No one was more shocked that the skipper Woods when he won the toss (the team still don’t believe he did) and elected to field first. With Banbury starting reasonably well against the ferocious pace of Spilsbury and the evergreen Steve Roberts landing it on a sixpence, someone mentioned that he should be next after curtly ambrose to do a sky masterclass. The first wicket to fall was to a fantastic slip catch by Wezza Bartlett low down to his left and a touch forward, amazing!
But there was more to come and Steve bowled the opener, then some fantastic cricket when Lauder at backward point threw down the stumps at the bowlers to dismiss Ian Tew, this was just awesome and another run out two balls later from some good work from Meardon and Collins in front of the stumps. Banbury went from 54-2 to 80-7 and things looked rosy however a 60 run partnership between two Banbury youngsters helped them to a respectable 141 ao. Rafiq had a bowl and after he had bowled a Yorker at his end and not pitching two balls on the strip in reverted to bowling off spin with control and a very nice action this could be the future for Amin. A special mention for Steve Roberts who took his 399th Cherwell league wicket he is catching up Roger Berrymans tally of 428 we think (Roger will correct that if we are wrong I am sure) Anyway, we took to the field and after a couple of wickets of Bartlett and Roberts, Lauder and Rafiq set about all of the Banbury bowlers inc prem league and ex minor counties spinner Jimmy Phillips. We won by 8 wkts with about 27 overs to go, Rafiq not out on 66 and Lauder on 54. Back to back wins for the seconds leaves then still second from bottom 9 pts now behind Shipton and 28 behind Blewbury.
The performances of late from this young side has been awesome and it’s been a pleasure to be captain throughout these last four games or so.