Cider fuelled scorer inspires back-to-back wins!
Windsor faced back to back away games as they travelled to newly promoted Gerrards Cross in search of another win.
Most of the team were once again late thanks to George Gould’s sat nav taking them on a tour of Buckinghamshire that spanned 3 different motorways. As per the previous week Windsor were looking forward to batting on a Premier league quality wicket and after Weston won his third toss in a row he had no hesitation in electing to bat first.
Despite playing over 100 first team games together, Weston and Nichols had never actually opened the batting together, so with Madley unavailable it was time to change things up and send the 2 Aussies out to open the innings for the first time. The new pair survived some quality bowling in the first 5-10 overs, Nichols looked in very good touch as he raced to 40 at better than a run a ball. Weston played a more patient role until spin was introduced, 2 lovely covers drives to the boundary were followed by a bizarre sweep through third slip and then, whilst attempting to repeat the shot, he gloved a ball to the keeper to be out for 30. Windsor was off to a perfect start 90/1 off 20 overs. George Gould making his return to the first team then joined Nichols at the crease as the Gerrards Cross spinners put the brakes on the Windsor run rate. Nichols brought up a well-deserved 50 before falling victim to the leg spin of GC’s overseas player, his job of setting up the innings had been well and truly done as Windsor were very well placed to post a 250+ score at 130/2 with 20 overs remaining. To their credit the Gerrards Cross spinners bowled very well over the next 10 overs, Huggins could not repeat his previous week heroics and was out LBW for only 7, Lines played a poor shot and was caught at mid-on for 6 and Malik played an even worse shot which resulted in him being caught on the square leg fence for 7. These dismissals swung the game back on an even keel as Harry Jordan joined Gould at the crease at 150/5. The 2 youngest members of the side then showed their older counter parts just how to bat in the middle overs, hitting the ball along the ground into gaps and putting pressure on the opposition fielders with aggressive running. Their 39 run partnership was crucial to the cause and it allowed Windsor to post what was thought to be a par score of 217/9 off 52 overs. Gould finished as top scorer in his comeback game with 61.
Malik and Nichols again took the new ball with the knowledge that the GC overseas had struck a ton the week before and would be a real danger. The GC batters got on top of the Windsor pair in the first 5 overs and had raced to 32/0 when Nichols turned the match with a brilliant over removing the GC overseas and number 3 batsman in the space of 4 balls, 2 overs later he also knocked over the GC number 4 bat and Windsor were well and truly in control. GC fought back hard as their stand in skipper continually slogged balls through cow corner which required some unusual field placements to counter. Mohindru came into the attack and made scoring difficult for GC which saw the required rate approach a run a ball at drinks. Adam Allen-Turner produced another fine piece of fielding with a direct hit run out from mid-on to give Windsor their 4th wicket, Mohindru snapped up another one shortly after which left GC needing around 70 off the final 10 overs with 4 wickets in hand. For a brief period it looked like GC might ruin Windsor’s day as some lusty blows comfortably cleared the short leg side boundary and disappeared out of the ground. Mohindru’s second wicket was vital as he bowled the GC skipper for 56, Chana then claimed the equally important wicket of the GC number 7 bat for 51 courtesy of a well-judged catch by Nichols at backward point. Malik returned to blast out the tail, and despite a Benny Hill moment involving Mohindru and Huggins attempting to run out the GC number 11, Windsor claimed the 25 point win in the 99th over of the day, much to the delight of the scorer who had drank the GC bar dry of no less than 5 different types of cider during the day.
Two 25 point wins on the trot for Windsor sees them rocket up to 3rd in the league. They were made to work a bit harder this time around and the middle order collapse was also a little worrying for the skipper. But team spirit is high as the focus turns to the following fixture against North Maidenhead and their newly recruited player/coach who is a former England test match player
Match Highlights
Gould 61, Nichols 55, Weston 30
Nichols-Weston 1st wkt partnership 90
Gould-Jordan 6th wkt partnership 39
Nichols 12/4/35/3, Malik 13.4/2/36/3, Mohindru 14/1/62/2
Lewdog 17 bottles of Cider
