Windsor 1st XI Vs Thatcham Town 1st XI

Saturday 28th May 2005

Thatcham Town 266-5 (51 Overs) Etteridge 78, Johnson 70, Denness 50
Windsor 227-6 (49 Overs) Bird 73, Thompson 50

After a disappointing wash out the week before Windsor took on Thatcham Town, a game that Windsor skipper Peter Thompson thought would be a very closely fought contest, he was not proved wrong!

Thompson lost the toss and as expected were asked to bowl on what looked like a very good batting track, this was proved to be the case, Justin Granger made an early break through but after this it proved to be very hard work for the bowlers as the batsmen found runs easy to come by. Neither the pace of Griffiths or Granger could make the next break through, with the class of Etteridge still at the crease Windsor needed a change, he then brought on the spin duo of Watkins and Mohindru. Both started to bowl very well with good discipline, this brought the required pressure and then wickets started to fall, Thatcham lost 4 quick wickets, it was then time for a fight back from Thatcham as they carefully negotiated the next 10 overs, the number 5 and 6 batsmen started to accumulate runs then let loose with an attack on the Windsor bowlers, Johnson the Thatcham skipper taking a special liking to Granger, Windsor could do nothing to stop the onslaught and Thatcham finished on 266-5, this may have looked like a massive total but Windsor knew the wicket was very good and that they had the batting to take up the challenge.

After the interval regular opening duo Bird and Thompson took to the task of getting Windsor off to a solid and steady start, which they did both playing very well and complementing each others style, Thompson the steady accumulator, with Bird being savage on any poor deliveries, after 25 overs they had put Windsor in the box seat putting on a opening stand of 116, Thompson was then trapped lbw for 50 and soon after Bird was caught for 73, this brought to the crease the flashing blades of Gould and Smith who took the attack to Thatcham both playing extremely well, the runs required reduced all the time and things looked to being going Windsor’s way until Gould played a rash shot and was bowled, then Granger went quickly with another rash shot, then Smith, and Watkins followed, with 6 wickets down, and 4 overs left the instruction went out to play out for the draw which Mahmud and Millman did very well.

Windsor finishing on 227 – 6

So a draw was the result, which was disappointing as Windsor were on course for a big win at one point. Once again thought the Windsor Vs Thatcham match up proved to be great game of cricket.