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It was a garden of Eden, a paradise for batsmen, purgatory for bowlers. We tanked up 277 for 4 and once again the opening partnership of Mark Ellison and Glyn Lumb got the team off to the perfect start adding 140 runs for the 1st wicket in 29 overs before Mark was out for 91 taking his aggregate of league runs to 952. When you think that the two rained off games were against bottom clubs, a thousand was his for the taking. Glyn made a more patient 63 and with wickets in hand both Olly Dimbylow with 56 and Rob Owen with a rapid 37 made hay against some weary bowling..

Reduced to 64 for 4 after 17 overs, we sniffed victory, but 164 for the fifth wicket pus us on the back foot. Both fell victim to the leg spin of 15 year old James Philips who was making his 1st team debut. In a tight finish Dinton scarificed wickets as they chased the victory and with 18 runs coming off the last over they fell an agonising 2 runs short on 275 for 8.

Batting on a tricky wicket, we showed more purpose then in previous weeks. Roger Podbery who was unluckily run out on 49 and Will Harvey with 40 led the way.

The bowlers failed to git the spot and the home team raced home by eight wickets.

Not much to report, all bowlers with the exception of Steve Pritchard toiled against the Shrivenham batsmen. 249 for 4 included 42 extras.

After tea only the blond bombshell, Nick Burton reached double figures with 27 as we slumped to a disappointing 71 all out and defeat by the huge margin of 178 runs.

This top of the table clash was the only chance to stop runaway leaders Kidlington snaffling the title. We lost Glyn Lumb without troubling the scorers but then Mark Ellison and skipper Will Clarke set about the bowling and took the score to 88 after 16 overs before Mark Ellison was bowled for 57. From then on Will Clarke dominated scoring 105 from 148 balls including 11 fours before being run out in the 48th over. Scrambled late runs gained maximum batting points and 220 for 8.

Kidlington made a solid start as the openers added 42 before Olly Dimbylow claimed two wickets to leave them on 73 for 2 after 18 overs. Pressure could not be exerted in any meaningful way however and the champions elect performed as just that peerless, winning in the penultimate over by six wickets.

Will Harvey switched ends and was immediately reward with 2 wickets and eventually finished with 4 for 44 but with wickets in hand runs continued to flow and they posted 214 for 8 off their 50 overs.

A slump of third team proportions left us reeling at 65 for 6. Chunky Carl Wooloff led some spirited resistance with a hard hit 35 and with the lower order chipping in respectability was acieved but a 79 run defeat could not be avoided.

Yet again a slump of Wall Street proportions saw us sitting on a twelfth floor window ledge and 38 for 6. Skipper Steve Pritchard led a fight back and whilst we never threatened the total, respectability - pulled back from the wimdows edge and the overs batted out. Small consolation maybe, but straws have to be clutched.

What a good win this was, second plays third and Milton Keynes were taken to the cleaners in their own backyard. It leaves us 80 odd points away from our highest ever finish and the runners up position. The impressive seven-wicket win was based on a 133 run partnership between Mark Ellison (91) and Glynn Lumb (44) as we easily passed the 168-9 set to win. Earlier David Slade to use todays in vogue cliché, joined the party and returned his seasons best figures (4-33).
Milton Keynes Park 10, Challow & Childrey 30

Basement battles are nervous, very often ugly affairs, only becoming a thing of beauty to the eventual winners. Owen Dimbylow's match winning 100 helped us pull off a timely, but twitchy three-wicket win at home to bottom side Milton Keynes 2nd's. We did our best to gift the points to our visitors by conceding 49 extras, easily their top scorer in Park's total of 199-9. Which almost proved enough as we only scraped together the winning runs from the penultimate delivery. A beautiful win leaving us two wins from safety - c'mon chaps.
Challow & Childrey 2nd 30 Milton Keynes Park 2nd 15

Glyn Lumb's dependability was much in evidence again and he dominated our innings with a resplendent 116. With Justin Penrose they added 104 for the 4th wicket and some lusty late hitting lifted the total to a useful 242 for 8.

The Bourton Vale reply got off to the worst possible start as their best batsman was well caught in the slips by Rob Own off Mike Konschel off the very first ball of the innings.Things rapidly deteriorated as they slipped to 27 for 5 and Mike Konschel went on to claim 3 for 27. Off spinner Lee Stevens good sesaon continued and he returned figures of 3 for 34 as Bourton Vale were shot out for just 127 giving us victory by a massive 115 runs.

