Windsor (218 –5, Birch 88)

bt Chalfont St Peter ( 171 all out)

Windsor comtinued their recent good Sunday form with a well earned victory over Chalfont St Peter. On a pitch which was as flat as the proverbial ironing board, Windsor batted and soon had the visitors on the back foot as Robert Noble and Oliver Birch ran well and put away the bad ball in a good opening stand. Birch in particular was impressive, and when Noble was removed in the 15th over for 22, Windsor had 81 on the board. Birch soon passed fifty and was looking good. Indeed it came of something of a surprise when he was bowled for a fine 88, with the innings only at the half way point. Chalfont’s spinners put the brakes on well, but Huggins (20) and Weston worked the ball around well to ensure Windsor would get up to 200 and beyond. When Weston fell for a well made 45, It was left to Ben Lickley(13*) and Richard Gregory to get Windsor to 218 –5 off their 40 overs. No more than par on a good surface.

In the early evening sunshine Chalfont were out of the blocks quickly, seizing on anything off line. Gregory in particular came in for some stick, and his replacement, off spinner Ben Harris, did little better initially, as the visitors put on an opening stand very to similar to Windsor earlier in the day. The breakthrough came from leg spinner Chris Kellard, who dismissed both openers in quick succession. When Usman Ahmed removed Chalfonts no. 3 things suddenly looked different at 92-3. Harris then picked a wicket and Kellard 2 more to completely change the game, which saw Chalfont struggling at 110-6. When Kellard picked up his 3rd wicket, in a fine spell of 32-4 off 8 overs, he secured his 200th senior wicket. A fine performance from a very promising young leg spinner. Windsor will hope that this is just the beginning, and that the sight of Chris Kellard wheeling away with his leg spin at Home Park will be seen for many years to come. With Chalfont now up against it, Adam Weston was introduced with his gun barrel line and length. This paid dividends as he picked up 3 wickets, to leave Chalfont 9 down for 171. Weston’s 3-30 added to a useful 45, made for a fine match for the Australian. Richard Gregory was then introduced and in his first over back bowled Chalfont’s no. 11 and Windsor had won a good victory by 47 runs.