MATCH REPORT BY NEIL MEGSON
Oh my word, what a start to the NEW cricket season, last night the Banbury Veterans side in beating Kingston Bagpuize became County Indoor Champions!
We now go forward to represent the County in the National competition early next year...an absolutely stunning effort.
As you know, the team was formed 9 years ago for frankly an excuse to have a beer and curry in the off season... last night's win straight out of a 'Fairytale'... Hans Christian Anderson, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, Charles Perrault, Carlo Collodi, Andrew Lang and dear old Madame d'Aulnoy couldn't have scripted it any better...
We batted and at 20-1 from 3 overs, it was a conservative start... Kingston's former Banbury opening bowler Simon Launder just brilliant.. his 3 overs yielding 1-15... but we didn't panic as our fairytale characters all stood up to be counted. I'm trying to thinl who they would all be in the said tails... who was our Rumpelstiltskin, our Big Bad Wolf, did we have a Tom Thumb, we definitely had a Beast and of course a Peter Pan...
After a steady start our skipper Ed Phillips, of course Ed would be Prince Charming, retired on 25, big Dan Milligan also retired on 25... Dan returned to finish 49no in a match winning hit, ably assisted by Rich Murrey who made 21no - we ended on a slightly above par 126-3
Good bowling by Ollie Murrey and James Risbridger as we started well, a Phillips/Steve Beck run out had us well placed... we were a bit rusty in the field as Kingston got back into the game mid innings. A loose over from Dan and a couple of Kingston retirements and it was game on, however the Murrey brothers and Ris all bowled superbly at the death as Kingston finished on 120-5.
A truly remarkable performance by the boys, it really was. Lets hope it's the first of a whole bunch of silverware for the club this season.
We then as we have done for 9 years adjourned to the pub, supping in the same establishment one Oliver Cromwell did in the Civil War, then off to the Mogal for a brilliant feed. There was still time for Ed and Ris to show Father Christmas the trophy in Banbury's very own grotto!
Finally, a word of thanks to Dave, Richard, Bob, Chris and Dennis who at short notice managed to sort the hall, officials, scorer... it's so much appreciated! The Banbury Indoor League is without doubt the best organised cricket competition in the County, thanks fellas!
See you all next year, and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone...