1s Go Down After Poor Batting Display

After losing the toss against Marcham skipper Tristan Barrett, Captain Richard Walker was surprised when asked to bat on what looked a perfect day for being in the middle. On a slightly green track, it was soon obvious that the Marcham captain had made the right decision, as his bowlers performed well, making scoring runs for Andy Oliver and Walker difficult. James Cox and Andrew Chalmers both bowled well and Cox was unlucky when Walker was dropped at midwicket. Oliver struck the first boundary of the game through backward point , but it was a rare boundary with a big, slow outfield aiding the bowlers. Walker was the first wicket to fall to the persistent Chalmers, being caught at midwicket by Josh Woodley. Tom Bozman joined Oliver in the middle looking to settle quickly. He struck a nice straight drive, but with Marcham knowing Bozmans strengths, they had the field set perfectly. Woodley had now replaced Cox and with a short delivery that didn't bounce, he took the wicket of Bozman clean bowled. Hari Lehal was in next as he and Oliver needed a strong partnership, as KCC were struggling for runs currently on 50/2 from 18 overs. Lehal and Oliver continued to struggle as Chalmers around the wicket style was difficult to get away. As drinks game at 23 overs and KCC only on 60/2, the introduction of last seasons OCA leading wicket taker Stuart Armstrong was always going to be crucial. Oliver knew that KCC needed runs and struck two consecutive boundaries through mid on before being stumped by Andrew Horseman off the bowling of Armstrong. Edd Willmot joined Lehal in the middle, but as the overs ticked by, KCC were in trouble of posting an uncompetitive score. With the introduction of Thomas Mooring, replacing Woodley, he soon had the wicket of Lehal, clean bowled as he went for an extravagant drive. Jack Desmond was making his first appearance of the season but was nearly cleaned up first ball as he had to evade a Mooring head high beamer first up. However Desmond was the next wicket to fall as Armstrong got one to turn on a length and clip the top of offstump. Usman was promoted up the order, to try and score some quick runs but was out second ball as he top edged a slog sweep off of Armstrong as he was caught by Mooring. Dan Farrant made his way to the crease, looking to score quick runs. Edd Willmot was in form after a good knock the previous week, but was another who had to take evasion action from another Mooring beamer. Mooring should then have been taken off after bowling a no ball called by the square leg umpire but was called a wide by the on strike umpire. Willmot was out next ball clean bowled by Mooring as he got on to pitch on middle stump. John Pratt joined Farrant with the score on 88/7 in the 36th over. Farrant another victim of a Mooring beamer, this not called a no ball as he was caught at backward point after a top edge. John Pyrah joined John Pratt but was soon Armstrongs 4th victim caught behind by Horseman as KCC were in danger of not making 100 as they were reduced to 96/9. A crucial partnership between Pratt and the incoming Chris Graham got Kidlington to 127, with both batsmen playing nice shots and leaving the previous batsmen wondering what they had been doing wrong! KCCs innings was over when Pratt called for a second run, catching Graham off guard as he was run out by Woodley leaving KCC to finish on a slightly more respectable 127 all out.

With early pressure and wickets needed in order to defend their total, captain Walker was hoping bowlers Dan Farrant and Tom Bozman could provide them. Both started well as Armstrong and Woodley struggled with Farrants swing and Bozmans pace. Armstrong was quick to pounce on anything on his pads and scored a couple of early boundaries on the quickening outfield. Marcham had moved on to 16 inside 5 overs and were looking comfortable before a Farrant over through the game on tenterhooks. First he removed Woodley LBW as he bowled one the went straight on into the wind and deciphered Woodley who played the wrong line, next ball he removed the incoming Watkins, who edged behind and was snaffled by wicketkeeper Walker! With Farrant on a hatrick, Walker brought the field in as Andrew Horseman made his way to the crease. Farrant couldn't have hoped to bowl a better ball to the left handed Horseman as he got one to swing in from outside offstump and hit half way up middle stump to secure his first ever hatrick and send the KCC players wild, now believing they could defend their small total! Thomas Mooring joined Armstrong and showed his intentions early as he took a wild swipe at Farrants 4th delivery as it just missed offstump. He continued to play this way and was dropped by Willmot at gully, before he was clean bowled as Farrant claimed his 4th wicket, reducing Marcham to 20/4 for in 12 overs. Captain Tristan Barrett joined the assured Armstrong with both knowing the game heavily relied on this partnership. Farrant and Bozman kept applying the pressure as Barrett was luckily caught on the half volley by Willmot at gully as Farrant thought he had his 5 wicket haul. Armstrong survived a strong LBW appeal from Farrant as Marcham slowly edged towards their target. Edd Willmot replaced Bozman and bowled well, but with KCC needing an attacking field, Armstrong and Barrett found it easy to rotate the strike. They moved the score towards 50 as Chris Graham came on for Farrant. Graham was unlucky not to take the wicket of Barrett as he bowled two quick yorkers that just missed the stumps. Graham and Willmot bowled well but with Armstrong now looking set, he and Barrett were able to score from any loose bowling, however with the overs moving past drinks, Marcham were only on 70/4. Bozman came on for Willmot to try and put pressure on the partnership and force a wicket. He bowled with extreme pace and bowling over and round the wicket trying to unsettle the batsmen. As the game moved into the 31st over, and thw score edging into the 90s, Walker called on Farrant to help Bozman break the partnership. The pair both bowled tight, not allowing any easy runs to be scored by Armstrong or Barrett. Bozman finally got the wicket KCC needed as he has Barrett caught at cover by John Pyrah. With only 15 runs now needed and both Farrant and Bozman bowled out, Walker brought on Willmot and Usman to try and win the game for KCC. With Armstrong still in the middle however, it was always going to be difficult, he moved the score to 120 in the 39th over with a sweetly timed sweep from Willmot. Usman took his first wicket for the club clean bowling Andrew Chalmers, James Cox then survived a hostile over of quick Yorkers from Usman before Arsmtrong finally struck the winning runs with another well timed sweep from Willmot as Marcham secured a 4 wicket victory in the 41st over.

A very disappointing batting performance was perhaps overshadowed by a very good bowling and fielding display by the side, however a lot of work and effort is needed as the 1s now face an early season must win game at home to Deddington CC next week!