MILLMAN, MALLOCH AND BIRCH THE SAVIOURS!

WINDSOR 166 (45 overs)
Millman (45), Malloch (38) and Birch (15*)

Defeated

BOYNE HILL 165 (45 overs)
Kellard 5/37 (7 overs)

After the freezing conditions in the previous weeks trial, the weather gods shone down upon a beautiful Saturday morning as Windsor headed to Boyne Hill for their 2nd installment of their pre-season. Windsor chose exactly the same side that played Egham the week previous as they try to build momentum heading up to the league.

Skipper Wes Nichols won the toss and had no hesitation in bowling on a green but soft wicket, that he assumed would get easier to bat on, as the day progressed.

With Birch seemingly no where in the sight, Windsor had to take the field with 10 men, as Malloch and Nichols resumed their combination from last season. They turned the screws on the Boyne Hill openers, in conditions that where tough for batting. After 10 overs Nichols struck with the last ball of his spell claiming Cousins caught and bowled.

Nichols then introduced a previously absent Birch who bowled with out luck, claiming the edge a few times and having a sharp chance shelled at cover. All this while Malloch at the other end, was bowling with decent rhythm but throwing in the odd random poor ball.

With the batsmen getting more settled against pace, Mohindru was introduced to dry up the runs. This built the required pressure and soon Hobson was caught by Nichols at cover to make Boyne Hill 2/80 after 19. A score of 200+ looking on the cards until Nichols and Mohindru combined to put the squeeze on the middle order. Boyne Hill skipper Tom Mellor scored his 50, but no else really shone as Mohindru claimed his wicket to a fine catch from Riches and the middle order struggled to get the ball away.

With brakes well and truly on, Boyne Hill trudged to 3/130 off 32. Kellard was introduced to tempt the middle order. Attacking fields were set to tempt the batsmen over the top. Kellard took a few overs to get his bearings, but once he did he cut through the Boyne Hill middle/lower order. Ex-Windsor player Smith holed out to extra cover as another ex-Windsor player Nick Cornish was stumped. Kellard began to toss the bowl up and the urge from the inexperienced Boyne Hill batsmen proved too much as they were knocked over for 165.

Malloch chimed in at the death to claim 2 well deserved late wickets, but it was Kellard getting the bowling honors with 5/36 off 7. Mohindru and Nichols were at their miserly best as 165 was thought to be a par total considering the conditions.

Openers Chana and Chorley looked to consolidate early on but a sublime spell of medium bowling from Preston put the brakes on. Windsor where 0/10 off 10 and there was a real lack of effort in running in between he wickets, this heaped loads off pressure on the middle order. This is an area that MUST improve! Chorley (1) was bowled by Preston playing around one from the metronomic Preston and Bird came to the crease. The painfully slow outfield made scoring difficult as Chana (11) gave into the pressure and holed out to extra cover.

From here wickets were lost regularly and the precision bowling of Boyne Hill, used the familiar conditions, put the punch into Windsor’s middle order. Bird (23) played on trying to force the pace, Riches (0) was unlucky to be given LBW to an inside edge and Nichols (1) was run out trying to rotate strike leaving the visitors looking down the barrel at 5 for 65 after 27 overs.

The loss of wickets was a direct result of the top order being unable to rotate strike. This was due to poor running, superb bowling and a very slow outfield. It was left to Millman and Malloch to show the other guys how it is done!

Millman and Malloch slowly set about re-building the innings with superb rotation and hitting the odd boundary. With 6 an over needed Windsor where always in the hunt with these two at the crease and some experienced batting meant that with 6 overs to go, Windsor needed 30 to win. The two had put on 70 before Millman was caught at cover for 45. A gallant knock that put the Windsor side in the box seat.

Birch and Malloch set about the chase in systematic style with brilliant running between the wickets the unorthodox style of Birch reducing the target to 3 off 1 over. Malloch (35) then fell with the finish line well in sight. This brought Mohindru the wicket who was run out but with 1 ball remaining and 1 run needed, Birch (15*) guided the side home in an exciting game.

The best part of the win was the fact that Windsor scored 100 runs in the last 15 overs where conditions where most suited to bowling with a very slow outfield. They paced their chase perfectly, with Malloch, Millman and Birch being the real heroes of the day.

The top order tried their best to keep things a float and a bit more rotation of the strike would have prevented this game from coming down to the wire. But in saying that, the Boyne Hill attack were outstanding with their disciplined lines, and that combined with the turgid out field, was probably asking too much of the Windsor top order, Boyne Hill deserved all the credit, they were too good!

As for Windsor's bowling, Kellard was good and the wickets should help his confidence. he bowled alot better when the bowl was tossed up and hopefully he will earn form this, he is an attacking option that should be called upon consistently if he keeps up the form. Birch was unlucky to go wicketless and Malloch done a great job at the death.

