General Collapse in Middle-Order dents title hopes
Saturday 26th August

Windsor 204 all out; 47.4 overs (Bird 92; Harper 5 for 31)
Finchampstead 2’s 205 for 7; 50.3 overs (Milne 82)

Windsor’s inconsistent season took another turn this past Saturday as they entertained Finchampstead 2nd XI at The Home Park. On a very damp wicket, Finch skipper Harper won the toss and put Windsor into bat first, looking to take advantage of the conditions.

Windsor on the other looked to attack the new ball early, promoting Charters in the order to play a few strokes. Only a good catch at square was to deny he and Windsor that good start. This brought skipper Bird to the crease and working with Davis the pair began to build a partnership. Bird was particularly harsh on the bowling of Milne, taking 14 off his fourth over. Davis (20), playing the anchor role, was next to go with the score at 66, when an uppish drive was merely chipped to mid-off. The prolific Millman then joined the skipper and again the runs began to flow at a rate of knots. Bird, playing in aggressive style, passed yet another fifty on the way to an 84 run partnership with Millman. With a hundred in sight, Bird was undone by the Finch leg-spinner and duly departed for 92. Windsor then lost Towse cheaply and when Millman followed for 42, the Windsor innings began to lose its way. Clarke saw the engine room of Nichols, Watkins and Grainger for under 20 runs and when Cornish were stumped, they were 192 for 9 with nearly 10 overs still to go. After stumbling past a hundred, Clarke miss-directed his square drive and was caught at point and Windsor was all out for 204 with 4 overs to spare. A disappointing score, after being in such a strong position at 150 for 2.

The Finchampstead reply started in an aggressive manner. But once Grainger had made the initial breakthrough, to a fine catch by Watkins at slip, the brakes were applied and runs dried up. Both Grainger and Nichols bowled great lines, regularly beating the bat and making run scoring next to impossible. When Mohindru took the 4th wicket, Finch found themselves in trouble and looking down the barrels of defeat. Then began a match changing and eventually winning knock by Milne. After being beaten all ends up by Nichols’ away swing, Milne settled in and began to play aggressively to the Windsor spinners. Despite losing his long time partner at the other end, Milne passed fifty and along with skipper Harper, moved Finch to within sight of victory at 190 for 5, with 10 overs to go. Cornish was then introduced into the attack and after an initial poor over, began to bowl with great rhythm. When he then took the crucial wicket of Milne for 82, the Finchampstead hearts began to fluster. With 8 runs to win, Cornish then removed Harper to another fine delivery. Incredibly, with the next two balls, Windsor had half chances of snatching the chance of a late win. First Cornish and then Watkins spilled very tough chances and Finchampstead snuck home for 3-wicket victory.

Windsor were left to rue their chances and their poor batting after the game, knowing that perhaps as little as 15-20 more runs may have swung the game their way. With only two games now remaining, the club are now 20 points behind leaders Bagshot and play them on Saturday. They will be looking to exert maximum pressure on the leaders on Saturday and need to play a consistent 100 overs to take the league to final game of the season.

Windsor chases hard to the line
Saturday 19th August

Chiswick & Latymer 281 for 5; 52 Overs (Davis 63, E. Haq 77)
Windsor 279 for 6; 48 Overs (Millman 87, Clarke 83)

After a sub-par performance the week before, Windsor looked to bounce back immediately with a visit to top-of-the-table Chiswick in a battle for top spot. It became immediately obvious what Chiswick’s intentions were, when upon winning the toss on a green-top, they batted first in an attempt to gain maximum batting points and make chasing hard. Whilst a tactic that would mean they had relative control on the flow of the game, it would almost prove to backfire.

Early wickets did not come Windsor’s way once again as whilst Nichols bowled well from one end, Windsor struggle to contain the runs at the other at the other. Chiswick openers Van Den Berg and Davis were both patient with the good balls and punishing with the anything remotely bad. With the score on 40 after 10 overs, Windsor then managed to peg the scoring back as Granger found a consistent length and Nichols bowled maiden after maiden. The pressure told when Granger managed to trap Van Den Berg lbw in the 20th over. Chiswick then struggled to find runs, but it was Windsor who would turn the innings when frustration got the better all round and fielding errors began to slip in. With the loss of Davis for a well-crafted 63, Chiswick were left with 10 overs left and 140 on the board. A vital drop at point off Bangladeshi Test Batsman Haq when he hadn’t scored would soon prove crucial as the home side began to cut loose. The short straight boundary came into affect as Haq looked to go over the top off Nichols, spoiling what had previously been impressive figures. The Windsor fielding continued to falter, with catches dropped all over and only a fabulous run out by Granger being anything like the standard expected. Chiswick managed to plunder 140 off their final 10 overs, setting Windsor 281 to win off the minimum 48 overs and seemingly playing them out of the game.

