Aldworth CC – Home – Wednesday

The Wednesday team reconvened on the 3rd of June, having had the away fixture to Woodcote postponed due to rain a week earlier. A dry and sunny week had passed and the team was confident that a win was possible against opponents Aldworth CC who had also started the year with one win and one defeat.

The visitors made a useful start losing only one wicket in the early part of the innings and stretching our bowlers and fielders at the tune of nearly ten runs per over. Misfields, overthrows and a notable drop catch from B Martin off his own bowling compounded the poor start from Wantage. A cool piece of fielding by Boshell in the covers delivered a throw into Lonnon’s gloves behind the slumps for a close run out of the remaining opener kick-started a fightback.

The bowling and fielding improved and a superb delivery from Bullpit to removed Richardson’s leg stump and ended his innings on 43 runs. Three wickets from Bullpit’s final over included catches from B Martin in mid-wicket and Bramley down on the long-on boundary ripped through the Aldworth middle-order, backed up by Mabbet and R Martin who both rounded off the attack with economical bowling to peg back the Aldworth run rate. The visitors ended their innings 132 for 6. Bullpit’s spell was the pick of the bowling figures:

Boshell 3-0-15-0
Moore 2-0-15-0
B Martin 3-0-35-1
Bullpit 3-0-34-4
Mabbett 2-0-12-0
R Martin 2-0-8-0

As Bramley and Burton set out to open the Wantage innings the light took a step in the wrong direction, prompting some concerns about visibility. Dispite the loss of the openers early on, 37 runs from the first 4 overs was a good start by Wantage. Still requiring more than a run-a-ball was going to be a challenge and lined up the prospect of an exciting run chase by the home side.

B Martin was dismissed lbw leaving Wantage 41-3 at the 5 over mark. Queue a 58 partnership between Pascoe and R Martin who started out steady and then gradually increased their run rate before Pascoe was bowled out of his debut innings with the bat. Boshell was dismissed shortly after and Moore arrived at the crease with 31 still required to win. A spectacular six over long on typified Moore’s rapid innings of 26 including 5 boundaries, four of which were from Sankey’s first over in the Aldworth attack. The 14th and penultimate over started with Wantage requiring just one run to win. As Dutton approached, the field was set to stop the single and pressure the batsmen, Moore stood tall and drove through the covers for four runs and victory!

The win by 5 wickets with 15 balls remaining will give the whole team confidence going into their next game scheduled for Wednesday 10th June v Metal Box.

Top 4 batting scores:
R Martin 44*
Moore 26*
Pascoe 22
Burton 11

Pigs Ear: B Martin drop from his own bowling and an attempt at a run out by kicking the ball which resulted in the batsmen making an extra run.
Champagne Moments: Moore’s BIG six down the long on boundary.
Man of the Match: R Martin for an economical bowling spell at the end of the Aldworth innings and another concise batting display.

By Glen Pascoe