Chenies & Latimer CC 85 All Out (34.2 overs) Jones 4-39, Bean 2-25, Caldow 2-12
Windsor CC 86-1 (26.4 overs) Haynes 51*, Dawson 21*
Windsor 3rd XI started their TVL campaign in style on Saturday with an emphatic 9 wicket win over Chenies & Latimer 2nd XI.
Having lost the toss, Windsor were asked to field on a sunny but breezy day at the Home Park and it wasn’t long before new ball pairing of Griff Jones and Dean Bean began moving the ball through the air. In the 6th over, after being struck for a couple of delightful boundaries, Jones produced the perfect comeback with a superb inswinger that took the top of off to leave Chenies 10-1. Worse was to follow for the visitors as a couple of run outs in quick succession, the first following a tidy peice of work from Alex Haynes and the second after Jones managed to deflect a full blooded drive back onto the stumps, left Chenies reeling at 13-3. After Jones had picked up his second wicket with another unplayable inswinger, Dean Bean soon got into the act to bag himself a couple of wickets. With Chenies struggling at 31-6 after 20 overs Windsor continued to apply the pressure and were indebted to some high quality swing bowling from the Welsh-Bermudan pairing. Despite a mini recovery from Chenies, they were to find themselves in deep trouble at 64-8 as Jones added 2 more wickets to his tally thanks to an LBW and a smart steepling catch from new boy Ross Caldow. A break for Bean after 15 superb overs off the reel saw Caldow, a fine aquisition both on and off the field, intoduced into the attack and it wasn’t long before he got in on the act to knock over the tail as Chenies finally subsided for 85 All Out.
Windsor faced a tricky 15 overs before the tea interval and openers Kev Condon and fiery red head Alex Haynes showed that they were in no hurry to knock off the runs, both very watchful in the opening few overs. Condon fell attempting one big shot too many but at tea, with Windsor 41-1, they were well placed for victory. After the break Haynes, fresh from a superb century the week before, began to find his feet with some nice strokeplay. At the other end , Rob Dawson continued to be watchful as he looked to play himself back into touch. The partnership continued to develop and it wasn’t long before Windsor were on course to wrap up a win. There was just enough time for Haynes to bring up a deserved 50 and ensure that Windsor got home with time, and 9 wickets, to spare.
Skipper Richard Noble was understandably delighted after the game. “It was pretty much the ideal start from our point of view, all the boys were up for it today and I think that showed in our attitude in the field. The new ball pair were superb and if we can apply that same pressure every week we should do ok in this league”.
The next test will come at Yateley on Saturday as Windsor look to build on their impressive start to the season.
