Cricket - Cherwell League Division One: Bletchley Town v Bourton Vale
Saturday 22nd May 2010
Bletchley Town were edged out by just one wicket in a nail biting finale at Manor Fields on Saturday against early pacesetters Bourton Vale. The visitors, who had won by the same margin last week, recorded the narrowest of victories on a hot Spring afternoon in North Bucks.
Bletchley lost the toss again, and were asked to bat on a greenish looking pitch. The visitors’ decision appeared vindicated when Oxfordshire paceman Ryan Newhook seamed one back into Simpson’s stumps with the second ball of the match. This brought in Aussie Tom Joraslafsky, who along with Ed Packard were being made to work hard for what few runs were available. Just as Bletchley thought they had weathered the storm, Packard (14) hit Anderson’s slower ball to mid wicket, and he was followed an over later by Joraslafsky who unluckily nicked one down the leg side for 12. When Kenny Hollis was bowled for 0, Town were wobbling on 39-4.
A partnership of 33 between James Sprittles and the impressive Amir Hussain injected some life into the home side’s innings. Just as Hussain looked set, he was pinned LBW for 21. Bletchley’s lower middle order collapsed soon after as Bourton skipper Paul Lazenbury (3-9) and Ryan Newhook (5-41) got amongst the wickets. A late unbeaten 16 from skipper James Clark pushed Bletchley over the hundred mark, but having been bowled out for 111, the home side knew a huge effort would be required to even get close.
The visitors’ reply started much in the same way as Bletchley’s innings, as Garratt was undone by a beauty from Sprittles in only the second over. However, Jamie Noble (34) and Mark Whitney (30) looked relatively untroubled by the bowling and it seemed that the league leaders were moving serenely to victory at 61-1.
The introduction of spin twins Tom Joraslafsky and last week’s star, Wasim Fayyaz started the Bletchley fight back. Joraslafsky tempted Noble down the pitch who was smartly stumped by gloveman James Ward. In the next over, Fayyaz removed Fulton and Graham Newhook for ducks. When Fayyaz then combined with Ward to oust Whitney, Bletchley were in with a shout.
Ex-Gloucestershire & Kent star Paul Lazenbury came to the crease and set about rebuilding the innings alongside regular opener Alex Fateh who was batting at 7 due to an injury. They took the score to 90-5 before Sprittles was re-introduced to the attack in devastating fashion. He had Fateh caught behind by the faultless Ward, and then trapped Anderson LBW. On the fifth ball, he tempted Langley into a drive who was pouched by Clark at first slip.
Number 10 Ryan Hill chanced his arm for a quick 12, before Sprittles knocked him over to take his fifth wicket. With 6 required, Lazenbury knew he had to do it alone, and despite a chance of a run out, and a prod forward that nearly carried to the covers, he notched the winning run to take Bourton to the narrowest of victories. For Bletchley, Sprittles claimed 5-27, and Wasim Fayyaz continued to impress taking 3-31.
Bletchley’s tough start continues at the weekend with another home match against much-fancied Horspath at Manor Fields, and are keen to bounce back and claim their first victory of the season.
CHERWELL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 / 2010Date / 22nd May / Division / 1 / Venue / Manor Fields
Bletchley Town v Bourton Vale
Innings of Bletchley Town
Ist name / Surname / How out / Bowler / runs
1 / Graham / Simpson / Bowled / R Newhook / 0
2 / Ed / Packard / ct G Newhook / Anderson / 14
3 / Tom / Joraslafsky / ct Langley / Anderson / 12
4 / Kenny / Hollis / Bowled / R Newhook / 0
5 / Amir / Hussain / LBW / R Newhook / 21
6 / James / Sprittles / ct Noble / Lazenbury / 7
7 / James / Ward / ct Lazenbury / R Newhook / 5
8 / Mark / Grass / LBW / Lazenbury / 4
9 / Mark / Roberts / Bowled / R Newhook / 4
10 / James / Clark / Not Out / 16
11 / Wasim / Fayyaz / Bowled / Lazenbury / 0
extras / 28
Total / 33.4 overs / 111 / for / 10 / wkts
1st Name / Surname / Overs / Mdns / Runs / Wkts
Ryan / Newhook / 17 / 2 / 41 / 5
Nick / Anderson / 10 / 1 / 35 / 2
Paul / Lazenbury / 6.4 / 2 / 9 / 3
INNINGS OF Bourton Vale
Ist name / Surname / How Out / Bowler / runs
1 / Jamie / Noble / st Ward / Joraslafsky / 34
2 / Charlie / Garrett / Bowled / Sprittles / 0
3 / Mark / Whitney / st Ward / Fayyaz / 30
4 / Ben / Fulton / ct Ward / Fayyaz / 0
5 / Graham / Newhook / Bowled / Fayyaz / 0
6 / Paul / Lazenbury / Not Out / 25
7 / Alex / Fateh / ct Ward / Sprittles / 8
8 / Nick / Anderson / LBW / Sprittles / 0
9 / Rob / Langley / ct Clark / Sprittles / 0
10 / Ryan / Hill / Bowled / Sprittles / 12
11 / Ryan / Newhook / Not Out / 0
extras / 3
Total / 40 overs / 112 / for / 9 / wkts
1st Name / Surname / Overs / Mdns / Runs / Wkts
Mark / Roberts / 6 / 1 / 16 / 0
James / Sprittles / 12 / 5 / 27 / 5
Ed / Packard / 4 / 1 / 7 / 0
Tom / Joraslafsky / 8 / 0 / 28 / 1
Wasim / Fayyaz / 10 / 0 / 31 / 3
Bourton Vale (25 points) beat Bletchley Town (10 points) by one wicket