Inch by inch.....

WINDSOR 2 201 (Millman 46)
BRACKNELL 162

After the disappointment of narrowly failing in a run chase the week before against rivals Slough, Windsor knew they had to go to top of the league Bracknell 1st XI and win to keep any chance of promotion alive this season. They saved the best performance and recorded their first 25 point win of the season in an absorbing game of cat and mouse that saw Windsor win in the penultimate over.

Losing the toss Windsor were asked to bat and were immediately on the back foot as Richard Noble edged opener Hayes to first slip. However, Tim Smith and Abdul Ashraf regrouped and motored along with the scoring. Smith in particular looking in good form as an early six over the long on boundary proved. The run rate was accelerating at 4 an over although when both fell in quick succession and Mark Huggins fell to an excellent catch at point Windsor were faltering at 86-5. Rob Dawson attempted the recovery but it was in-form Stuart Millman who looked the most comfortable scoring freely around the ground. As wickets steadily fell around him, he took the attack to Bracknell and key partnerships towards the end with Oliver Birch and Chris Edge saw Windsor within spitting distance of maximum batting points before he fell for 46, although Windsor did manage to get over the 200 mark in the final over to set Bracknell a challenging total.

Windsor knew that the key to Bracknell’s run chase would depend on getting 4b run machine Wes Kendrick and Captain John Kirkby out early. Although openers Mark Huggins and Warren Griffiths struggled for the first few overs both were fired up for the encounter, Huggins in particular finding some blistering pace which lead to him getting the breakthrough of Wendrick being cleaned bowled and their other opener trapped plumb in front LBW. Griffiths then upped his game and Tim Smith behind the stumps took a sharp chance and the game was alive. The introduction of Rahoul Mohindru turned the screw as Windsor came into the ascendancy and Chris Edge took two quick wickets to put Bracknell on the back foot. However the game swung in Windsor’s favour when Kirkby fell to a sharp stumping from Smith from Mohindruh’s bowling and Windsor knew they were in with a great chance of polishing off the tail. The reintroduction of Huggins saw him clean bowl Bracknells No.10 but vice captain Hiscoe was in no mood to give Windsor the points and with usual opener Hayes at the other end Windsor found it difficult break the final pair. However, with 2 overs to go Windsor reintroduced seamer Griffiths in an attempt to make the breakthrough. His first ball was wide, he then produced two full tosses, before bowling the ball of his life that completely squared Hayes up to take his off stump and wrap the game up for Windsor.

It was the second great game of cricket Windsor had played in two weeks and again another great advertisement for Bracknell who played hard but with a spirit, especially in defeat, that is a credit to themselves and their club. With one game to go Windsor need a victory in their final game against High Wycombe at the Home Park, and hope OMT or Bracknell fail to win of any kind, to gain promotion. Play starts at 12.30 – bring your brown trousers!

Disappointment for Windsor as run chase comes up short

Slough 172
Windsor 168-9 (Noble 65)

A dropped chance here, an overthrow there, lethargic fielding in some parts, a slow start, not turning ones into twos and failing to win with 8 runs required from 8 balls with four wickets in hand. All are factors which may haunt Windsor in the final analysis of the season, but although ultimately disappointed with the result, this was a great game of cricket, played hard between two great local rivals, but played with a spirit which has been lacking from league games in the past few weeks.

Winning the toss Windsor elected to field, attempting to continue the good form that had seen them unbeaten in 8 games. Once again Windsor openers Warren Griffiths and Chris Edge turned the screw on their opponents and after 10 overs Slough had managed to reach just 11-1. Slough captain Mark Shepard forced the run rate along with his vice captain Anil Kakara, providing the defensive foil. Moving the score past 60, seamer Griffiths struck twice in two overs to remove both batsman, and the game was on. The accurate Rahoul Mohindru kept things tight from one end as Slough attempted to regroup and despite a cameo innings from Slough batsman Iqbal, hitting an assured half century, good fielding actioning a couple of run outs meant that wickets fell regularly from then on, and in the final over attempting to reach the batting bonus point of 175, Stuart Millman removed the tail for what should have been a very gettable 172.

