After white post road being under water Friday morning, the prospects of a game were looking bleak. But Gary Armstrong and his team put in a sterling effort to get the ground ready. The outfield was slightly damp, and the wicket a little soft, but looking at the scores around the leagues it was probably the best wicket of the day.
Having won the toss Banbury elected to field, and try to exploit the moisture in the wicket. But, it was the movement in the air that the two boys from the south of France (Brooksy and Olly) produced that caused Challow problems.
The first 7 overs were pretty uneventful, with Challow moving on to 18-0. But, it seemed the two bowlers needed this long to loosen up and clear away the excesses of the week.
In the 8th over Olly Murrey dismissed both Jimmy Phillips and B Jones, Challows two main batsmen. And in the following over, Richard Brooks dismissed N Meadows and R Owen. So the score was now 22-4 from 9. It got worse for Challow in the 12th over when Murrey dismissed S Burry to leave them 31-5.
Progress was slow as the two seamers bowled consistent line and length, and it took until the 21st over for another wicket to fall. Brooks had I Deamin caught behind off a thin edge for 14. Brooks struck again in the 23rd over, when he removed A Lynch for a 27 ball 2, once again caught by Megson.
The pair were struggling now, but both smelling a 5 wicket haul wanted to keep bowling, but finally after 15 overs each, a change was made and Hill replaced Murrey and Brooks was about to be removed from the attack. With this came added incentive and Brooks got his 5th wicket of the game trapping O Dimbylow LBW for 24. Brooks bagged his 6th in his 18 over. But had to finally call it a day after 19, as all energy had gone.
At the other end, Hill was bowling tidy, but not looking threatening, so Murrey was re-introduced into the attack, and with his second ball removed M Podbery for 12. Challow finishes 90 all out in 39.2 overs.
R Brooks 19-6-36-6
O Murrey 15.2-5-44-4
Banburys reply was steady, as the openers ticked along at 3 an over, the unfortunate A Sabin was adjudged LBW for 12 in the 9th over. Marc Rorich(32) and Lloyd Sabin(20) then put on 39 for the 2nd wicket to take the score to 66, and vertually secure the victory for Banbury. A couple of late wickets fell, but Simon Hole saw banbury home with a composed 15no.
Banbury finished 93-3 off 30.3 overs.
Banbury 25
Challow 3