Dark clouds rolling in.......

North Maids 227 for 8 (Stewards 103*, Hussain 65)

drew with

Windsor 186 for 9 (Hill 43*, Khan 5 for 42)

Windsor went to N Maids knowing that there was a lot to play for in these final games against a team that could be in the relegation battle with us. The game was starting at the earlier 12.30 time due to the light, but the sky was dark before the game even started! Hill lost the toss again and was was put into a cold field!

Without S Condon again, Windsor opened with Hill and Edge, both of which tied up each end from the word go. Edge made an early break through by removing Khan caught behind on 4. Hill soon removed Peachey and N Maids were faltering on 25 for 2 off 15 overs. After 9 overs, Hill replaced himself with the returning Hodgson, who immediately bowled his miserly line and length. Stewards confidently pushed the ball about and was quick onto anything short. The sky's were darkening and the drizzle started but both teams were keen to try and get as much of a game in as possible. Returning batsman Davis was brought into the bowling attack as Hussain and Stewards were looking comfortable. Brian, trying hard to get his line and length made 2 key breakthroughs in his six overs removing Hussain and Saleem. Hodgson, had little luck with 3 chances in the air went begging. Malik was brought on after the drizzle stopped to see if Windsor could tempt some lofted shots. The N Maids batsmen started to run away with the runs, but Malik removed Benningshaw and Attiq. Hill and Edge came back into the attack 6 overs from the end to try and stem some runs, but found it difficult to bowl with what only can be described as a bar of soap! They picked up a wicket each in this final spell, but N Maids had posted an impressive target of 227 off their allocated 52 overs.

As the players walked into tea, the heaven's opened and it started to rain quite hard, and the covers were put on. After long conversations between the captains, and the eagerness to try and get a result for both sides paramount, the Windsor Innings started in drizzle, with Mullins umpiring in his waterproof fishing gear! N Maids, going for the 25 points took the old ball and opened with spin to try and tempt the Windsor batsmen into getting themselves out. Hill wanted Windsor to go all out for a win from the word go as we had no idea how long we could play in the conditions.

Chana was out first ball bowled which brought Davis in quicker than he expected!! Noble and Davis stared the run chase in different ways. Noble his usual reserved pace, and Davis punishing the bad balls. After a series of tight overs, and the pressure building, Davis was caught out on 23 and Windsor were 45 for 2. George went in and hit out from the word go trying to get the run rate up. With the wet out field slowing the ball up and preventing some boundaries, Windsor were finding it hard to keep up with the required rate. A mix up on a run out saw George walking back to the pavilion, and Charters joining Noble. Noble fell on 34, Chartes and Patel fell for under 10 runs each and K Condon was out for 0 and Windsor were staring down the barrel again at 127 for 7. Hill joined Malik at the crease and was still keen on trying to get as many points as possible. Malik was removed by Khan and Hill decided to open his shoulders punishing the bad deliveries. Khan ended up on figures of 12 overs 5 for 42, which was a good effort with the old ball! The sky dried up and N Maids started to bowl seam up to remove the remaining batsmen. Edge hit some lovely shots but when he fell for 14, Hill decided to shut up shop with Hodgson providing a solid defence at the other end. Hill top scored with 43 batting number 9......... and Windsor limped to 186 for 9.

Batting batting batting. Windsor failed again to reach a target set to them against a team in the relegation battle. N Maids have to be thanked for going out to play in not very nice conditions to push for points on a day no other game in 3A was played. Windsor came away with 1 point more than they would have got for an abandonment.......... Windsor are at home to top of the table this Sat.

The friendliest game of cricket ever.......

OMT 172 all out (Kenburg 62)

beat

Windsor 145 all out (Chana 54, Nokeli 4 for 37)

windsor travelled away to OMT, to look to try and gain some valuable points against another team struggling at the bottom of the table. The usual distractions of bridesmaids walking near the boundary at OMTs ground were put to the back of mind for this crucial game. the wicket was soo green that Hill was wary of winning the toss. Windsor wanted to bat for the points but thought this wicket could be a bit spicy. OMT (a top bunch of blokes) and Windsor always have good competitive matches and both were keen to play in the best spirit of the game, and this was demonstrated on the pitch.