Opening with the accurate seamers Ghazi and Sheppard Slough emulated Windsors performance and kept things extremely tight against Windsor openers Abdul Ashraf and Richard Noble as both struggled to gain any momentum. With local star Micky Salmon waiting in the wings with his spin, after 19 overs Windsor had only progressed to 38-0 and suddenly the pressure was mounting. After Ashraf was caught hitting out at Salmon, Rob Dawson struggled to find momentum and the run rate continued to climb. Wickets fell steadily as batsman after batsman were forced to play attacking shots from the off in difficult conditions and with 10 overs to go Windsor need to score at over 7 an over. This became increasingly desperate as Smith, Noble, Bullock, Condon and Dawson all departed and with Stuart Millman and Oliver Birch at the crease, and requiring 40 from 5 overs, it was Windsor’s last throw of the dice. Both batted superbly with hard hitting and running getting Windsor’s requirement down to 8 runs from 8 balls. A run out on the final ball of the penultimate over saw Birch replaced by Mohindru but with Millman on strike it was still more than possible. However a single from the first ball exposed Mohindru and although 2 were taken off the next, he was unable to get any bat on the next two balls. 5 required, 2 balls remaining. It was imperative that Millman got back on strike and although Mohindru managed to get bat on the next ball it went straight to the fielder and the run out of Millman a formality. 5 required with one ball remaining saw captain Edge face the last ball and attempting a heave to Long on was bowled and the chase was over.

A draw was what either side were desperate to avoid as this almost ends Sloughs promotion hopes and with two games to go, means Windsor must win at all costs to leaders Bracknell next week to remain in the hunt.

AMERSHAM 107 (Edge 28-4)
WINDSOR 110-5

Catches win matches

A superb bowling and fielding display in which seven catches were held by Windsor on Saturday ensured another win over a young Amersham side in their quest for promotion from Division 4b.

Losing the toss, Amerham elected to bat first on a damp track which was ideally suited for Windsor seamers Warren Griffiths and Chris Edge and it wasn’t long before the pair were making inroads into the top order. Edge removed both openers with the help of Oliver Birch at square leg, first taking a regulation catch to remove Haddock but then a superb diving catch low down to dismiss the dangerous looking Langley. Warren Griffiths got in on the act with a sharp caught and bowled and Richard Endacott remained the calmest player on the pitch took a steepler at mid on to remove Weston. From then on Windsor bossed the game and Amersham could never get started. Both Griffiths and Edge remained miserly as they were superbly backed up in the field and with the introduction of Oliver Birch who immediately picked up a wicket, it then became a formality for the wicket stealing Stuart Millman to then come on, once again when all the hard work had been done, and mop up the tail, taking 2 wickets in his 1.4 overs to dismiss Amersham for 107.

Another early dismissal of a side meant another tricky 18 overs to negotiate before tea and Windsor saw this through with just the dismissal of Abdul Ashraf. However sensible innings by Richard Noble, Rob Dawson and Richard Charters had seen Windsor to the brink of victory at 98-2 when they were visited by their old friend the ‘Windsor Wobble’. Making it’s first appearance of the season Windsor managed to slip to 100-5 making some of Amersham’s young players over react with some colourful language especially at the fall of Richard Charters wicket. The art of sledging however, somehow seem lost in the youngsters as being bowled for 107, on the brink of defeat and attempting to sledge a player who quite literally has scored more league runs at first XI level than they have had hot dinners will ultimately make you look foolish. They were not as vocal the next over as Tim Smith cracked a six and a four to wrap up the game for Windsor.

With OMT’s and Slough slipping up Windsor now move into the promotion places. They now have two massive games against Slough and then current leaders Bracknell to negotiate. It looks like it is going to be a grandstand finish to the summer. Hold onto your hats!

Amersham
Langley Ct Birch Edge 6
Haddock Ct Birch Edge 7
Weston Ct Endacott Griffiths 13
Kilgannon Ct Griffiths Griffiths 10
Aylott Ct Millman Edge 4
Barker Ct Charters Birch 13
Adams Ct Birch Edge 0
Toates Bowled Millman 19
Holt Run Out 7
Holloway Not Out 0
Sidebottom Bowled Millman 0

Extras 23
Total 107


Windsor Bowling Overs Maidens Runs Wickets
Edge 18 5 28 4
Griffiths 13 3 34 2
Birch 4 0 18 1
Millman 1.4 0 15 2
Endacott 1 0 1 0

Windsor
A. Ashraf LBW Holloway 9
R.E. Noble Run Out 29
R. Dawson Run Out 31
R. Charters Bowled Toates 22
T. Bullock Bowled Toates 0
T. Smith Not Out 0
S. Millman Not Out 0
Extras 9
Total 110-5

Windsor winning run continues

Chalfont St Peter 129 (Millman 17-4,)
Windsor 130-2 (Ashraf 58*)

Windsor completed their sixth straight win in another comprehensive win over Chalfont St Peter. Losing the toss Windsor were asked to field and as so often has occurred this season, Chris Edge and Warren Griffiths worked superbly in partnership as they removed both openers early and turned the screw on Chalfont with them reeling at 16-2 after ten overs. The heat was clearly getting to Chalfont batsman Hewson who after playing and missing at series of balls attempted to ‘talk-the-talk’ to seamer Warren Griffiths. However in the next over he clearly couldn’t ‘walk-the-walk’ as Griffiths effortlessly dislodged his middle stump.

