Match report by Gillian Taylor
A young Banbury Ladies team, without most of their regulars (due to injuries, university & a honeymoon), started their season with a comprehensive 8 wicket victory against Great Horwood at Horton View on Sunday.
Banbury captain Gillian Taylor won the toss on a very windy day and decided to put Great Horwood into bat whose opening pair batted well in an stand of 72 despite the good bowling in particular from Cloe Hill and Jenny Csecs. The breakthrough finally came when Tamsin Dolamore induced the young Horwood opener to offer a catch that was smartly taken by Gillian at silly mid on, and two balls later the second wicket fell as Tamsin clean bowled the no 3 batsman for a duck. The variety of bowlers used by Banbury did not allow Great Horwood’s batsman the chance to settle and an excellent catch by Megan Woodruff off the bowling of Chloe Hill in the covers got rid of the dangerous Horwood opener, Elison. Spirited fielding (Mark and Zoe would have been pleased with the number of runs saved by long barriers) restricted the Great Horwood middle order, Jenny and Tracy were well voiced in their encouragement as further wickets were taken by Lauren Caiger and Chloe Whinmill, so the Great Horwood innings closed at 120 – 5.
Special mention needs to be made of Louise Tremlett who kept the wicket with great skill throughout the 30 overs, in very difficult circumstances when she undoubtedly saved a great number of extras off windy wides.
Banbury bowling – Jenny C 6-0-24-0, Chloe H 5-0-16-1, Tamsin D 4-0-22-2, Tracy C 1-0-1-0, Lauren C 4-0-10-1, Harriet W 6-0-20-0, Chloe W 2-0-7-1, Megan W 2-0-11-0
A challenging total therefore for the Banbury openers Jenny and Gillian but other than one or two minor scares with running (calling) both looked comfortable at the crease and were clearly enjoying being in partnership again. Drinks came with the score 78 – 0 but immediately after the break Jenny was clean bowled for a well crafted 15. Harriet Whinmill, a guest player for the day, joined Gillian at the crease and immediately took the attack to the opposition including taking three 4’s off one over. Gillian reached a richly deserved 50 with a 4 over extra cover before being unluckily out when she played on from outside the off stump for 52. Louise came in at 4 and she and Harriet secured the winning runs with 5 overs to spare. Harriet finishing 28 not out.
Banbury’s batting – Gillian T 52 (6 x 4’s 2 x 2’s), Jenny C 15 (1×4), Harriet W 28 NO (5 x 4’s 1 x 2), Louise T 1 NO
All in all an excellent team performance played in very good spirit despite the difficulties of the wind. Thanks to Dave (Gillians fiancé) and Dave (Tracy’s hubby) for umpiring and scoring. Thanks to all the supporters and the lovely men and ladies who prepared and served the teas.