Battling Windsor pipped by Kidmore End

Windsor 214-7 (Birch 52*, Hill 52*)
Kidmore End 216-5 (Smith 56-4)

The sun shone down for the first time this season as Windsor made the long trip to early league pace setters Kidmore End. Winning the toss Windsor batted first and Paul Huggins and Kevin Condon set about the task of building a big score and after a steady start then stuttered somewhat to 29-2 with only Dave Ritchies looking comfortable against the accurate attack playing some confident shots around the ground moving the score along. Looking steady at 72-3 Windsor were then shell-shocked when a mini collapse saw Ritchies depart for 32 together with Noble, Bullock and Sawyer and at 96-7 they were in dire straights. However, a monumental effort by Oliver Birch and the in form Alex Hill at times drove and plundered Windsor out of trouble with some confident, aggressive batting as the Kidmore attack tired in the heat. Both made use of the lightening outfield and quick running to move Windsor past the 200 mark and both received warm applause from their teammates in the final over as the both achieved their half centuries, Birch from the final ball of the innings with a blistering 4 through extra cover setting Kidmore End a difficult 215 to win.

Hill didn’t have much time to relax however as he opened the bowling with Chris Edge and both were unlucky not to make early inroads with some perilously close LBW shouts not given and some streaky shots by the openers. A double change tightened the screw as Abe Smith combined with Oliver Birch and although Birch did not have much luck and was replaced by leg spinner Chris Kellard the run rate began to creep to over 5 an over for Kidmore. The breakthrough came from Abe Smith with Bullock taking a smart catch and then trapping Smith in front LBW and with two new batsmen at the crease Windsor look to take the game to Kidmore. Keeping the spinners on a few half chances went begging with catches dropping short of fielders and a few stumping opportunities missed. The turning point of the game however came with 12 overs to go and Kidmore requiring 70 to win. Off the same Chris Kellard over, Dave Ritchies couldn’t hold on to a difficult chance off Sheldon and a strike from Roy fell inches short of Alex Hill at Long off. Had both been removed in that over Windsor would have been in the box seat however both then set about the bowling hitting the unlucky Kellard out of the attack and bringing the run rate back down. After completing his 50 Sheldon was eventually caught off Smith who then bowled Butler to prove there was still something left in the match. A wicket by James Sawyer saw Windsor claim another bowling point but with West Indian Roy still in and playing shots Kidmore were relieved to reach the target in the penultimate over.

Windsor

Huggins Ct Rathmore Jones 26
Condon Bowled Sheldon 10
Smith Ct New Sheldon 10
Richies Ct Moore Jones 32
Bullock C+B Sheldon 4
Noble C Smith Sheldon 4
Sawyer Bowled Sheldon 9
Birch Not Out 52
Hill Not Out 50

Extras 17
Total 214-7

Kidmore End

Waldron Ct Richies Smith 46
Smith LBW Smith 36
Sheldon C Bullock Smith 51
Roy Not Out 51
Butler Bowled Smith 6
D.New LBW Sawyer 4
P.New Not Out 4

Extras 18
Total 216-5

Windsor Bowling

Edge 6-0-20-0
Hill 6-2-21-0
Smith 17.3-3-56-4
Birch 3-0-21-0
Kellard 11-0-65-0
Sawyer 3-0-18-1