The introduction of Oliver Birch brought two wickets with two balls in his first over with Cartledge playing a ‘hit-out-before-I-get-out’ innings caught low down by Smith and then Raza, considering his sides perilous position decided to hit out from ball one, and only succeeded in presenting a dolly to Richard Charters at Mid-on.

Stuart Millman turned the screw as Chalfont captain Peters and Laubster attempted to rebuild the innings from 89-6. 18 overs later of dour cricket saw them crawl to 113 and once Peters picked out Alex Hill at cover, Chalfonts tail end did the decent thing and rolled over with Millman dismissing the final 3 batsman in the same over to see Chalfont all out for 129.

As innings had finished too early for tea, Windsor had to negotiate a tricky 15 overs before the break and under orders not to lose any wickets the opening pair of Richard Noble and Abdul Ashraf completed their job to see Windsor to 27-0. After tea the steady start continued and it looked as though Windsor would complete a 10 wicket win however, Noble presented a caught and bowled back to Raza and Tim Smith after hitting a quickfire 25 including a six and 3 fours was undone again by Raza. It was left to Abdul Ashraf, competing a deserved unbeaten half century and Rob Dawson to see Windsor home and enjoy the rest of the afternoon sunshine.

The season now comes down to the nitty gritty with 4 games to go 4 sides are all in with a shout of promotion. Each game is critical now and the outcome for Windsor will depend if they can stay injury free and continue the good form that has elevated them to third place.

Chalfont St Peter
Ali Bowled Griffiths 7
Braithwaite LBW Edge 6
Stevenson Bowled Edge 18
Hewson Bowled Griffiths 23
Cartledge Ct Smith Birch 21
Peters Ct Hill Millman 24
Raza Ct Charters Birch 0
Moxall Bowled Millman 1
Laubser Bowled Millman 8
Latts Bowled Millman 0
Lindsay Not Out 0

Extras 21
Total 129
Windsor Bowling Overs Maidens Runs Wickets
Edge 14 2 49 2
Griffiths 13 4 33 2
Birch 8 4 20 2
Millman 8 2 17 4


Windsor
A. Ashraf Not Out 58
R.E. Noble Ct Raza 23
Smith Bowled Raza 25
Dawson Not Out 7
Extras 16
Total 130-2

Windsor continue to turn the screw

Kidmore End 224-9 (Sullivan 106, Birch 32-6)
Windsor 225-2 (Huggins 83*, Smith 71*)
The race for promotion continues to get closer and closer as Windsor turned in another dominant display against the League whipping boys Kidmore End. Having been asked to field on a scorcher of day at the Home Park, Windsor were under pressure from the first over as newly arrived Australian Sullivan pulled Chris Edge for 6 and you sensed that this boy could bat. He certainly could and aided by Pigden and Bishri riding their luck with a few close LBW and caught behind shouts Sullivan began to compile a big innings as Kidmore moved to a commanding 196-4 with ten overs remaining. However, the turning point of the game came when seamer Oliver Birch had Sullivan caught behind and Kidmores one man band found they had no tune to Birch’s pace. He literally ripped through the rest of the order, with Kidmore’s Clark being the only one player left to get into double figures and even he after surviving an almost blatent edge to the impressive Smith behind the stumps. Finishing with figures of 32-6 Birch had almost single handily reduced Kidmore to 224-9 from 52 overs.

Although the total may have looked daunting, Windsor’s chase never really looked in any doubt. Paul Huggins and Richard Noble scored at 5 an over for the first ten overs and Kidmore wilted in the heat. After Noble was dismissed for 33 and Dawson for 8, Tim Smith came in, cracked a couple of blistering fours and he and Huggins never looked back. Both completed deserved half centuries and remained unbeaten as Windsor cantered to victory with 8 wickets in hand.

With OMT and Bracknell both losing and Slough 3’s remaining in the hunt, the season looks like it will go down to the last game. If Windsor can keep injury free and hold their nerve they have every chance of continuing their impressive run to the end of the season.

Kidmore End
Sullivan Ct Smith Birch 106
C. Pigden Bowled Edge 5
S. Pidgen Bowled Griffiths 30
Bishri Bowled Birch 47
New LBW Birch 0
Clark Ct Dawson Birch 13
Shukri Bowled Birch 1
Butler Bowled Edge 1
Jones Bowled Birch 2
Payne Not Out 2
Butler Not Out 2

Extras 15
Total 224-9

Windsor Bowling Overs Maidens Runs Wickets
Edge 12 1 62 2
Griffiths 14 4 30 1
Millman 12 1 43 0
Endacott 7 0 47 0
Birch 8 0 32 6

Windsor
Huggins Not Out 83
Noble Ct Sullivan Butler 33
Dawson Ct Bishri Bishri 8
Smith Not Out 71
Extras 28
Total 225-2