Luke Ryan continued his dream start to the season as he propelled Banbury to 2nd in the HCPL table. Ryan’s 6-65 took him to an incredible 30 wickets after 6 matches. His performances have been an invaluable constant for Banbury who have been hit by a raft of injuries this season.
Banbury lost the toss and found themselves in the field, they were without opening bowler Luke Radford who is a long term absentee with a back injury. However unseasonably dry weather had led to a pitch more suited to spin bowling and Ed Smith and Ashley Blanchard were replaced after two overs each by Ryan and debutant Josh Hill. Neither could prevent a useful opening stand of 53 from Stortford pair Akram and Hughes.
Indeed early progress was good for the visitors and despite JCR West (2-41) dismissing both openers, Eddie Ballard (60) and Dan Blacktopp (50) moved the score on to 137, before the later was removed by a direct hit run out from Shahbaz Ali. With Banbury’s reshuffled bowling attack struggling for rhythm before lunch Stortford looked set for a score way above par on the dry pitch. However the return of Ashley Blanchard and his subsequent removal of the patient Ballard sparked a collapse. Ryan took 6 of the last 7 wickets which fell for just 32 runs, the left arm spinner’s post lunch figures were 15-4-21-6.
Stortford’s 202 still looked a competitive score, even in the 57 overs Banbury had available, but after rain robbed them of 17 overs, the task looked a stiff one, even if Stortford were also missing a few bowlers due to injury.
After Banbury lost Captain Ian Hawtin (11), deputising at the top of the order for the injured Nathan Hawkes, Lloyd Sabin (44) and Craig Haupt (50) both looked fluent and scored at close to a run a ball setting up a platform for the shortened chase. However both fell to spinner Simon Lindrop (5-81), who sparked a middle order collapse and soon Banbury were struggling at 152-7. Luke Ryan was at the crease on 9, but the arrival of Ollie Wright changed the tempo of the innings and reversed Banbury’s slide. Wright hit both sides of the wicket in a 16 ball 22, part of a 40 run partnership with Ryan (24*) who remained at the crease and deservedly hit the winning runs with 2 wickets and 8 balls in hand.
Scorecard here: BCC v Bishops Stortford