Windsor endured early pressure from the new ball on a still lively wicket. The scalp of Davis typified this, as he gloved a lifting delivery to the keeper with the score on 12. Bird looked to have settled in well until he hit a thunderbolt to mid-on that was caught well by the fielder. With two early wickets down, Chiswick looked to press home the advantage, but Windsor started to counter attack. With the movement abating and the pitch playing true, Millman and Clarke began to build a huge partnership. Moreover, the pace that they were scoring runs soon saw Windsor back in with a shout in the game. Both passed fifty and seemed set on converting to big hundreds. Luck would conspire against both as first Clarke mistimed a drive off his boot to cover and then, despite building a good partnership with Nichols, Millman too perished in the pursuit of runs, trapped leg before. Nichols took on the aggressive mantle and along with Granger (playing an uncharacteristically restrained supportive role) they managed to get Windsor in sight of victory. With 30 to win off 3 overs, Nichols perished, run out to a direct hit by Haq, bringing Doye to wicket. The tension was unbearable as the last over began and Windsor needed 11 to win. An almighty swing from Doye off ball one gleaned no runs and 4 balls and 7 runs later, Windsor need 4 to win off 1 ball. Granger unleashed a tracer bullet of a straight drive to straight mid on, which was bravely stopped by the Chiswick fielder. Confusion and disappointment in the middle saw Granger run out and Chiswick pick up a vital bonus point. The game ended in a draw, but the 6-point difference between the two teams belied to quality of the game.

After such a nail biting game, Windsor were left with the knowledge that if one piece of the poor fielding earlier in the game had been rectified, the result may have gone their way. As such, they will be looking for an improved performance on their return to the Home Park this week to the visit of Finchampstead.

Over-confident Windsor come up short
Saturday 12th August

Windsor 168 all out; 52 Overs (Clarke 53, Harris 7-39)
Basingstoke 2’s 172 for 5; 44 Overs (Bissoon 55)

Buoyed by the win over local rivals Datchet the week before, a confident Windsor entertained Basingstoke last Saturday at Home Park looking for a win to further enhance their push for promotion. Upon winning yet another toss, Windsor skipper Bird elected to bat first in an attempt to push for maximum points.

After an expensive initial over, the Basingstoke openers bowled a tight opening salvo and were rewarded in the 10th over with the wicket of Davis. Bird and Millman began to increase the stroke play slightly, but neither could break free and Windsor struggled to pick up the run rate. The introduction of off-spinner Harris further curtailed Windsor’s scoring and a flurry of wickets saw Bird and then Granger go in the same over to leave Windsor at 64 for 3 as they neared the half way mark. Clarke joined Millman and the two looked to pick up the run flow, but an injudicious shot from Millman curtailed his innings at 37 and Windsor hit another roadblock. Both Nichols and Watkins pushed hard for runs but had no real penetration. It was Clarke’s belligerence and stroke-play that helped Windsor reach a workable total, but when he fell for an excellent 55, the innings quickly petered out. The final total of 168 all out off the full 52 overs was well short of the target desired and was in much part due to the fine bowling of Basingstoke’s Harris, who finished with a excellent 7 for 39.

Basingstoke’s reply was put under immediate pressure as Windsor spinners Watkins and Mohindru took the old ball and looked to attack. The desired affect was found when Basingstoke’s opener was caught out at short leg by Davis in the 9th over. Watkins struck at the other end, picking up two quick wickets, one via a fine catch at slip by Clarke. Their then followed a period that would most likely decide the game. Having survived two relatively straight forward chances early, Bissoon realising his luck was in, played a cavalier knock for the visitors, surviving two run out chances and a missed stumping. He reached his half-century with a characteristic drive back over the bowler’s head that just cleared mid-off’s head. When his luck finally ran out on 55, Windsor again sense the opportunity to attack with Basingstoke still needed over 80 to win. The fifth wicket though proved to be a difficult one to take as the obdurence of the senior player and fearless of youth combined to deny Windsor. When Watkins picked up his fourth and Windsor’s fifth wicket, the game was all but up. Basingstoke, finally reach the target with 5 overs and 5 wickets to spare.