Brackley were 26 for 1 off 12 overs when a second rain interruption caused play to be abandoned.

Early wickets reduced East Oxford to 37 for 3 and raised the spirits. However, downhill all the way from then as the middle order made contributions and a late flurry of runs saw a total of 266 for 8. Once again James Mabbett was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 45 from 10 overs.

The batting's improvement was maintained, once again led by Francis Brown's stubborn resistance. He carried his bat for the third successive match, a wonderful achievement and something I've never come across before. Francis along with Barry Martin's 40, took the score to 103 for 2. That represented the summit of our challenge and we settled for respectability and a final total of 172 for 7.

Mark Ellison out cheaply? Some mistake surely? It's true - only this time the remainder of the batsmen came good. Glyn Lumb held the early innings together with a well made 53. The mainstay however was the contribution from Justin Penrose on debut for the 1st XI. Along with Mike Konschel (39) they put on 105 for the 5th wicket with Justin top scoring with 70. Thanks to an extremely generous 56 extras, a score of 248 for 6 resulted.

For the first time this season, the spinners failed to break through when asked to open the bowling. A first wicket stand of 87 put us on the back foot and it was left to Rob Owen to achieve the breakthrough with 3 quick wickets to reduce Banbury XX to 100 for 3. The reintroduction of the spinners saw wickets fall and runs accumulate to such an extent that when the last wicket fell Banbury were just 18 runs short. L Stevens 4-82, R Owen 3-53).

The 2nds form dips quicker than a Dickensian pickpocket, lack of application on saw them slump to 93 inside 37 overs. Two early wickets for Duncan Wolloff gave Challow some hope and despite a late flurry for James Phillips (3 for 14) Cumnor strolled to an easy five wicket victory.

Lazarus rises from the grave, a Pheonix rises from the ashes, the improvement continues. James Mabbett is going to be a big, strong quick bowler and at 15 years old he was the best of the bowlers with 3 for 15 from his 10 overs. They are impressive figures by anyones standards. With truck fest Barry Martin back and claiming 3 for 42, high flying Freeland were brought down to earth, dismissed for 184.

The batting looked solid and for the second week running Francis Brown carried his bat for a tenacious 72. Tim Lane batted with a stylish confidence making 85 in a partnership of 143. Victory came for the loss of only two wickets with four overs to spare - a veritable romp.

A blisteringly hot day, quick wicket and quicker outfield, a day made for winning the toss and let the spinners bowl after tea. Our visitors won the toss and did just that. We toiled away with little success apart from Mike Konschel who claimed 3 for 48. 32 extras never helped the cause.

Two quick wickets saw us struggle, but 3rd wicket partnership of 102 runs between Mark Ellison 84 and Alex lynch 45 rescued the innings and kept us in the game. Once they were dismissed, accumulation of points was the only realistic option, Rob Owen held the tail together with 35no as we reached safety at 228 for 8 and maximum batting points.

All the Challow batsmen made decent starts but none went on to dominant. Top score came from 15 year old James Phillips with 33 and the final total of 183 for 8 was disappointing.

The Buckingham innings went smoothly towards the below par score, a 6 wicket victory inside 39 overs.

Marsh Gibbon made a steady start and at 140 for 3 looked capable of a big score. It all changed as Tim Lane's hat trick put the innings into tailspin, finishing with figures of 4 for 11 and a total of 162 to chase.

A familiar top order collapse saw us at 45 for 4 and in trouble. However Francis Brown chipped relentlessly away and consecutive stand of over 50, the first with the webmaster, the second with skipper Steve Pritchard saw us finish like Derby winner. Francis carried his bat for 78 and a five wicket victory was wrapped up in the 43rd over.

Highlight for the webmaster was being called an effing cheat by the opposition wicketkeeper. Scandalous!

Oxford made steady progress, reaching 90 without loss by the 24^th over. Their hopes of a high total were scuppered by two pieces of top class field with a wicket in between. Mark Ellison pulled off an amazing stop and still managed to get the ball back to run out one opener. Lee Stevens trapped number three first ball and then Will Clarke hit the stumps from 30 yds to dismiss the other opener and Oxford slumped to 91 for 3. Wickets fell regularly as the spin twins Lee Stevens, 5 for 42 and Adam Hunter 3 for 63 spun their web and dismissed Oxford for 165 in the 50^th over.