Windsor lost the toss and OMT choose to bat. Hill and returning S Condon opened proceedings quite tightly, bearing in mind the right and left hand batting partnership. OMT were clear from the outset that they were 'going to have a go' at anything wide or short and punished these deliveries. Condon got one to rear a little and removed McCabe caught behind and Hill soon followed suit removing Boarley caught behind as well. Kenburg looked to get himself settled whilst Hill removed batsmen 4 and 5 and OMT were stuttering on 4 for 49. Hill ending his spell on 8 overs, 3 for 38. Edge replaced Condon and started 'ploughing a furrow' in from the pavilion end. He made the batsmen play and miss countless times and the wicket was ading the seamers a lot. Edge had the politest sledging match with the OMT batsmen Hill had ever heard during his spell! Kellard replaced Hill got the batsmen to start play more shots in the air. McPhearson and Kenburg pushed OMT to 142 as OMT started to gain runs quickly. Edge was rewarded for his efforts by returning figures of 11.4 overs, 3 for 42. with only 10 batsmen, OMT posted a reasonable 172 and gave Windsor 61 overs to chase them.

Hill, pleased at bowling a team out again, was hoping his batsmen would do him proud this week. Chana, drafted in after his 100 for the Sunday 1's the previous week, looked solid and in comand from the word go opening with Noble. Windsor raced to 36 runs, but over number 14 changed the face of the game. Modi, a young seamer, was pushing the ball through hard and removed Noble caught behind. K Condon followed Noble back to the Pavillion the very next ball. Nilesh ran a single and was caught in no mans land with a mix up on a run with Chana. Windsor were facing a familiar collapse, and were now 36 for 3! Tom Bullock was bowled in the next over from Nocheli! Malik went to the crease looking to stop the rot and steadied the ship but slowing the run rate too, until the 33 over where he was removed by Richards. George went about his innings fast and scored some lovely shots and was joined by Hill once Chana was out for 54. Hill tried to keep the momentum going but Windsor kept losing wickets. S Condon and Kellard tried bravely at the end to push for the win, but failed when Katz removed an under the weather S Condon in the 51st over with Windsor only needing 28 to win.

Disappointing. these are the games we should be winning against teams in the relegation battle with us. 61 overs to chase 172 is not a task that should be beyond the WCC players we have in this side. All too often this season the 7th or 8th batsman is going in with under 100 on the board. For the number 8 to be 2nd highest scorer on 21 tells a tale....This is not good enough and it seems that the players are leaving it too late to fight their way out of last place. Windsor travel to North Maids next Saturday.

A light at the end of the tunnel?

Cove 163 all out (Cooper 62, Marsh 51. Hodgson 4 for 37, Kellard 4 for 63)

lost to

Windsor 167 for 5 (Davis 84)

After the shambles of the batting performance last week, Windsor went into the game against Cove wanting to bat first to try and get points on the board, and try, with their re-shuffled bowling attack to try and bowl a side out. Hill lost the toss but the outcome of the game was a good one for relegation faced Windsor.

Windsor, without Edge or Condon, opened with Hill and wily Hodgson. The later proving his place by bowling tight and miserly lines to restrict Coves batsmen. Hill made the first breakthrough which had their opener out on a duck. After 7 overs from the river end, Hill turned to 2st XI batsman Davies to help with the bowling duties. Davis, 'the best net bowler at WCC' hit his line and length straight away. Hodgson toiled away at the castle end, and a superb run out from Malik dislodged Marsh for a well earned 51. This was the action that started to change the game and Cove were starting to look comfortable. Hodsgon then removed batsmen 4,5,6 and 7 returning bowling figures of 20 overs 9 maidens, 4 for 37! Davis was replaced with young spinner Kellard who bowled some good lines, but struggled with his length a little. However he tempted the Cove batsmen and removed the opener Rhodes on 62. The Cove tail succumbed to Kellards spin and were all out in the 52nd over. Kellard ended on 16.3 overs, 1 maiden, 4 for 63.

Having bowled a side out again, Hill hoped his batsmen would be able to chase down this total with relative ease, but the 07 season has been anything but easy. With a re-jigged batting line up, Davies opened with Noble, and both looked comfortable from the word go, Davis especially looking good and finding the boundary quickly. Tight opening bowler Finney and Tomsett were replaced but couldn't seem to dislodge either of the Windsor openers. Regan in the 30th over got a ball to nip away off the seam and Noble was removed on 30. Richies and Weston were removed in the space of 4 balls and Windsor looked like they were going to have a familiar collapse. Patel steadied the ship with Davis and hit some effortless shots. Tomsett got Davis out for a fantastic 84 in the 40th over, and Malik follwed him back to the pavillion shortly afterwards! Doye came to the crease and played sensibily to help steer Windsor home with Patel not out on 32.

A much better performance this week. This is how Windsor used to play. Good fielding, good bowling and fairly solid batting. This is the glimmer of hope Windsor need to go into the last few matches to try and avoid relegation..........