On a unusually windy day at White Post Road, Banbury faced the recently relegated Challow. Having won the toss on a dry looking wicket, Banbury elected to bat first and have the best of conditions.
Sabin and Cheshire were the usual opening pair, and once again they set a good platform for the innings. Cheshire was dominant in the initial overs, and with only a few overs gone, Challow had 3 people on the boundry to exploit the hook and pull. (This ploy failed)
Sabin then decided he needed to catch up, and manipulated the strick for almost 5 overs, where he did overtake Cheshire. The pair put on 108 in 21 overs before Sabin was caught behind off Dimbylow for 42. Nathaniel Gregory was then out next ball LBW. Chris Smith faced the hatrick ball, but was never in danger.
Smith and Cheshire then put on 102 for the 3rd wicket, mainly in singles, as Challow had the field well spread. Smith was then dismissed by possibly the ball of the day, bowled by Gordon for 41. This left the score 218-3 off 40 overs.
Beck joined Cheshire at the crease, but almost straight away, Cheshire was stumped for a chanceless 123 off 104 balls. The first 50 off 42 and second 50 off 37 balls. This included 3 six’s and 13 fours.
There were few partnerships of note then, as people came and went trying to score quickly on a slow wicket. The only other significant contributions came from Beck 30 and Megson 16.
Challows reply was blown out light candles in the wind, as 3 wickets went down for no runs in the first 7 deliveries, two for Ed Smith (8-1-37-3) and one for Josh Megson (5-2-15-1). Smith then picked up his 3rd wicket to leave Challow 27-4.
Olly Murrey (7-0-50-3) then joined the party, using his low centre of gravity to power through the wind (Megson was not quite strong enough yet, he will learn!) His overs proved highly entertaining, as they were trying to hit every ball out of the park, and most were just evaiding fielders. After his spell, Challow were now 65-7.
The 4 spinners were then bought in and out of the attack, and with men around the bat, and a variety of deliveries, the score rattled along, but wickets fell. Jamie Coles (4-1-13-1) and Paul Hill (2.2-0-9-1) picked up the wickets.
The final wicket came as a result of a pulled hamstring going for 2, and the batsman was left stranded half way down the wicket. Challow were finally all out for 171.
Banbury 25 Challow 5