Glyn Lumb a welcome returnee from injury controlled the innings and also top scored with 58 before falling LBW. Skipper Will Clarke also returned to form and ensured there we no mistakes as he made an undefeated 52 and we won by 5 wickets with 9 overs to spare.

The 2’s recent run of poor form continued as they slumped against fellow strugglers Wallingford . Roger Podbery showed his usual tenacity and application scoring a patient 66. Nigel Hill’s start to the season was a well made 31 and at 86 for 2 in the 27^th over the final score of 182 for 9 was well below par.

In stark contrast, all of the Wallingford batsmen made useful contributions and they sailed home by six wickets and 9 overs to spare.

This was, to use the title of a 60’s film classic - “massacro al sole” with Chalgrove running up 311-5. The only consolation was getting the opener out for 99, which cheered me up no end. I make no apology for my small mindedness, but comfort has to be found somewhere and this was the only crumb on a hot mismatch of an afternoon. The bowling was smashed, but to be fair – kept going and there was no lack of endeavour. Being a fielder short probably cost us 40 runs.

The batting showed no resilience, all out for 46, which even with my abysmal mental arithmetic, is quite a long way short.

What a game, talk about making life difficult for yourself. The bowling has performed valiantly so far this season, the batting coughs and splutters, one or two of its cylinders performing like they were part of a well tuned, sophisticated engine. The rest of the engine has resembled a 50cc Suzuki two stroke on a wet afternoon in West Hanney.

Once again the bowling did the job, Shipton love coming to Challow, usually racking up huge scores - not today. Lee Stevens took 5-34 including the wicket of the very large postman of theirs and we bowled them out for 133, surely within compass? Well 45 - 7 suggests that we could indeed blow up and big time. Lee Stevens and Rob Owen offered sterner resistance and got us close, but when the webmaster rung for a bulletin we needed 9 runs with one wicket left, Rob was batting and not being brave enough to ask who was with him, safe in the knowledge it might be Dave "I've opened the batting at Dinton" Slade. I knew the game was won and so it proved to be, a victory snatched from the jaws and all that.

It must have served Shipton well, on Sunday they reached the last 16 of the village knockout by winning their game by one wicket, all down to their previous days chastening experience.

We weren't so much as blown away, but Tsunamied away down and around the ring road by Horspath. 55 all out with only skipper Justin Penrose offering any resistance with 23no. Horspath were then in a hurry as they raced to 57 for 1 inside 8 overs, leaving the 2's time for a gentle drive back and an afternoon watching the excitement unfolding at Challow, 2 points for the boys, oh dear.

We bowled and fielded well enough on a helpful pitch to restrict Horley to 142 for 7. Steve Pritchard was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 29 from his 12 overs.

But the 3rd's start almost as badly as the 1st's slumping to 29 for 4. The Webmaster (41 and dropped twice before scoring) led a recovery of sorts and our visitors were at one stage running around like proverbial headless ones. But another flourishing collapse and we finished 32 runs short, dismissed for 110.

Dinton’s sound platform of 102 – 2 was pegged back by 16 overs from Adam Hunter 3 – 56 leaving us with a par score of just over 200. We were 125 – 1 at one stage, another fifty for Mark Ellison and 42 for Will Clarke. Once they were parted, the all too familiar batting subsidence saw us finish at 162 – 8.

Despite Phil Cox’s excellent 5 – 46, Didcot reached 213 all out. Are stumbling response saw us wobble up to 40 – 4. Will “The Hammer” Harvey ’s brutal 51 helped us ut to 168 – 8 and 17 points apiece.

This top of the table clash was decided by our brittle batting failing to fire. Mark Ellison’s 81 was once again the mainstay of the innings. Early wickets gave us hope, but our visitors eased home by four wickets.

The seconds journey to the ned of the earth was rewarded as they took maximum points. Justin Pakes’s mixture of orthodox defense and violent hitting gave him top score with 74 out of the final total of 185. At 133 – 4 the home side were well in control, but the return of Duncan Wooloff 5-31 and Olly Dimbylow 3-64 saw 7 wickets fall for just 26 runs and the points were ours.

