Whitchurch-on-Thames Cricket Club

After scoring 50+ with the bat, taking 5 wickets with the ball and buying a round of drinks, the Parish Council are considering a proposal to commemorate John Staker’s deeds with an extra day’s holiday next week and renaming the village ‘Stakerchurch’. Batting first, and struggling to get anything to the boundary, Whitchurch looked like getting a below-par score when JS went out to bat at No. 5.  A quick 60, ably supported by Nick Turner and Paul Higgs, ensured a competitive 179. After tea, with Sonning Common keeping up with the run rate and their opener looking good, JS came on as fourth-change (where have heard this before??).  5 wickets, this time with support from Floody and Scooby, ensured a comfortable victory by 9 runs with 7 balls remaining. The Parish Council turned down the idea of a street party saying it was ‘a ridiculous idea’. Lyn

On a glorious summer's day at Woolhampton, Whitchurch put up a good effort in the field but ultimately came up short with the bat again, though credit had to go to Nick Hill for keeping his end up.   Some good bowling, particularly from new-boy Francis Xavier, kept Woolhampton to 207, which was considered a par score by both sides. However a clatter of wickets meant we struggled to 105 all out, with Francis again performing well with the bat.

Despite giving the first outings of the season to Tim Close, Andy Mutepha and David Mattimoe we ended up a disappointing second. "Captain Calamity" has he has now been nick named in the Kilford household lost the toss and we were duly put in to bat. Although disappointed as I would have bowled first we looked a strong batting line up on paper however that was where it ended! The top order failed to produce runs with Closey L B W, John Staker disastrously run out and the others giving away their wickets when look set to score more. The middle order were ripped out in three balls with Jon Steward looking certain to retain his Duck award this Season despite Higgy's best efforts to give him a run for his money! At 49-8 and the game just over an hour into the action, a result before tea looked on the cards however the tail of Matt Kilford,CC and Redeye showed the rest of the team how to hang around and accumulate runs at Chanderpaul pace finishing on 77 all out. ...

An opening partnership of 130, with Nick Hill eventually carrying his bat for 176*; wickets for Killer, Nick Turner and Paul Vaughan; and a stunning catch on the boundary, all helped in securing Whitchurch’s first victory of the season. Batting first Whitchurch scored 253 for 5 in their allotted 35 overs, with Nick Hill making it look effortless and appearing to be batting on an entirely different track to everybody else in the side.  Thereafter, with a big total to chase, Checkendon came out with the necessary guns blazing but inevitable lost wickets at a regular interval. Checkendon were eventual bowled out for 163; Whitchurch winning by 90 runs.

If Drogba thought he was under a bit of pressure (as did the watching audience of 250 million), then he ought to come and bat for Whitchurch when we’re 6 wickets down and he’s just realised that he’s filled the tea urn but forgotten to switch it on. In a magnificent rear-guard action, the tail batted through the last hour to ensure that the urn had time to boil and tea was as perfect as always – as a small aside the tail also added an invaluable 70 runs, with Lyn finishing on 46 not out, so that Whitchurch could enjoy their tea on 144 for 9. Thereafter Whitchurch exerted pressure through all their bowlers and in the field, taking 5 wickets and all their catches, but unfortunately couldn’t dislodge the Woodcote No 3 until after he’d scored a fluent 60+. Woodcote eventually ran out winners by 5 wickets. Thanks for the ‘perfect’ tea to Teresa. Lyn

Chasing a woefully inadequate score of 111, Crazies Hill sped to ‘victory’ without losing even one wicket. In a timed game, Whitchurch were bowled out shortly before tea for 111 with only Nick Hill and Lyn getting over 20.  Cormac, in his first game of the season, held the tail together and stayed around long enough to ensure a three-figure total. Thereafter it was always going to be an uphill struggle and the only object of the game was to ensure that Brian’s figure were ruined for the rest of the Season – duly achieved and cheered down the pub soon after. Lyn