Scorecard

Windsor v Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday on Sat 28 May 2005 at 1.30pm
Match was Drawn

Match report TTCC traveled to Windsor on Saturday in search of their first league win of the season and despite amassing an imposing 266 for 5, struggled to take wickets, finally settling for 13-points from an entertaining draw at Home Park.

Visiting skipper Duncan Johnson won the toss and, with two victories over their hosts during last season's campaign fresh in his mind, elected to bat first on what turned out to be a good batting track. With overseas pro Brad Ediriweera still sidelined by a persistent ankle injury, Andy Harland stepped up the order to join Jim Ettridge and looked comfortable against Windsor's pace attack, timing the ball well until a useful short-pitched delivery from the enthusiastic Granger followed him and Harland went for 6 in the third over.

Ettridge and Dan Stone then settled themselves in, seeing off the new ball sensibly before looking to take the game to Windsor, adding an excellent 118 for the second wicket, Ettridge in particular punishing anything short or wide with his customary flair and Stone rotating the strike well for his more aggressive partner before Windsor turned to spin with Mahrindru and Watkins looking to slow the scoring rate.

Reward came for the home side when Stone (28) chipped a straightforward catch to Millman and Thatcham then suffered a double set-back as first Ettridge (78) and then Sean Huckins fell in quick succession to leave the innings stuttering at 124 for 4 with 20 overs still to be bowled.

As has often been the case this season already though, Johnson seized the match by the scruff of the neck and, with the equally impressive Matt Deness, re-established the upper hand with a splendid 128 run fifth wicket partnership. After a cautious start, the pair unleashed a powerful display of stroke making to which none of the Windsor bowlers could find an answer.

Johnson's timing was superb and he peppered the boundary with awesome ferocity, whilst Denness combined aggression with impeccable placement to frustrate the opposition further. Denness reached a much deserved half century before being run out for 56 chasing quick runs at the end of the innings, however his captain continued the onslaught, taking 30 runs in just two overs from the returning paceman Granger before calling a halt to proceedings, declaring on 266 for 5 at the end of the 51st over.

In reply, Windsor adopted a patient approach, with Pete Edgcombe and Nick Bishop keeping Bird and Thompson quiet without really threatening to make inroads into the top order. The introduction of Harland and Chris Bird saw little change and Windsor picked up the pace well, passing the 100 mark in the 26th over, clearly convinced that overhauling Thatcham's target was on the cards.

Johnson continued to change the attack in search of the vital breakthrough, using Paul Jenkins and Robb Fraser to little effect before bringing Bishop back into the attack to partner himself in an attempt to frustrate the batsmen into a mistake as they looked to take the score from their current 4 to the required 5.4 runs per over. The breakthrough finally came when Bishop was lucky to get away with a poor full toss which Bird smashed back over his head only to watch Edgcombe snatch the ball at full stretch at long-off, Bird departing for a fine 73, Windsor 116 for 1 in the 29th over.

Gould joined Thompson and the pair quickly added 26 runs before Johnson trapped the latter for 50 but any thoughts that Thatcham might have had about rattling through the home sides card were quickly dispelled as Smith joined Gould in a 77 run 3rd wicket partnership in just 11 overs, Windsor now extremely well placed on 219 for 2 with 8 overs still to be bowled.

With 7 an over required, Gould needn't have risked charging down the wicket to Johnson but that is exactly what he did to the first ball of what turned out to be the match defining over and, having played and missed, Dan Stone's tidy stumping saw the end of Gould's innings for a useful 42. Meanwhile, at the other end Smith was struggling with an aggravated hamstring and called for a runner but had to stand and watch in dismay as Granger came and went first ball to Johnson, clean bowled trying to playing an outrageous and most unlikely, sweep shot.

The drama continued as Watkins came in to face the hat trick ball and promptly edged a rising Johnson delivery to Stone, however, the chance was sharp to say the least and, despite quick hands, Stone was unable to hang on to the chance, leaving Johnson still in search of his first league hat trick.

The skippers disappointment was short lived, however, as Watkins' quick single brought Smith on strike and, having played and missed but keeping his back foot anchored in the crease to survive Stone's attempted stumping, Smith must have been totally bemused to see the umpire raise his finger to Denness' lone appeal from square leg, Smith's runner being adjudged run out having left his ground.

Windsor, now reeling somewhat on 220 for 5, then lost another wicket to an outstanding one handed return catch by Pete Edgcombe and the home side finally gave up the chase in the 46th over to see themselves home to safety with a creditable 227 for 6 from their 49 over allocation.

Edgcombe finished with 1 for 44 from 12 and Bishop 1 for 53 from 13 but Johnson's excellent match return of 70 not out (including 8 boundaries and 3 'sixes') and 3 for 31 from ten overs underlines his commitment to leading by example and provides his teammates with the benchmark for what is necessary to ensure that Thatcham make early progress up the table in the coming weeks, starting with a home tie against early pacesetters Wokingham, at Brownsfield on Saturday.


Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 5 wickets
0
266		        
Andy Harland Caught  6
James Ettridge Caught  78
Dan Stone Caught  28 1
Sean Huckins Bowled  2
Duncan Johnson Not Out  70
Matthew Denness Run out  56
Robb Fraser Not Out  0
Peter Edgcombe   2
Nick Bishop  
Chris Bird  
Peter Edgcombe  

Windsor Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Windsor Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
227 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Peter Edgcombe12.0144144.003.67
Nick Bishop13.0253153.004.08
Andy Harland4.011400.003.50
Chris Bird4.011400.003.50
Paul Jenkins3.002500.008.33
Robb Fraser1.001400.0014.00
Sean Huckins2.002200.0011.00
Duncan Johnson10.0231310.333.10

  • Umpire :
    Panel
  • Scorer :
    Ian Martin