The loss was a difficult one to take for Windsor, but as it would happen, events elsewhere would work in their favour. As many of the top clubs lost to lower opposition, Windsor in fact reduced the gap on leaders Chiswick by 1 point. This Saturday sees Windsor travel to Chiswick in a top of the table clash. With four games to go, a winner here will be in the box seat.

Windsor surprise a deflated Datchet

Datchet 134 all out; 35.1 Overs (J Granger 6 for 43)
Windsor 138 for 4; 24.5 Overs (Millman 57)

After a lot had been said from both sides in the local media, the much-hyped game between Datchet and Windsor certainly produce the drama that was expected this past weekend. After Datchet winning away earlier in the season, Windsor were looking to repeat the favour as they travelled the short distance to their local rivals. A near full-strength Windsor, packed with batting was asked to field first as Datchet looked to produce a considerable score for the visitors to chase.

With opening bowlers Nichols and Cornish moving the ball in the air and off the seam, Datchet were immediately under pressure when opener Tilly was removed for 1 by the latter in the 4th over. This brought Datchet’s skipper and “danger-man” Tim Alldiss to the crease to face the early movement. Nichols then produced the “ball of the season” to Alldiss, an away cutter that beat the bat, clipped the off bail but failed to dislodge it. Windsor were initially convinced the audible noise was bat on ball, but soon realised that it was in fact ball on bail, a good decision by the Umpire. With the trap set a deep point, Alldiss finally succumbed three overs later when he flashed at a wide one and skied down Doye’s throat. An ecstatic Windsor then pressed home the advantage, when first Nicholls removed Kash top edging a pull to Mohindru and Shepherd playing on to a wide off-cutter. Windsor own “Danger” was then introduced, and Justin Granger set about working his way through the remains of the Datchet line-up. First removing Smith with a ball that nipped away, with controlled aggression down the hill he picked his way through the Datchet line-up. The temporary resistance from the Jones brothers was belied by a smart catch by Millman in the gully and when brother Adam was the last man to go, Datchet were all out for 134 and Granger had figures of 6 for 43.

Windsor set about the chase in the worst possible way as, through some fine swing bowling from Andy Dick, they found themselves 40 for 3; losing Davis, Bird and Towse cheaply. Millman and Granger then built a match-winning partnership. Both picked up the run-rate significantly through aggressive batting, with Granger particularly brutal outside the off stump to Kash and Millman playing sumptuous cover drives off left-arm spinner James Dick. The final twist in the game came when Datchet had a sharp chance against Millman turned down off the bowling of James Dick. After this point, the game fell away quickly and after completing a fine 57, Millman finally fell to Andy Dick’s leg-spin with Windsor in sight of victory. Nicholls (14*) then joined Granger (44*) and both, whilst completing fine all-round matches, saw Windsor home in style.

The win keeps Windsor in second in Division 2A and increase the gap to twenty-two points on Datchet. Both have big games this weekend, with Windsor facing Basingstoke 2nd’s at Home Park, looking to avenge the loss they suffered earlier in the season. The race for the Division 2A title looks set to be a tight one and could provide an entertaining end to the season.

Windsor stifled by negative tactics.

Windsor 257 for 7; 49 Overs (Millman 85, Bird 57)
OMT 208 for 7; 51 Overs (Walter 71)

After the fun and games of the week before, Windsor travelled to bottom club OMT with their sights firmly set on winning the game. Upon winning the toss (again!), skipper Craig Bird had no hesitation in choosing to bat first.

Regular openers Bird and Davis seemed rather more eager to start the game than the home side, as OMT entered the field in dribs and drabs of players looking less than keen. An uncharacteristic shot by Davis saw an early wicket and arguably him miss his chance to cash in. From then on Bird and Millman took root and began to plunder the OMT bowling. Bird completed his fourth half-century in succession and looked set to convert this into a big score until he was caught and bowled sharply by Lamb.

Millman continued to impress with shots all around the ground, particularly severe with the cut and pull on anything short. Granger, returning to the Windsor fold for the first time this year, batted well until to succumbing to an impatient end. Nichols form continues to flag with the bat and a brief cameo came and went before he got settled. Bustling all-rounder Watkins then joined Millman and the scoring rate picked up once again. As Millman neared a deserved century, the Windsor curse struck again as he holed out to mid-on whilst on 85. Chana joined Watkins and provided excellent support as the former captain began to unleash his characteristic big hits as Windsor careered past 200. Upon the loss of Watkins and Mohindru, Windsor reached 250 and declared the innings early and leave 51 overs to bowl out OMT.

