One Run Is The Difference Between Two Rivals

On a hot summers day and a flat dry wicket, Hanborough skipper Rob Lovick didn't hesitate in opting to bat when he won the toss against KCC skipper Richard Walker.

Dan Farrant opened from the Pavilion end and Steve Litten (pictured) from the top end as Hanborough started well as any loose bowling was sent to the short boundary on a quick outfield. Farrant was bowling a tight line and length and not conceding many runs, where as Litten opted for all out pace and was dispatched to the boundary regularly but finally made the breakthrough for KCC as he had Glen Willet superbly caught by Craig Woods in the gully for 0. Matt Nielsen now joined Matt Gorman in the middle as both weren't afraid to play their shots. Litten took his 2nd wicket when Gorman mistimed a cut and was caught by Owen Bunce at point. Farrant was having little luck at the other end when the first of many strange decisions from the umpires which affected both teams went against him. He has Matt Nielsen caught behind by Richard Walker but as Nielsen didn't walk, the umpire adjudged he hadn't hit the ball whilst admitting he is slightly deaf! With Rob Lovick now at the crease with Nielsen, Hanborough were relying on their two best batsmen to take them towards a big score. Farrant again was out of luck as he hit Lovick on the pads with three consecutive times yet all three were judged to be missing. Litten then thought he had Lovick caught by Edd Willmot at 2nd slip, only for the other umpire to this time judge that he hadn't hit the ball! Litten was now replaced by Waseem Azad as he and Farrant bowled well on a good batting surface and managed to dry up the runs for Hanborough. After drinks, Farrant bowled out and was replaced by Litten, who bowled a much better 2nd spell and took the big wicket of Nielsen with a ball that got up on the batsman and he was caught well by Walker behind the stumps. Marc Buckingham came to the crease but lasted just one ball as Litten bowled a beauty that was nicked behind and again taken by Walker, who was having a brilliant game in his less familiar role as wicketkeeper. KCC finally got the wicket of Lovick but yet again in controversial fashion, as Lovick and new batsman Neil Rose tried to run two, Steve Litten threw the ball in and Walker took the bails off although it looked as if Lovick had easily made his ground and their was a half hearted appeal from KCC, yet the umpire thought differently as he didn't hesitate in giving the wicket. Azad had bowled economically without taking a wicket and was replaced by Chris Graham who bowled a good line and length. Edd Willmot replaced Litten and started well, taking the wicket of Rose after a superb diving catch by Farrant at point.. With two new batsmen at the crease in Danny Simpson and Will Potter, KCC had their tails up yet Simpsons plan was to throw the bat at every ball and it came off as he got lucky with the ball continuously dropping between fielders. Potter was run out by Chris Graham, going for a quick single as he tried to push the score along and Simpson was caught at long on by Steve Litten off of Willmots bowling. Daniel Possee hit Litten for a huge straight six as he replaced Willmot for one over before being stumped by Walker as Wilmott came back on to bowl the final over. Hanborough closed on 201/9 from their 45 overs which looked an average score on a good batting wicket as KCC felt they could have been chasing a much reduced target but for some poor umpiring decisions.

After a brilliant tea, Andy Oliver and Richard Walker looked to continue from last week as they put on 45 for the first wicket with some good stroke play before Oliver mistimed a straight drive to mid on. Chris East joined Walker in the middle and looked in good form as he played some beautifully timed drives for 4 straight down the ground. Walker was the next wicket to fall as he holed out to midwicket and Craig Woods, who has been struggling for form didn't last long as he played all around a straight one which left KCC on 60/3 from 15 overs. Edd Willmot joined East at the crease as both batsmen done well to rotate the strike and punished any loose bowling with East striking two big sixes straight down the ground. Kidlingtons innings looked in trouble of falling apart as East was bowled and Willmot were both out in quick succession as they looked to be guiding KCC towards their target. Willmots dismissal was another that was controversial as he was adjudged to have edged behind, the umpire at first didn't give the wicket as Willmot remained at the crease but after further appeal from a Hanborough, changed his mind and gave Willmot out! Waseem Azad and John apart were now at the crease as they edged KCC ever closer to the required score. Azad was striking the ball well and was dealt a bit of luck when he was dropped in the deep. This time is was Hanboroughs turn to feel harsh done by, Azad edged behind with a nick that was heard by the Kidlington players on the boundary, yet Azad stood his ground as Nielsen did in the Hanborough innings and the umpire failed to give him out. Pratt was the the next wicket to fall as he holed out to mid off. Dan Farrant joined Azad at the crease but struggled at first to get bat on ball. He finally got his eye in as he rotated the strike with Azad before yet another poor decision went against KCC as Azad clearly hit his pad rather than the ball and with only the keeper appealing, the umpire didn't hesitate in giving Azad out after admitting he was sure if he had hit it or not. Steve Litten joined Farrant as the pair rotated the strike well and scored as close to the required run rate as possible, yet with the field well spread and tight bowling it was difficult to find the boundary and another decision which this time proved to be costly went against KCC as Litten played and missed at a leg side delivery as he and Farrant ran 2, yet this time the umpire judged that Litten didn't play a shot and called it a dead ball. Requiring 10 runs from the final over and with Litten on strike, KCC were hopeful that their two opening bowlers could see them home. Although after Litten played and missed at the first two balls and scored only a single from the third, Farrant was left with the task of scoring 9 from 3 to win the game. After running a two, Farrant needed a 6 to tie from the last ball but could only manage a one bounce 4 through mid wicket to leave KCC agonizingly short in their run chase and they lost out by 1 run.

Again KCC found themselves coming up short in the batting department although with some poor umpiring decisions going against them it was a game which they really would have won on a different day!