Chris Smith stared in Banburys opening league victory again newly promoted Great Brickhill.
On a humid day, the home side won the toss and elected to field, which looked a good decision as the ball was swinging miles and beating the outside edge frequently, but the game changed in the 5th over when Sam Cheshire hooked the ball for 6 out of the ground. The replacement ball did not offer the same movement, and he proceeded to his 30 off the next 7 balls.
At the other end Andrew Sabin had just been caught at gully for 4. Cheshire was out shortly after for a destructive 43 off 27 balls. This brought together Ed Phillips and Chris Smith who produced the most significant and highest quality partnership of the day (131). Phillips reached his well deserved 50 1’st off 63 balls, and continued on with aggresion before finally being caught for 84 off 92 balls.
Steve Beck joined Smith at the crease and it was not long before Smith passed his 50 (79 balls). The pair put on a further 41 in 6 overs before Beck softly chipped on back to the bowler. This left Banbury 224-4 with 11 overs remaining.
Nathaniel Gregory and Smith continued with the good run rate, and the partnerhip of 77 left Banbury on 301-5 when they declared after 52 overs.
The back bone of the innings was Chris Smith who finished unbeated on 109 of 136 balls which contained 16 fours and 1 six.
Brickhill were never able to cope with the pace and bounce that the Banbury openers Ed Smith and Josh Megson were extracting from the pitch. Megson (7-0-36-3) ripped through the top order with a combination of goog bowling and a little fortune to leave them at 25-3. Ed Smith (9-2-28-1) finally got his deserved wicket in his last over trapping the dangerous De Beer LBW.
Jamie Coles (11-1-49-1) soon struck with his slow left arm spin, which left Brickhill with no chance of victory at 75-5. This brough in the only Brickhill batman who offered any real resistance Andy Ward (57).
The other batsmen were stuggling with the pace and accuracy of Olly Wright (8-1-34-2). he was extra motivated due to his girlfiends party which he was desperate to bet back for!! Josh Hill (6-2-13-0)then replaced Wright, but the batmen were intent on just blocking him out.
Getting the final wickets was proving frustrating, espacially as the umpires would not allow the pace men back on due to bad light.
Chris Smith (4.5-1-26-3) then struck in his 1st over, and with men around the bat the presure was building. P Hastings came in and played aggresively, hitting 32 off 25 balls, but Smith was targeting the other end, and he finally removed the last two batsmen having them bith caught at slip. The last with only 2 overs remaining. Brickhill finished 193 all out.
Banbury ended up 108 run victors.