The innings start in brisk fashion, as Granger and Nichols probed straight away, with the former picking up a wicket with the final ball of his first over. OMT then began to show some severe fight and went on the attack as the Windsor pace tandem tried in vain to get some life out of the featherbed surface. OMT continued at 5 to 6 an over and set a good foundation for a run chase. Only, when Granger took a fine return catch, was it that the impetus was broken, removing Stamp for a fine 40. Two quick wickets then fell to Nichols’ bouncer and OMT were struggling at 60 for 4.

Then came a period of negative play from the home side. Whilst set well in terms of run rate, the fear of another loss saw them “shut up shop” for 10 overs, preferring to use the pad instead of the bat to Windsor’s spinners. In an attempt to get them interested, Windsor began to lob the ball up more and leave gaping holes in the field. OMT woke up and began to take advantage and the run rate grew once again. Some poor fielding by Windsor saw chances dropped though and the game slowed once again. Lines bowled well on his first team debut, But the desired effect was finally found when Granger returned and took the fifth wicket via a cracking catch by Nichols, by which time though OMT seemed more interested in the 1 extra point for 200 than the 20 points for the win. Then shutters were pulled down and the game petered out to a draw, with Windsor pushing hard to the end, claiming two further wickets.

For a side that had come within 12 runs of chasing 400 earlier in the season to not go after 250 was disappointing, but Windsor’s lack of penetration on a featherbed pitch was also a key factor. This Saturday sees Windsor visit Datchet in a crucial match in terms of the race for the title. With 10 points between first and fourth place, the six remaining games promises to lead to a tight finish a closely fought Division 2A.

Falkland own Lord of the Flies!

Windsor 200 for 7; 37 Overs (Davis 59; Bird 56)
Falkland 2’s 201 for 6; 32.4 Overs (Heath 96*)

After a week of sweltering weather throughout the area, last Saturday’s game against Falkland 2nd XI saw Windsor battle mother nature in all her glory. With rain in the air, upon winning the toss, Windsor skipper Craig Bird did not hesitate to bat first.

Some early movement and startling bounce saw Windsor struggle to score at their usual rate. With the score on 37 after 12 overs, the persistent rain that had been around since the start of the day finally took its toll and saw the teams go off.

Two hours and tea interval had passed by the time the game restarted and in a game reduced to the minimum 70 overs, Windsor were immediately under pressure to score fast as they now had 25 overs left to build a competitive total. Immediately, Bird began to attack and force the issue on the resumption of play. The Windsor opening pair of Bird and Davis again set the foundations for a big score and the score passed 100 before Bird finally fell for 56, his third consecutive league fifty. Clarke joined Davis, who having lost his opening partner, passed fifty himself with a big six over mid-wicket. With 10 overs left, the dismissal of Davis saw the run-rate slow slightly, but after the loss of Clarke, Bullock and Nichols cheaply, Watkins kicked into high gear and slotted some big shots to push Windsor towards 200. A final push from Mohindru and Hill saw Windsor pass 200 and set Falkland what they thought was a stiff chase of 201 to win off 33 overs.

A quick turn-around saw Windsor immediately go on the attack and attempt to bowl Falkland out. But with the field in to strive for wickets, Falkland looked to attack from the off with Brown particularly brutal. Poor bowling from Windsor, coupled with some adventurous stroke play saw the rate maintained at around 7 an over. When Nichols finally removed Brown via a smart catch from Baumgartner, Falkland were pegged back slightly, but it only brought Heath to the crease to begin a match-winning innings. After the second Falkland opener was dismissed, Windsor faced two left-handers and struggled again to hold back the tide. Even a huge swam of flies that settled over the ground, could not abate the onslaught and Heath continued to plunder the bowling. With victory in sight, a sudden blip by Falkland opened the door slightly and Windsor saw a glimmer of hope. With 4 overs to go and the rate required at around 7, Heath set about Nichols and plundered 16 off the over to put Falkland in the box seat. Despite a fine penultimate over from Nichols that gleaned only 3 runs and wicket Falkland faced the task of 5 runs of the last over. The near heroics Watkins, who conceded only 1 run and took a wicket from the first three balls, were not enough as Heath survived another near miss to his stumps and the ball trickled for four to spark huge celebrations for the bottom club.

After an eventful but disappointing loss, Windsor still managed to draw 13 points from the game. Which, with rain affecting many other games, saw them reach joint top of TVL division 2 after the weeks play. With Windsor visiting new bottom club OMT this weekend, they see two major changes to the side with young spinner Mark Lines coming in and all-rounder Justin Granger return to the club. A full strength side also sees the return of batsmen Towse and Millman. A win is crucial in their pursuit of promotion.