Steady Start As 1st XI Open Account

After last years game succumbed to rain without a ball being bowled, it was a new experience for KCC playing on the sloping wicket at Britwell. After winning the toss, captain Richard Walker decided to bowl first on a green cracked wicket after much discussion with his players!

Dan Farrant opened from up the hill into the wind, whilst Steve Litten came down the hill wind assisted, both bowled well but as KCC would go on to learn, the wicket would play a lot better than it looked as there was little uneven bounce and very little seam movement! Any loose bowling went straight to the short boundaries through point as the Britwell batsmen looked comfortable. Farrant thought he had made the breakthrough as he got one to move away from the Britwell captain Sykes, unfortunately for KCC though Andy Oliver couldn't hold a sharp catch at second slip. With Britwell ticking the score along, Walker replaced both opening bowlers, Usman replaced Farrant and Chris Graham came on for Litten. Usman bowled a tight first over, but struggled up the hill and found his length too short at times. Chris Graham however started well and with only his second ball, had the wicket of the Britwell captain Sykes as the ball beat him for pace and hit off stump! Graham continued well, but with McConkey and Coates now at the crease, Britwell continued to look assured. The batsmen moved the score along consistently just waiting for the bad ball from the Kidlington bowlers. Waseem Azad replaced the struggling Usman, but struggled himself with his length as McConkey latched onto anything too full with some nice drives through the covers. Both batsmen were closing on their half centuries as the score moved past 100 for the loss of 1 wicket, although both rode their luck with aerial shots and inside edges missing the stumps! Walker called upon Farrant to try and break the partnership and stem the flow of runs. Farrant delivered as Coates failed to pick a slower ball a skied one for Farrant to take the catch and remove him caught and bowled. This brought Wood to the crease as Britwell were on 120/2 in the 31st over. Farrant came off for Litten and Chris Graham was replaced by Tom Bozman. This spell of overs swung the game in Kidlingtons favour as both bowlers bowled brilliantly with pace and accuracy. Litten took his first wicket with a swinging delivery as he removed Wood LBW. Bozman was unlucky with his first ball finding the edge of McConkey but John Pratt just failed to hold on behind the stumps. The runs now drying up and Britwell running short of overs, Litten took his second wicket with a quick yorker to remove Chittenden, before claiming his third with an almost identical delivery to take the wicket of Slater. Farrant replaced Bozman to bowl the penultimate over but Little went on the attack hitting 10 from it as Litten bowled a brilliant last over only allowing 6 from it. Britwell finished their innings on 181/5 from their 45 overs.

After a nice tea, Kidlington set about chasing their target with Richard Walker and Andy Oliver looking to continue where they left of last season! Both looked assured and struck early boundaries, but the accuracy and patience of Humphries was telling as he trapped Walker LBW. Tom Bozman joined Oliver at the crease as they began to assert themselves on the young Kaufman who struggled with his length at times with Bozman dispatching any loose bowling to the boundary. Little replaced Kaufman and had genuine pace, although at times was wayward. He surprised Oliver with one that was straight as Oliver played on to his stumps. Hari Lehal joined Bozman with the score on 75/2. Bozman was looking good as he hit Little for a big straight six! The score moved close to 100 and Bozman was closing in on his half century, until he was caught out of position and was out LBW to Wood who had replaced Little. Waseem Azad came to crease and hit an early boundary before missing a straight one from the slow left arm spin of Lawrence who had came on for Humphries. Lehal struck a couple of nice boundaries through midwicket, however Lawrence was bowling accurately and was difficult to get away on the green wicket. His pressure told as Wood removed Lehal LBW from the other end. Usman and John Pratt were at the crease as KCC were in danger of a middle order collapse. That danger came true as Lawrence took his second wicket with Pratt playing the wrong line to one the turned as the ball hit his off stump. Dan Farrant joined Usman at the crease with KCC now in trouble on 127/6 in the 30th over. Usman struck 3 boundaries including a huge six over extra cover but was Lawrence's third victim when he was trapped LBW as a straight one skidded on. Steve Litten joined Farrant in the middle with both batsmen having little practice through the preseason friendlies. However, you couldn't tell this as both looked assured in defence and once they had got in, little troubled them as they got Kidlington closer to their target. Farrant was the main aggressor as he struck 5 boundaries, including two big sixes through mid on. Once the required target was close, the pair rotated strike with singles, easily finding the gaps in the field. With only 4 runs required, Litten stroked a beautifully timed drive through the covers to seal the victory after a brilliant 8th wicket stand of 48 saw KCC home and got them off the mark in their hunt for promotion from Division 4!