Back in the Groove

Princes Risborough 154 for 9; 52 Overs (Awan 4 for 21, Kellard 3 for 40)
Windsor 2's 156 for 2; 30.1 Overs (Davis 81*, Chana 45)

After a tough loss the previous week, Windsor 2's returned to league action with a trip to league new-boys Princes Risborough. Under glorious skies and on a picturesque ground, skipper Davis loss the toss and was asked to bowl first.

Princes got off to a fantastic start as Witney and Brooker took advantage of some loose bowling and the fast outfield. Princes reached 50 without loss after the 14th over. A double change in bowling paid dividends for Windsor as first Awan and then Kellard made inroads into the Princes order. Then followed a period attritional cricket from Windsor as they completely starved Princes of runs, cutting the run rate to under 2 an over for the next 20 overs. Awan took 3 wickets for under 10 runs over a period of 7 overs and took the game away from the home side. Chambers returned to the attack in place of Awan and his extra pace paid dividends as he too took two wickets. Despite a late flurry from the Princes tail, Windsor remained on top and restricted the home side to just 154 off their 52 overs.

Windsor's reply got off to a poor start as Baumgartner found the leading edge trying to force the old ball to leg and was caught at mid wicket. Davis joined Chana and the pair dug in as they tried to build a partnership. With both surviving sharp chances, a flurry of boundaries saw the innings suddenly create impetuous and Windsor began to charge towards the target. With the new ball taken in an attempt to change the game, it only worked in Windsor's favour as Chana and Davis found form with the harder ball. Only a cruel deflection by the bowler from a Davis straight drive would claim Chana's wicket, as he was run out at the bowlers end after a fine 80 run partnership. Malik joined the skipper and the pair continued to drive Windsor home. Davis passed fifty and did not look back as Windsor ran to victory in the 31st over, claiming a fine 8 wicket win.

It was good to return to winning ways for Windsor 2's, especially as the teams around them in the table also won. This weekend sees the visit of BA to Home Park for a crucial clash between 1st and 3rd. Windsor will need to be on top form for them to continue on the winning trail.

Windsor fall to first loss

Windsor 2's 165 for 9; 52 Overs
Chesham 2's 167 for 5; 42 Overs (M. Asif 74*)

With a return to Home Park after a fruitful away day at Ruislip the week before, Windsor 2's welcomed Chesham 2's in their Thames Valley Cricket League match on Saturday. Upon winning the toss, Windsor chose to bat on what looked to be a good wicket.

Windsor's inning began in disastrous fashion as after a brief cameo from Jordan, Windsor found themselves 18 for 3 and then 40 for 4 within in the first 15 overs. With 3 of the top 4 removed lbw, Windsor were backs against the wall as Charters and Thompson looked to rebuild the innings. They managed to rebuild to some degree, until Thompson fell with the score on 95. With Charters departing shortly after for a well crafted 46, Windsor were again in deep trouble. Only another belligerent knock from Care saw Winsdor to a respectable score of 165 for 9 off 52 overs. Care was not out at the close on 39. Rance was the pick of the Chesham bowlers with 4 wickets.

Chesham's reply started slowly as Hill and Chambers exerted pressure on the openers. When Chambers removed the first wicket to a fine low slip catch by Davis, Winsdor felt that they had a chance to pull back into the match. Asif rebuilt for Chesham, but another slip catch from Davis of Awan, created further inroads. Rance joined Asif and began to build what became a match winning partnership. Windsor continued to come close with a number of close lbw shouts, but it wasn't until the score passed 100 did they strike again, with Kellard finding the edge for a third slip catch. Two further quick wickets raised Windsor's hopes greatly, but whilst Kellard toiled at one end, Chesham found ways to create runs from the other and continued to edge closer to the total. A final flourish of catches that fell short symbolised Windsor's day as Chesham cruised to a 5 wicket victory. Skipper Asif was the fulcrum of the Chesham innings as his 74 not out saw his side home.

It was bitter loss for Windsor due to the nature of the loss, especially with some good bowling having created a chance to pull off a win in the latter stages. However, with a long season still ahead and an 8 point lead at the top of Division 4A, Windsor would need to learn quickly to return to their promotion push.

5 in a row for Windsor

Ruislip 98 All Out; 33 Overs

Windsor 2 99 for 3; 17.2 Overs



With the start of England's World Cup campaign causing early starts throughout the country's cricketing programmes, Windsor 2's saw themselves in for an early start in their fixture at Ruislip. Upon losing the toss, Windsor were asked to field first in hot, but somewhat overcast conditions.



