SOA v Stowe Templars, Sunday 14 July 2013

Post date: 15-Jul-2013 13:12:21

SOA 233 for 3 dec (Butcher 42*, Launchbury 40*), Stowe 146 all out (Meadon 4 for 54, White 3 for 15)

SOA were inserted on a pitch that looked like it was going to break up later in the day. The decision looked vindicated when Webb was bowled in the first over trying to pull a very short ball which did not get up. This lead to a recovery partnership from Alex Jennings and Neil Bryan. Bryan hit a very fluent fifty, hitting some shots with typical West Indian flamboyance, with Jennings dropping anchor on a pitch with a slow outfield. Jennings was then dropped at mid off to a catch that looked more difficult to be dropped than taken. SOA then got to lunch with few further alarms and got to lunch at 94-1.

After lunch, SOA quickly lost Bryan caught behind cutting an off-spinner, but Jennings accelerated playing some strong cover drives. After taking the off-spinner for a four and a six over long on, he got a bit too extravagant and whipped one to square leg. This bought in Matthew Launchbury, who proceeded to drill his first ball through mid off for four. Launchbury and Chris Butcher gave the innings a final impetus and allowed the declaration after 54 overs at 233 for 3. Butcher and Launchbury finished up unbeaten on 42 and 40, respectively.

This gave Templars a tricky half an hour before tea to negotiate. This was duly done so, but we got 10 overs in that 30 mins, but at tea, Templars were 26-0. After tea, Charman capped off a good containing spell by bowling Templars’ less expansive opening batsman. Paul White then bowled the other opener cutting a ball that was far too close to him. Off spinner Jonny Meardon, then started work on the middle order, getting a catch at short leg (after ricocheting off keeper Launchbury’s not inconsiderable stomach. Next ball was caught and bowled off a full toss. SOA got to the final our after bowling 31 overs. The crucial point of the game was when former Hampshire opening batsman Sean Morris was early on a cut shot and hit it straight back to the bowler (Brown). White and Meardon nipped out another couple of wickets before Webb was bought on and bowled Templars’ No. 10. The final wicket was a super catch at mid wicket by Kester Matthew off White. Meadon finished with 4-54 off 13 overs and White 3-15 off 7.3 overs.

Team:

Paul White (captain; Abingdon Vale)

John Brown (Gloucester City Winget)

Neil Bryan (Radley)

Chris Butcher (Abingdon Vale)

Matthew Butcher (Abingdon Vale)

Marcus Charman (Wootton & Boars Hill)

Alex Jennings (Gloucester City Winget)

Matthew Launchbury (Radley)

Kester Matthew (Radley)

Jonny Meardon (Didcot)

Billy Webb (Radley)