1st XI Throw Away Commanding Position

After winning the toss and inserting Hailey in to bat, Kidlington started well with Mohammed Imran and Dan Farrant bowling tight lines on a good batting wicket. Imran made the first breakthrough bowling the batsman with one that seamed back. Farrant then got in on the act with one that swung through the gate and clipped offstump. Kidlington continued to bowl well and Hailey found it difficult to score regularly. Imran claimed his second wicket after a catch by Chris East at cover and was then replaced by Waseem Azad who continued where Imran had left off. Farrant then took his second wicket with a near identical ball to his first wicket. This brought Haileys best batsman to the crease who played some beautiful straight shots off of the bowling of Farrant and Azad, although as soon as skipper Richard Walker moved his field to counter act his drives the batsman found it hard to score. Farrant took his 3rd wicket in the last over of his 12 over spell when the batsman drove one straight to Andy Oliver at mid off. With Farrant bowled out, Tom Bozman came on bowling his variation of off spin and leg spin, he bowled a brilliant length and with Hailey slowly creeping the score towards 100 he took the wicket of the set Hailey batsman and Kidlington found themselves in a commanding position. Sam Rodway was now on for Azad, who had taken a wicket in his 7 over spell. Rodway started well bowling a good length and was rewarded when claiming an LBW reducing Hailey to 85/8. Bozman took his second wicket with a catch by Andy Oliver at long off and Hailey were struggling on 95/9. The next partnership proved to be a match changer, Sam Rodway and Tom Bozman were attacked by the Hailey number 10, anything short or wide allowed him to free his arms and when Rodway was replaced by Imran the same happened. The partnership added 48 valuable runs before Imran had the batsman caught by Sam Rodway at point. This means Hailey finished on 143 probably 30 runs more than they should have got.

Kidlington started there innings with Andy Oliver and Waseem Azad opening the batting although 2 overs in and they lost their first wicket when a mix up between the batsmen left Oliver stranded and an easy run out for Hailey. Tom Bozman came in at 3 and got off of the mark with a brilliant straight drive for 4, although his innings was short lived when he missed a straight one and was bowled. Ralph Bishop was next in but failed to trouble the scorers after being dismissed the same was as Bozman. Azad was looking good in the middle and had a small partnership with Chris East before he fell into the trap set by Hailey caught at short midwicket when flicking off of his legs. East had a lot of pressure on his shoulders with Kidlington quickly falling away to the pressure of losing regular wickets and when Craig Woods went for a duck, they found themselves on 60/6 and victory looking along way away. John Pratt joined East at the crease who was looking assured striking the ball beautifully they moved the score to 80 before both fell in quick succession, East bowled and Pratt caught. Skipper Richard Walker and vice Dan Farrant were now in the middle, with the last time the pair batted together on this ground last season they put on a 100+ partnership. With both players usually favoring an attacking game, they had to keep their cools and resist any temptations for big shots from slow loopy bowling. The score moved onto 100 when Farrant holed out to long on and Sam Rodway joined Walker. Kidlington were slowly edging towards their target when Rodway was caught and Kidlington were down to their last wicket but with Walker now set and looking accomplished in the middle victory was a possibility. Walker was stroking the ball around and punishing any bad bowling when the required runs moved to below 10. Walker looked as if he had guided KCC to a much needed victory before with only 9 required, he was deceived by a slower ball and bowled trying to maneuver the ball for a single.

Kidlington came so close to victory in a game they let slip from their grasps more than once. Much work is needed if they are to enjoy the success of the previous 3 seasons!