Windsor washed aside.....

Amersham 179 all out (Hamilton-Pike 63)

beat

Windsor 124 all out (Rajabali 6-42)

On the back of a good victory over Slough last week, Windsor were away to Amersham. After some comedy errors on the Sat nav in the captains car, the team finally arrived full of confidence that they could get a result against the 2nd placed team in the league. Windsor won the toss, and having seen Amersham had most of their victories this season batting second, Hill stuck the home team in on what looked to be a two paced but well prepared pitch.

Windsor opened with the returning Hill and young Condon, and immediately put the ball in good areas, making the openers play and miss and found some edges in the first few overs. Runs were hard to come by with the attacking field. 20 runs had come off the first 10 overs and once Edge had replaced Condon, the first wicket fell in the 18th over with the total on 50. Hamilton-Pike came to the crease and immediately started to play some lovely drives. Kellard looked to tighten up one end, and chances were starting to be made, with shots being hit in the air. Edge removed the 2nd batsman in the 22nd over. Edge bowled his trademark miserly line and took a 3rd wicket with the score on 88 in the 22 over. Hamilton Pike and Amersham Captain Weston started to pile on the runs. Kellard removed Weston with Bullock taking a high long catch on the Mid -on boundary, with Amersham having raced to 158. With Condon returning and taking the wicket of Hamilton-Pike after he got to 63, the runs dried up. The rest of the Amersham tail collapsed for a total of 176, with Hill taking 3 quick wickets at the end and Bullock taking a good run out chance. Windsor gained an extra over for the run chase

Windsor stuck with Patel and Noble to open the chase. However Windor lost their openers for 2 runs in the first 4 overs with the score on 3! Chorley, started cracking the ball hard through square on the off side and through the covers, injuring Weston slightly in the process! Richies, looked in good touch too, and was playing some lovely timed strokes. Windsor raced to 50 off the first 12 overs, and looked to be taking apart the seam attack, with Rajabali tying up one end very well. Richies fell first to Rajabali and 2 runs later Chorley edged one from the bowling of Sidebottom for a lovely looking 37, but Windsor were looking shaky on 67 for 4. George came in and looked to play his trademark shots straight away, but with Bullock, Condon and Hill falling for a total of 4 runs between them, there was no partnership to try and see the chase home. Edge, Care and Kellard tried to steady the ship slightly at the end and tried to get to the 125 mark for an extra point, but fell one run short. Rajabali returned impressive figures of 21 overs, 9 maidens, 42 runs, 6 wickets!

Again, batting has been the weak point of the team. the bowling attack and the team fielding did well to restrict the opposition to 176, and this total should have been able to be chased down. One more game like this and Windsor face a very tough challenge to avoid relegation! Windsor face Cove 2 at home this week.......

Windsor vs Slough

Windsor 2's claimed a vital 20 point victory on saturday against local rivals Slough 3's, in a hard fought encounter at Home Park. Slough opted to bat first on a damp wicket but considering the apocolytic rain the day before the ground and pitch held up remarkably well.

Slough took the attack to Windsor and their openers certainly played their shots. Windsor however stayed calm and with the score on 83, Chris Edge dissmissed one opener , and Tom Hartridge nos 2 and 3 to leave Slough suddenly on 83-3. Windsor picked one more wicket before thundery rain forced off the players after 27 overs with Slough on 101-4.

With the rain steadily falling and puddles forming on the square it looked as if the wretched weather this summer would cause another abandonment.Remarkably however, the rain just about eased off at about 4.45 ,and thanks to the enthusiasm of both sets off players and sensible co-operation from both umpires, a start time was agreed for 5.00pm. Slough would now have 37 overs and Windsor 33.

In a rather surreal scenario, Slough then came out to bat for 10 more overs in bright sunshine but to the bewilderment of everybody, steady rain, which nobody could really work where it was coming from. Under a huge rainbow, Chris Edge and Tom Hartridge continued to run in at Slough, but with the field flug far and wide, the game took on a the feel of a 20-20 contest. Slough played their shots and Windsor's fielders slid around the outfield in a desperate attempt to cut off boundaries. Wickets inevitably fell and Slough ended on 169, which was was certainly competative.Windsor only used three bowlers, Chris Edge gallantly plowed through from one end taking 4-90 off 16 overs. Sam Condon went for 52 off 11 overs but can count himself unlucky not to get a wicket, while Tom Hartrige impressed with figures of 11-2 off his allotted 7 overs.

Set 170 to win, and knowing that most other games would be called off, Windsor had a great chance to pick up a vital 20 points. Openers Rob Noble and Nilesh Patel walked out under increasingly dark and thundery clouds, and it seemed almost inevitable that the game would done for within five minutes or so, as one more rain break would certainly have caused an abandonment. Somehow, the rain stayed away and Noble and Patel gave Windsor the start they needed, taking quick singles and putting away the bad ball when it came. At 10 overs windsor were 47-0 and looking good, despite it being so dark that cars going along the Datchet road had their headlights on full beam.

