct: Sabin B: Blanchard 8
E Tilly B: Shah 67
M Chawn Ct: Jarvis B: Taylor 8
P Lemon Ct: Jarvis B: Board 23
P Edwards Ct: Phillips B: Board 15
P Walding Not out 22
T Allen LBW B: Taylor 0
P White Ct: Board B: Taylor 14
D Hartley Not Out 0 Extras: 28
Total 197 –9
O M R W
C Taylor 17 5 54 5
A Blanchard 6 1 16 1
A Shah 18 2 76 1
C Board 9 0 39 2
Banbury
A Sabin LBW B: Hartley 24
E Phillips B: White 8
A Jarvis Ct: Tilly B: Humpage 43
C Taylor Not Out 60
C Board Ct: Griffin B: Humpage 9
M Haupt LBW B: Humpage 9
Ju Briggs Not out 41 Extras: 4
Total 198 – 5
O M R W
D Hartly 21 2 82 2
P White 8 0 37 1
Humpage 17 2 54 2
Griffin 3.3 0 20 0