Windsor's opening tandem of Hill and Kemp immediately put pressure on the Ruislip top order with the former nipping out opener Woon-sam in quick order. Kemp then got in othe act tempting Ruislip's own Windsor to chip a meek catch to Kellard and then Hale to a caught behind to Care. Skipper Bell joined Ingram and they began to look to rebuild the innings. However, the introduction of Kellard saw the innings change ocne again as he first picked up Bell and then Ingram for 48, with the score at 90. Awan and Kellard bowled well in tandem and made inroads into the lower order and Ruislip collapsed to just 98 all out in 33 overs. Windsor's all-round bowling was excellent with Kellard picking up 4 wickets, Awan taking 3, Kemp 2 and Hill 1.



Windsor's reply got off to a somewhat strange start, with the first ball flying past the wicketkeeper and ending up in the nearby stream and the second seeing a comedic run-out between Baumgartner and Jordan that saw the former run out. Davis joined Jordan and they both looked to be positive in order to chase down the low total. After a brisk over that saw 16 runs score, Windsor were well on top at 43 for 1 off just 8 overs. Unfortunately, Davis was dismissed to a good yorker, bringing George to the crease. Jordan continued to plough on, but he was dismissed for 31 when his bat became lodged in his pad that caused him to be bowled. McInnerny joined George and together the pair saw the team home in quick style.

With Windsor winning by 7 wickets and in just 18 overs it proved to be a profitable start to the World Cup for at least one team in white.

Cant can on his return

Purley-on-Thames 253 for 4 off 52 Overs (P Allen 72, P Woodford 66*)
Windsor 2's 256 for 3 off 46 Overs (Cant 129, Chana 49, Davis 46)



With the sun blazing down on the Home Park, Windsor CC finally returned home this week for their TVCL Division 4A game against Purley-on-Thames. On a hard wicket, Windsor were disappointed to lose the toss and thus have to bowl first.

Regular opening bowlers Hartridge and Kemp immediately set to work and would provide tight lines in the early overs, resulting in the removal of Purley opener M Schofield for 7 in the 7th over. This brought Clark to the crease to join his skipper Allen to start to swing the momentum Purley's way. The run rate began to quicken as the shine left the ball and track began to play true and only a fine ball by Awan to remove Clark for 31, slowed the pace of the innings with the score at 85 for 2. Reber continued the hard work with Allen and they soon pushed the scoring rate up further, disposing of anything offline from the Windsor bowlers. When skipper Allen was removed to sharp catch by Davis off Kellard for 72 with score at 137 for 3, Windsor sensed an opportunity. But a fine innings of 66 not out from Woodford, working well with Reber and then A Schofield, pushed Purley to an impressive total of 253 for 4 off their 52 overs. Windsor were disappointed with conceding such a total and knew they were in with a fight in order to continue their fine start to the season.

Regular Windsor opener Chana saw yet another new partner to begin the innings, this time in the form of Michael Cant, a former overseas player from 2000 who was in the area for the week. With such a huge target in their sights, the Windsor pair grafted well in the early overs to blunt the new ball and provide a solid foundation. Cant took advantage of the Purley bowlers straying, with some particularly venomous shots off his legs. The openers passed the 100 mark and left just short of 150 with 20 overs to go, a stiff ask, but possible. When Chana fell on 49, their partnership had reached 122 for the 1st wicket. Davis joined Cant with the equation set at 132 to win with 17 overs left, just under 8 an over. Cant did not lose stride with the new partner and the pair began to pick up momentum. The left-hand, right-hand combination played into Cant's hands as Purley continue to stray onto the openers legs, with one huge six clearing the boundary by 30 yards, landing in the club's new nets. Cant completed a fine 100 with an exquisite cover drive and celebrated his return to the club in style. When he finally fell for 129, after a partnership of 93 with Davis, Windsor were well set for victory, needing just over 40 off 8 overs. Davis followed shortly for 46, but it was left to vice-captain Malik and back-in-form Lines to see Windsor over the finish line in style, reaching 257 for 3 off just 46 overs.

This was a fantastic win for Windsor 2's and one that continues the fine start to the season. It was also a nice moment for a club that pride's itself on creating strong bonds with all overseas players that have played at The Home Park, always leaving the door open for a return. It was also nice for some of the younger players to put a face to the name of the owner of the club's record individual highest score (219*) and to see the quality of the player who achieved it.

This weekend, Windsor travel to Ruislip to play an important away match against the side currently lying third in the table.