1st XI Off The Mark

Captain Edd Willmot didn't hesitate to bat first on a decent looking track although with a slow outfield runs were never going to be easy!

Andy Oliver and Hari Lehal opened up and were looking solid against the wily Chalmers and new signing Palmer before Oliver was adjudged LBW for the 3rd game in a row to a full swinging delivery! Sam Rodway was playing his first game of the season and fell for a duck to a good delivery from Palmer who was enjoying the swinging conditions and Kidlington found themselves on 20/2. Willmot joined Lehal in the middle with a partnership needed, the pair batted superbly putting on 100+ for the 3rd wicket with Lehal looking solid as ever and Willmot with some classy strokes through the covers. As Kiddy passed 150 they looked in complete control as both Lehal and Willmot reached their half centuries. As Willmot went for 59 after being bowled trying to accelerate the score further, Waseem Azad came to middle and took no time to get after the Marcham bowling striking a couple of big boundaries before holing out to a good catch in the deep by Tom Mooring. Stuart Armstrong had struggled on a flat wicket with none of his usual turn and drift. Richard Walker came to the crease and played two good sweeps for four off of Armstrong before being bowled trying to make it three from three. Steve Litten was another looking to continue his good start to the season with the bat and struck a brilliant straight drive for 4 as Kidlington passed 200 with 4 overs remaining. Litten fell the following over again to Armstrong as he was stumped after dancing down the wicket. Dan Farrant joined Lehal in the middle who was rotating the strike brilliantly and finding the boundary with some great drives through the offside. Farrant was the 3rd of Armstrongs wickets as he danced down the wicket only to be bowled. Muhammed Usman came to the crease with intent of increasing Kidlingtons total and showed when he struck a huge six into the Brake end from Armstrong as KCC finished on 226/8 from their 45 overs.

After a brilliant tea, Kidlington set about defending their total after failing to do so the following week! Dan Farrant and Steve Litten opened as usual and both bowled well with Farrant forcing an early chance as he found the edge of Josh Woodleys bat, only for it to be spilled in the slips. The ever reliable Armstrong was looking assured and waited for any loose bowling of which there was little from the KCC bowlers. Litten was bowling with pace and troubling the Marchams batsmen but it was Farrant who took the opening wicket as he bowled Woodley with a yorker that clattered into leg stump. This brought Kev Watkins to the middle and he made his intent known as he swung from the hip straight away. He didn't last long however as Litten placed his fielders perfectly for Watkins to hole out to a smart Sam Rodway catch at long on. With runs coming slow and wickets beginning to fall, Marcham had a steady partnership between Armstrong and the new Palmer. Some sloppy Kidlington fielding let Marcham score some easy runs as they went pass 50 but the captain Willmot showed a brilliant piece of work to remove the dangerous Armstrong. As the ball raced down the ground, Willmot set off in chase and a brilliant throw from the deep meant it was left to Farrant to remove the bails as Armstrong was well short of his ground going for a second run! A big wicket for Kidlington and they should have had another when Farrant found the edge of Palmers bat this time, only for it again to be put down in the slips. As Farrant bowled out and drinks came, Marcham were on 75/3 with Muhammed Usman replacing Farrant and Chris Graham, having replaced Litten. The pair continued to apply pressure and Usman took his first wicket with a ball that hit the seam and removed Palmer. Tom Mooring and James Cox were in the middle with Marcham now needing over 6 an over to get close to their target. Mooring took the attack to the Kidlington bowlers with some big shots over extra cover and down the ground. Michael Tippett replaced Graham at the Brake End and bowled with great control as he applied pressure to the Marcham batsmen. Usman took his second wicket as Cox edged behind as keeper Richard Walker took a brilliant catch stood up to the stumps! This brought captain Tristan Barrett to the middle as he joined Mooring. With the target slowing going beyond Marcham, Tippett was finally rewarded for his tight bowling as he took the wicket of Barrett with a swinging delivery that hit off stump! Steve Litten came back from the Pavillion End and removed the dangerous Mooring as he played on off his pads and with him, Marchams hope of victory has disappeared. Edd Willmot came on to bowl the last over and what a memorable over it would be for him. His first two deliveries dot balls before bowling Andy Horseman, in came Andy Chalmers who Willmot removed first ball LBW, with Willmot on a hatrick, in marched Phil Jeacock and with Kidlington crowding the new bat, Jeacock played an missed as Willmot bowled him and claimed a hatrick and KCC sealed their first victory of the season!