Thame vs Windsor

Windsor 216-8 (40 Overs) Granger 66, Condon 29, Griffiths 21
Thame 217-9 (39.2 Overs)

Windsor went down by 1 wicket in tense game at Thame in the Thames and Chiltern league on Sunday.On a roasting afternoon Windsor batted first and were 2 down fairly early when first Paul Huggins was caught and bowled for 17 ,then Brian Davis was adjudged LBW which saw Windsor 31-2.Justin Granger then joined opener Rob Noble and they set about rebuilding. Noble was his typical solid self, while Granger batted as if he was playing in a 20twenty game. These contrasting styles however, proved effective and Windsor moved to a handy 134-2 off 24 overs before Noble’s dismissal for 29 heralded a collapse, which saw Windsor plummet to 161-7, including Granger for a typically frantic 66 of just 47 balls.It was left to bowlers Warren Griffiths and Kevin Condon to drag Windsor over 200, which they did well, Griffiths making a responsible 21 while Condon finished unbeaten on 29, to see Windsor to 216-8 off 40 overs, which in truth should have been a lot more.

Thame always looked on course for the win while their Indian overseas player was at the crease, and his 97 was the difference between to the two sides.Windsor had fought hard however and the bowlers between them had managed to get Thame 9 down going into the last over with 3 needed.The medium pace of Andy Wigley and Rob Hodgeson had proved particularly effective, and it was Hodgeson who sent down the last over, only for the first ball to clattered to the midwicket boundary for 4, to end a closely fought encounter, with Windsor ultimately losing a game that should have been made safe while they were batting, due to some rather irresponsible shot selection.

They will hope to get back to winning ways this Sunday when they entertain neighbours North Maidenhead.

Sunday league 5th June
Windsor vs. Kidmore End

Windsor disappointingly lost their opening Thames and Chiltern league fixture, going down by 43 runs against Kidmore End on Sunday.

Batting first Kidmore piled up 256 –5 in their allotted 40 overs.Windsor were not helped by the absence of overseas star Justin Granger, who was playing a representative fixture, nor by the breakdown of opening bowler Alex Hill, who broke down after just 3 overs. It therefore came down to the experience of Andy Wigley and Warren Griffiths to shoulder the burden of the attack.However on a flat pitch against good batting, Windsor toiled and wickets were few and far between, and despite striving manfully in the field .were unable to prevent the visitors running up a big score.Although 16 year old leg spinner Chris Kellard bowled well to pick up 3 of the 5 wickets to fall.

Batsmen continued to dominate after tea as Windsor’s openers Rob Noble and Paul Huggins responded with 149 for the first wicket, Noble finally fell for 58, ending a rather lean start to the season for him, and when the prolific Paul Huggins went soon after for 76, Windsor needed almost 9 an over with 9 overs to go.This proved too much for the incoming batsmen and Windsor ended rather anti climatically on 213 –2 off their 40 overs. They will hope to get back to winning ways this Sunday when they embark on the long haul to Aston Rowant in deepest Oxfordshire.

British Airways vs Windsor, Sunday 22nd May

Windsor 282-5 (34 Overs)
British Airways 144 All Out (45 overs)

Windsor warmed up for their Sunday league campaign in two weeks time with a crushing 138 run victory at British Airways on Sunday. With no cricket the day before, Windsor were keen to get some action, and when Windsor were asked to bat first on a hard wicket, the runs flowed. Declining a straight 40 over contest, BA’s skipper wanted a declaration game, which meant Windsor would have to set a total and bowl the opposition out.

Windsor had an early scare when both Doye and Woodward went without troubling the scorers, to leave the score at 13-2. But Huggins and Granger soon eased Windsor out of trouble, with some fine aggressive stroke-play and equally aggressive running, not always appreciated by Huggins, especially after Granger called him through for a third all run four. Together they added 148 for the third wicket, Granger eventually falling for a fine 83 of just 65 balls. Huggins was only marginally more sedate with a run a ball 81, still keeping his three-figure average in tact. Stephen Eggenhuizen then joined in the fun with an impressive 40, and Windsor were in danger of having too many runs on the board to early. Davis and Gould then further dismantled the BA attack and Windsor finally declared on 282-5 off just 34 overs.

BA had no answer to Windsor’s seam attack. Granger was the chief destroyer, picking up 4 –19. Whilst Pitt, Griffiths and Wigley all bowled tight spells, picking up a wicket each. Rob Noble’s slow off breaks then picked up 2 wickets, including a neat stumping from Davis. With BA now 144-9, Granger was brought back on and duly capped a fine performance when he removed the no 11’s middle stump to claim his 4th wicket. All in all, this was an impressive display from the boys in red and green.