With the score on 57, Noble clipped one off his legs straight to square leg to be dismissed for 17, and Windsor lost their first wicket. Soon after that, Patel was run out for a vital 32. Chorley and Riches both found conditions tricky as Slough's seamers tightened up. The skies brightened but not Windsor's fortunes as Riches and Chorley then perished in quick succession for 12 and 11 respectively.Windsor were now 88-4, with plenty of work still to do. Tom Bullock and Richard Charters then formed a superb partnership which took Windsor to the brink of victory.

Excellent running between the wickets and punishment of the bad ball was a feature of a partnership. Bullock in particular hit a couple of enourmous sixes, which kept the run rate managable. Charters then fell for a well made 35, and this brought in Tom Hartrige who ably partnered Bullock to see Windsor home in the last over. Hartridge ended on 9 not out but it was Tom Bullock who fittingly hit the winning runs to finish on 47 not out, and the pair recieved a rousing reception from the balcony as Windsor celabrated a deserved and hard fought win in which everybody had played their part.

Like a military operation…..

Windsor 2nds 126 all out

Lost to

Aldershot 1st 127 for 4

Windsor 2’s desperately needed a win on Saturday, to even have a chance to look to get out of the relegation zone. Travelling away to Aldershot and deciding to take the fun bus there, Windsor were in high spirits. Getting a call that two players and our umpire were stuck on the M25 brought us back down to earth though, but all 3 made it in time. Looking to maximize points available, Windsor won the toss and decided to bat. The wicket looked a little un even and patchy, but Windsor were keen to try and set a target and get double batting points.

Things could not have started worse, as Patel was bowled by an in swinging yorker first ball! Noble, struggling to get the ball off the square, was ably supported from the other end by veteran Dawson, who was finding runs in his favored area of 3rd man Noble was bowled in the 8thth over and Windsor were on 30. Richies cam in and looked to build with Dawson and pushed for regularly for 2 runs, however Dawson was bowled in the 10th over for a well earned 23.. Gin from George cam to the middle, but only hung around for 4 overs when he received a very unlucky half pitched ball that got all of 2 inches off the floor and removed his off stump. Windsor were looking shaky in the batting dept again! Bullock pushed well and partnered Richies and looked to build a partnership with him. Richies was caught behind in the 28th over and was quickly followed by Bullock and Windsor were teetering on 85 for 6. Hill and Malik decided to try and stabilise things, with Hill playing defensively to Summers and Gill, who both bowled half decent lines. Malik, tried to hit the spinner and was boweld so Edge joined Hill in the middle. Again both patiently waited until there was only 8 overs to go before opening the shoulders. Hill was bowled on 15 and Windsor were facing a low score. Endacott and Kellard tried to stay around and use up as many overs as possible. Windsor were however all out in the 48th over for a measly 126

Hill opened the bowling with Edge, to try and restrict the openers early on. Hill realized that he would have to switch to spin fairly quickly if neither seamer could make the vital breakthroughs. Hill was nearly warned by the umpire for ‘running down the track’, which forced and change of run up. Both Hill and Edge didn’t give the batsmen too much to hit and restricted Aldershot to 30 runs off 14 overs but neither could make a breakthrough. Baig and Dickson looked fairly comfortable so Hill brought Kellard on from his end. After 11 overs Edge was replaced by Endacott and he made a breakthrough by bowling Dickenson, who had got to a well earned 49! Kellard took the next wicket after drinks with a good catch from Richies..Murray was adjudged LBW to kellard, and aldershot were looking fairly comfortable at 83 for 4. Baig pushed on and Hill, running out of runs, turned to opener patel to bowl a couple of overs. Nilesh bowled Bookhobsa and Windsor had their 2 bowling points. Umar came on and bowled a couple of overs, but the total was never enough and aldershot eased past the total in the 39th over, and Baig eneded on a well deserved 47.

Bowling OK (only 4 extras was good) & fielding looked sharp. Batting again has let us down. Its up to the batsmen to knuckle down and net and net and net. Windsor are home to big hitting Slough , so we need to be able to set a total, and or chase one down. Hill is unavailable along with some other members, so Edgy will be captain this weekend.

Newbury bypass Windsor

Newbury 174 all out

Beat

Windsor 152 all out

After missing a weeks play due to the bad weather, Windsor 2nds again had a ‘far far and away’ fixture at Newbury CC. A changed side again due to availability issues and injuries meant a call up for veteran Dawson and Endacott. With Smith stuck in traffic, Windsor were down to 10 men to start the game, never a good move! Windsor lost the toss and were put into the field, but the wicket looked like it would do all sorts. Hill opened with Edge, the two bowlers a few yards slower than a coupe of seasons ago! Hill, swinging the ball wildly and gave Newbury some cheap runs. But Edge ploughing a furrow up hill bowled his usual miserly line and restricted the batsmen from one end. Hill removed himself after 5 overs and looked to brisk medium pace bowler Endacott to make the breakthrough. Windsor were tight on the singles in the field, but some edgy shots and some poor fielding to harder hit shots gave openers Anstey and Uden some easy runs. At drinks Windsor were looking on dodgy ground as Newbury were on 70 for 0 of 26. After drinks Endacott quickly removed batsmen 2 and 3 and Kellard then removed opener Anstey. When Kellard removed Walker, Newbury looked vulnerable on 112 for 4. Kellard continued to rattle through the middle order with his spin, and was ably backed up by Endacott. Both bowlers turned in good figures and Kellard ended with a 5 fer! Hill came back on in the dying overs to take 2 wickets and Newbury ended up losing the last wicket in the last over to Kellard for 174.

