Banbury’s top three sides face Great and Little Tew this Saturday, while the 4ths visit Brackley. The 1st XI also take on Cove in the 1st round of the national T20 at home on Bank Holiday Monday – 2pm Start, on a busy day at White Post Road as the 1st XI game will be followed by an U15 fixture as we take on, again, Great and Little Tew! The 1st XI are awat at Tew on Saturday 12 noon start, while the 2nd XI are at home, 1pm start, bar from 12.
The talking point of the weekend is surely Tim Paine’s Banbury bow. He becomes the fourth test cricketer to represent Banbury joining David ‘Syd’ Lawrence, Neal Radford and Paul Taylor. The ‘Tassie’ born gloveman has been popular at training this fortnight, you can read more about his credentials here: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/7252.html
Lloyd Sabin also returns to the side this week off the back of a sensational double hundred in a 50 over match for Oxford Uni Academy vs their Cardiff counterparts. Paine and Sabin replace Ed Phillips (Oxfordshire Rugby) and Ian Tew (holiday).
The 1st XI won on Saturday, though they will hope for an improved performance this week against a Great Tew side who will provide stiff opposition. Half Centuries from Richard West and Luke Ryan, his second in as many weeks, helped Banbury to a total of 215-6 from their 45 overs last week. After the top order had again made starts, before being dismissed.
Great Brickhill have signed former Northamptonshire protégée Mark Nelson for the 2015 season. Very big things were hoped of Nelson at one time, and while he no longer bowls his seamers he showed he still has a great deal to offer with the bat. The burly left hander smashed 43, from 34 balls in 7 overs, before being bowled by a Richard West arm-ball. Had he batted for another 7 overs; who knows what may have happened?
West and Olly Wright gave Banbury a period of control where Brickhill sunk to 110-5. With the game seemingly won an untidiness crept into Banbury’s game which captain Ryan will be keen to stamp out. The Brickhill batsman skilfully made the most of some dropped chances and some loose deliveries to finish 201-8 as Banbury won by 14 runs.
Scorecard here: http://banbury.play-cricket.com/website/results/2548533
The following day saw six Banbury players on Oxfordshire duty (a 10 wicket win, Runs for Darby and wickets for Ryan and Penhale). This gave several promising youngsters a chance vs Market Harbrough in the 45 over National Knockout. Despite some good performances from the young players, Banbury went down in the last over.
Teenagers Will Briggs (43), Tom Bradbeer (28) and Olly Clarke (25) set the foundation for Banbury’s total of 183, though Banbury would rue collapsing from 150-3 and ending up all out with 7 balls of their innings unused.
Good bowling performances from all the Banbury bowlers took the game to the last over, but the Leicestershire Premier League side were good for their win. Another teenager Brad Taylor, claimed two wickets. The performances of these young players against Premier League opposition justify our decision to enter the competition despite knowing we are not likely to get even half our 1st XI on to the park.
Sunday’s score card here: http://banbury.play-cricket.com/website/results/2354901
The 2nd XI lost a good game to Wellesbourne on Saturday, Andrew Sabin making 75 in a good week for the family!