Banbury’s 2nd XI got their Cherwell Leagues campaign off to a winning start over local rivals Great Tew. Great Tew won the toss and elected to bowl on which looked a damp and slightly green wicket.
Great Tew must have been confident after two wins in the village knock out whilst the Banbury players had not played for a couple of weeks due to the weather.
Andrew Sabin and Ian Tew opened the batting and looked to be positive against the Tew opening bowlers. Ian Tew (21) was unluckily bowled after playing a forward defensive, only to see the ball hit the stumps and dislodge the bail. Captain Ally Jarvis came in at number 3 and continued to take the attack to the bowlers. Great Tew took the pace off the ball with the introduction of spinners captain Kevin Taylor and their overseas player Mark James. Sabin (30) and Jarvis added 60 before Sabin was out C & B by James. Taylor claimed his first wicket of Jarvis (41), who went on to finish the game with 5 –31 off 14 overs.
Banbury rallied towards the end to finish on 177 all out in the 48th over.
Banbury took the old ball and opened with Ollie Murrey and 19-year-old spinner Chris Board. Tew started in positive fashion with a quick fire-opening stand of 26 (Powells 16) and then Banbury replied well leaving Great Tew 37 for 6. Chris Board taking 4 of the 6 wickets to fall. James and Brock added 23 for the 7th wicket, before Brock was out LBW trying to sweep Murrey. Banbury took the new ball needing only two wickets for victory and with the first ball Murray was in the act again having James caught by Board for 19. Murrey finished the innings by knocking down Widdows middle stumps to claim his 6th wicket of the innings. Ollie Murrey took 6- 43 from 15.1 overs and Chris Board 4-39 from 13 overs.
Ollie Murrey had to redeem himself after earlier running out Armstrong, with Armstrong stranded in the middle of the wicket as Ollie said “sorry mate”!!! as he ran past.
Banbury won by 92 runs and take on Witney Mills at White Post Road on Saturday, 1:30 start.
Banbury Innings
A Sabin C & B James 30
I Tew Bowled Freeman 21
A Jarvis C & B Taylor 41
C Board LBW Taylor 9
O Murrey C: Myatt Taylor 21
S Armstrong Run Out 6
E Phillips LBW Taylor 11
S Gunderson C & B James 2
Megson Run Out 3
Adams C & B Taylor 11
Webb Not Out 0 Extras 22
Total 177
O M R W
Myatt 7 1 22 0
Brock 4 0 18 0
Freeman 5 0 24 1
James 15.2 4 45 2
Taylor 14 5 31 5
Great Tew Innings
Powells LBW Board 16
Young Megson Murrey 7
Parker Phillips Board 2
McCullum Armstrong Board 5
Freeman LBW Murrey 0
Taylor Megson Murrey 6
Murrey Board 1
James Board Murrey 19
Brock LBW Murrey 16
Widdows Murrey 0
Myatt Not 3 Extras 13
Total 85
O M R W
Murrey 15.1 2 43 6
Board 13 4 39 4
Adams 1 2 0