WINDSOR MAKE IT 2 ON THE TROT

Nichols continues his good run of form with the batwith 68

as Windsor scrap home against Eversley

WINDSOR 186
Nichols 68
Huggins 62

defeated

EVERSLEY 173
Harris 5/91

With a blanket of rain smothering Home Park on the Thursday and Friday, chances of playing where very slim. But thanks to the outstanding work of Waterers ground staff, Windsor where able to host the punchy Eversley without any issues.

Nichols managed to win the toss and choose to bat on a very damp wicket. A surprising choice considering Chana (1) and Nair (16) both fell early on. Once again it was Nichols (68) and Huggins (62) who managed to re-build the innings. When Nichols departed with the score on 153/3, a score of 250+ looked on the cards, but some dumb batting, combined with a great debut from Eversley youngster Cummings (6/11), ripped the heart out of the much maligned Windsor lower order. The final 7 wickets managed to score 33 runs. No matter which way you want to sugar coat it, it was a pathetic performance.

After a rollicking from the skipper that tore paint from the walls, Windsor were set a task, 10 wickets, no matter what. Luckily, youngster Ben Harris (5/91) answered the call as he removed to first 4 wickets inside the first 6 overs of the match. A wicket to Nichols (2/57) and a run out from a direct hit from the skipper had Eversley 6/30 and looking at another defeat.

From here Windsor witnessed a great rear guard action from Eversley skipper Ben Saville (105) as he fought tooth and nail to get closer to the total. But a magnificent catch from the dependable Kemp changed the complexion of the game, as the redoubtable Mohindru (2/24), came on with the new ball the remove Saville and take the 10th wicket to secure another 25pt win.

Windsor travel to Cove next weekend, where a similar performance be unacceptable in trying to secure its 3rd win on the trot...

WINDSOR BACK INTO WINNING WAYS

Skipper Wes Nichols leads from the front claimed 5/22 and

scoring 70* as Windsor edge closer to the title

WINDSOR 225/6
Mark Huggins 85
Wes Nichols 70*

defeated

CHISWICK 143
Wes Nichols 5/22

After last weeks unlucky episode with the rain, Windsor hosted rivals Chiswick. Rain tipped down on the Friday, but luckily the much maligned Windsor CC covers did an adequate job and upon winning the toss, Nichols decided to have a bat.

The home side was soon in trouble, as openers Chana (1) and Birch (8) departed with the score less than 20. The 17 year old Nair (17) came and went till Huggins (85) and Nichols (70*) shared a 100+ partnership that managed to withstand the Chiswick assault on a difficult batting surface.

Huggins in particular was superb belting the ball like only he can to all corners and a much deserved 100 looked a forgone conclusion until a rush of blood quashed what would have been a well deserved tonne. It was a shame, as he has really matured as a batsmen in the last year, cutting a lot of recklessness out of his game, but he still has a little way to go till he really reaches his full potential.

A much more sedate Nichols continued to probe singles and rotate the strike and with San Jose (19) pushed the total to 225.

Windsor then looked to attack from the outset, but with the much vaunted spin attack both having an off day with the ball, runs came a plenty. Harris (1/57) did manage to claim the dangerous Bhatia, as Nichols got the key wicket of Panta bowled, with his 1st ball to him.

A change of tact meant that Nichols (5/22) and the introduction of Hartridge (3/21) would pull the game back into the homes sides favour. The wicket of Vandenburg was the catalyst that saw Windsor engulf the Chiswick middle/lower order and another 25 point win was completed in the 38th over.

Windsor play host to Eversley next week, as Windsor hope to start another run of wins that will strengthen their position at the top of the TVL.

WINDSOR STUNG BY THE RAIN...

Weston gets 50* as Windsor are

denied by the rain at Basingstoke

WINDSOR 229/7
Adam Weston 50*
Michael Gould 58

drew with

BASINGSTOKE 68/4

Windsor travelled to Basingstoke on the weekend in dour conditions hoping but not expecting a full days play to extend their lead in the TVL.

The weather was holding out amid grey skies and upon winning the toss, Nichols opted to bat. It was an interesting innings of 3 thirds as Gould (58) and Birch (48) stacked on the runs as the drizzle began to sleet down. This then made conditions quite difficult to bat as Windsor then went on to lose 6 for 35! With the ball seaming everywhere, Windsor found it hard as the sleet started to pour down. From here though, the ball got water-logged which meant Weston (50*), who was superb and in a timely return to form Hartridge (23) managed to take back the advantage. San Jose (33*) came out and played his most mature innings of the season thus far, to push the total to 229/7.

After a basic tea, Windsor then looked to attack and had the home team in trouble early on. With Nichols (3/28) knocking over the top order supported by Harris (1/10), Windsor were confident they could secure another 25pt win, but with the constant drizzle now causing concern with the umpires, Windsor had to settle for a 12pt draw in the 23rd over and rue what could have been, had the elements been kinder.

Windsor play host to Chiswick on the weekend, and will be looking for a good performance to extend their lead in the TVL.

WINDSOR ONCE AGAIN CANT MATCH IT WITH DATCHET...

The ageless Mohindru was best performed of the

Windsor attack as they go down to Datchet

DATCHET 8/260
Mohindru 4/45

defeated

WINDSOR 128

In a much needed wake up call, Windsor where comprehensively out played by a far superior Datchet side over the weekend. Upon losing the toss, Windsor toiled for their first 52 over stint of the season in the field and struggled to penetrate on the fabulous batting pitch.

Only Mohindru (4/45) could get momentum as Tilly (97) anchored the home sides innings in a real skippers knock as as Harris (2/75) and Nichols (1/38) chimed in the the other scalps.

Windsor needed someone in the top 4 to get a 100 but sadly Birch (17), Nichols (33), Nair (19) and Huggins (22) all got starts but were not good enough to go on with it. Windsors feeble under belly was brutally exposed as another pathetic middle/lower order performance then lost 7/25 to succumb to their 2nd loss of the season. It was a case of Windsor lying down and players not putting a very high price on their wicket.

Windsor frailty against spin was also highlighted as Aldiss (5/44) and Tilley (4/74) had a field day against a clueless bottom half.

Apart from the performance of Mohindru, the only highlight of the game was the great banter and spirit between the two sides after the game, as both sides drank together till dark. Even if it meant seeing all the Datchet lads in matching underwear.

Windsor travel to Basingstoke who are 2nd on the ladder, and will need to put this dire performance behind them if they are going to compete against one of the better sides in the league.