It was really Nichols and Mohindru who should get all the accolades, as they put Windsor well in the box seat with a uncompromising bowling partnership that yielded an amazing 12 runs in 12 overs! A great effort especially from Mohindru who is rumoured to turn 56 next week!

From here it is back to Home Park as Windsor play the strong Enfield. It will be a good test to see exactly where they are. With Malloch unavailable and 2nd XI bats hardly knocking down the door, it will be interesting to see what is the make up of the side. It will also be nice to play on a deck that should provide a more sporting contest for the batsmen.

CHANA STEPS UP AND MILLMAN TURNS BACK THE CLOCK...

The season finally got started for the Windsor CC 1st XI last Saturday as they played host to Egham CC in their first trial of the season. As the sleet and 7 degree temperatures covered the players like a wet blanket, short sleeve shirts where swapped for jackets and thermal wear!

Upon inspection the captains found that the ground staff had done a superb job and the wicket looked in pristine condition for this time of the year. New skipper Wes Nichols unfortunately lost his first toss as Egham decided to have a bat in the arctic conditions.

Bevan Malloch and Oliver Birch took the new ball as both shook free the early season cobwebs. It was the self proclaimed giant killer Oliver Birch who kept his past reputation in tact, as he got the initial break throughs in the 5th over. He bowled Smith with a peach that would have knocked over Michael Vaughan and then Hall 2 balls later! This was followed up by Malloch, whom by this stage has settled into a nice groove and claimed Egham skipper Watmore LBW, to have the visitors reeling at 3 for 15.

Egham posted a fine recovery with their overseas Boucher, punishing some poor bowling from the enigmatic Birch and gaining some momentum. The new batsmen Smith struggled at first with the introduction of Nichols playing out a few maidens, he was very lucky to survive a LBW, and should probably buy a pint to his team-mate who turned down the appeal...

From here he decided to make full use of the short boundary and unleashed some massive strikes over midwicket to ease the stagnated run-rate to the mirth of the Windsor skipper.

Mohindru was then introduced and gained immediate effect claiming the scalp of Boucher as Nichols knocked over the new batsmen Jones to bring No. 7 Hamilton to the crease.

From here the next 10 overs where all Egham as the introduction of Kellard saw Smiths eyes light up, as he belted the hapless young leg spinner. As the partnership brought Egham to 140/5 off 30 overs, Nichols reintroduced Malloch who tied things up and gambled by giving Mohindru his final over from the shorter boundary end. The flatter trajectory would prove more difficult for Smith to get underneath as he was caught by Birch as he went to the well one too many times. It was the end of a dashing knock that saved the guests from embaressment.

This change meant that Nichols had 2 overs up his sleeve. He choose prolific non-bowler Stuart Millman to complete the job. Most days he would struggle to get a bowl in a Chinese restaurant, but today was his day as he finished with 3/9 off 2 overs, Kellard would have paid £100 for even one of them!

Kellard bowled very well at the death as the pair along with desperate fielding restricted Egham to 30 runs off the last 7 overs, meaning Windsor would be chasing 189 for victory.

Windsor started cautiously as Chana and Chorley looking to consolidate in the first 10 overs to set a platform for Windsor’s explosive middle order. The constant drizzle started to impair the bowlers as they slid around and batting became more difficult as the ball stuck in the wicket.

This did not stop Chorley by punishing anything short and wide on his off stump and Chana from playing some exquisite strokes of his legs. The opening partnership got to 50 and Windsor were on track.

Chorley (38) than fell in the 18th over trying to forge ahead of the run rate and with wickets in hand was the right move. This brought Bird to the crease but the sluggish wicket made scoring freely near impossible if you didn’t have enough time to get in.

The asking rate was 6/7 an over needed from the remaining overs, which would have been easy in better conditions but the slow conditions meant Bird (1) got bowled trying to force the pace.

Unfortunately the drizzle turned into rain and both captains decided it would be best to finish the game up now rather than risk serious injury and hyperthermia. Chana (53*) and Riches (10*) in a fine cameo, were the not out batsmen as Windsor finished on 2/107, the rain ruining what would have been an exciting finish.

There where many positives in the day. Chana’s batting showed that he may have what it takes to nail down an openers birth in the 1st XI. He lead a fine batting performance that unlike last season held greater value on their wickets. The opening combination with Chorley looks to have got off to a solid start.

Windsor in 2008 must be vigilant at the crease and not give into pressure. These two were a fine example of what skipper Nichols, is trying to drum into the side. Fingers crossed it will continue.

Malloch and Mohindru where the pick of the bowlers and Nichols is hoping they will only improve as time goes on. Birch was inconsistent, dishing up diamonds one ball than rocks the next! Kellard also took some heavy tap in the very tough conditions but both stuck at it. These two lads will benefit with more overs under their belts in the coming trials.

All in all it was a pleasing day from a playing view point and it’s just a shame that this ridiculous weather hampered what would have been a very close game.