With an obtainable target on the board, Windsor went out to bat full of confidence. The unchanged opening pair of Patel and Noble looked to get after the bowlers early doors. However in the 2nd over Patel had a ball rise sharply and was out caught and bowled. In came Dawson to try and build a partnership with Noble. Hanabe then bowled 4 maidens on the trot and Windsor crept along to 27 for 1 off 11. Nobel opened his shoulders and played some glorious cover drives and Dawso found the boundary too. In the 17th over Windsor looked comfortable at 42 for 1, but Dawson was caught out followed quickly by out of form Weston. ‘Under the weather’ Smith hit some cruching shots but holed out and Bullock followed soon after cheaply. In came in form George, Windsor’s last hope, to build a stand with Noble. Both players looking good, George raced away punishing the bad balls. Noble went for a well earnt 27 and Hill came in looking to give George the strike as often as possible. Anstey was bowling a looping tempting line and both batsmen survived until Hill cut the ball onto his stumps. Edge came in determined to try and push for the win with George. Edge hot some lovely shots and the game was on. A ball pitching short of a length pea rolled on to George’s stumps for 37 almost ending Windsor’s chances. Endacott and Kellard battled bravely but had too much to do with 20 runs remaining, and Kellard was adjudged to be LBW in the 42 over, and Windsor had lost again.

Simple, not good enough!. To have extras joint top scorer at 37 is not a way to stay in this league. Batting is failing and unless partnerships are built, and solid performances are turned in, Windsor face relegation now that half the season has gone. On the positive bowling is looking OK, and the fielding is not bad, but heads shouldn’t go down after a boundary is hit. A monumental effort is need against Aldershot this weekend……

“We are losing in the rain……”

Windsor 149- 8

Lost to

Falkland 150 – 8 (Harrison 57)

Looking to finally start making an impact in the league, Windsor made the long journey to Falkland in the rust bucket/ minibus that was going to take them on tour the following day!. Windsor had wanted to bat first to try and get some valuable extra points, and were stuck in after losing the toss. The wicket looked in surprisingly good shape with excellent work done by the groundsman.

Falkland bowled impressive line and length from the word go and extracted some bounce and movement early on removing Noble in the 2nd over. Patel and Chorley made a determined effort to see of the new ball with their wickets intact. The runs were not coming and Windsor were 14 for 1 off 13 overs! Patel and Chorley battled through but Nutley removed Patel for a hard fought 22 in the 18th over. Huggins looked in better touch and saw Chorley fall at the other end. The game looked finely balanced at 88 for 3 off the 32nd over when the heavens opened. Tea was promptly taken to try and not loose too many overs. After the rain stopped and the square had dried a little play commenced with Windsor having their overs reduced to 44 and Falkland got 40 to complete the game. Weston started hitting some lovely shots showing us what he is capable of, and got a well deserved 43. Windsor were desperate to pile on the runs to set a decent total for Falkland to chase. Wickets fell regularly with stand in keeper Bullock, Murray and Sam all adding a few runs to the total. Hill and edge couldn’t get the final run off the final ball to make the 150 and Windsor ended up on 149 for 8.

Opening pair Hill and Condon wanted to make some early inroads into the Falkland batting line up. Hill’s line was a little off but Condon was bang on the money straight away. Condon removed both openers, both bowled, with the score on 6. Windsor got a taste that their might be life left in the wicket. Hill removed Bloodworth and Falkland were 24-3. Condon was replaced after his restricted 7 overs by Kellard. Kellard immediately got the batsmen playing and missing and trying to hit him for the big shots. Edge replaced Hill from the other end and frustrated the batsmen with his miserly line and length. Edge removed Rasman and Falkland were 62 for 4. Windsor fielding was sharp and Chorley took a good catch of Kellard to remove Harrison for a dogged 57. When Kellard removed Townsend for a duck Windsor sensed victory could be had. Falkland needed 41 runs off the last 12 overs. Hill turned back to Condon as soon as his restriction expired to try and gain some bounce and lift from the wicket. Falkland pressed on getting singles and 2’s to push closer. Condon frustrated the batsmen and Hill took a catch as Randall spanked one to covers. At the end Falkland wanted 7 runs from 2 overs. Condon bowled well but a mis field on the boundary, and keeping Kellard on to try and take the last 2 wickets proved the un doing as a single was eased through the covers in the last over with 3 balls to spare.

A good effort, real commitment from the bowlers, and the fielders. Windsor nearly worked a victory out of nothing. Windsor’s batsmen need to knuckle down and need to show some mettle to grind out an innings, on water affected tracks. Windsor are now bottom of the league, and we are losing games against teams that on paper are no better than us. Application, concentration and a resolve is needed if Windsor are to survive. Windsor host Farnham Common next weekend…..