52 runs for the first wicket, 122 all out a familiar tale of the thirds batting this season. Kennington cruised home, losing only 3 wickets.

Recently promoted Kingston have a decent batting line up and they had no hesitation in taking first knock on winning the toss in this local derby. A second wicket partnership racked up 189 in 34 overs. After this partnership, they might consider their final score of 239 a little disappointing. Dave Slade 3-39 and Adam Hunter 3-53 were the only bowlers to impose themselves.

Chasing large totals is often dependent on a good start. A footballing analogy would be the equivalent of an away side in the Champions League calming the opposition with a controlled, disciplined start. Well we lost a wicket with only 5 runs on the board, equipollent to a third minute goal in the depths of Kishinev*** on a wet afternoon in November.

No worries mate, run machine and the skipper promptly proceeded to pillage 234 runs in 37 overs to race past the winning post by a distance. In fact 7 overs were left as our very own wild eyed colonial boy (that’s Mark Ellison by the way), and Will Clarke went into hyper drive. Mark finished on 130* and Will made exactly 100* Splendid effort chaps.

*** ask the webmaster for tourist information about Kishinev, which as we all know is the capital of Moldova

A more typical Challow scoreline after last weeks low scoring anomaly. A high scoring draw as our visitors batted first and posted 240 for 3.

Our openers, more temperamentally opposite people are unlikely to be found in any cricket playing nation in the world, put on 82. Roger Podbery’s Victorian engine is still in fine working order and he made 45. Will (Old Bill) Wixey 56. Justine Penrose carried the game on to the visitors and at one stage victory was within touching distance. When he was out for 64, a late flurry of wickets followed and we finished 16 runs short at 224.

The thirds are having a torrid time of it, it’s a man with good eyesight to notice the green shoots of recovery. Unlike the previous two weeks there were some decent performances in this defeat. The bowling held up well and apart from twenty overs in the middle, we were right in amongst our opposition. Leading the way was Luke Russell, forced out of the attack because of bowling restrictions imposed due to his tender years. He's nearly 6ft. and big! and he took three in his first spell and three during his second. 6-31 with a controlled spell, bowling a full length, swinging away and cutting it about as well.

The reply started badly and 16 for 4 mirrored the previous two weeks efforts, but Francis Brown 35 and Steve Pritchard 36 stoutly rebuilt the innings. Although we were never going to win, it was a much better effort, eternal optimists everywhere hope to see more green shoots this coming weekend.

Looking at scores throughout the league, it appears that heavy late afternoon rain on Friday caught a number of teams out. Uncovered pitches provided bowlers throughout the county with conditions they desire. Ours was covered, but the scoreline perhaps, reflected an uncovered wicket, offering encouragement to bowlers, suspicion and an afternoon of toil to the batters. Losing your best batsmen in the first over, then stumbling to 58 – 5 and we were in the proverbial. Glyn Lumb battled away and only the Podbery’s gave him any support. This support coming despite having a surname that sounds like some sort of Victorian industrial machine (Have you checked on the Podbery today?), the two brothers showed some sibling unity both scoring thirties. These three making over 70% of the runs, no one else making double figures.

Game over you’d think, but to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat requires boldness and Will Clarke decided to use the old ball and spinners at both ends. Adam Hunter promptly got stuck right in with two quick wickets to leave Milton Keynes reeling at 8 for 2 and a glimmer of light. With spin partner Lee Stephens, the screw was turned applying unbearable pressure. The two bowled unchanged, slicing through the soft centred opposition like a cleaver through an overripe mango. 107 all out and an unlikely victory by 27 runs. Adam Hunter returned 5-58 and Lee Stephens 4-45

“Lost in Milton Keynes ” has the ring of a novel title about it. A terrifying journey almost to the end of the world, followed by a dazed and confused expedition through the flesh pots of the town. The terror continuing on the field where 73 for 3 on an uncovered pitch turned into 80 all out. A nightmare come true as our opposition reached their target in 20 overs with only one wicket down.

Wanted – two experienced cricketers, one bowler and one batter to help the struggling 3^rd team. Maybe two batsmen because the bowling and fielding were adequate. The batting struggles however – bowled out in under thirty overs for the second week running, this time for 48. Mass desertions from 1^st and 2^nd teams left a weak 3^rd team weakened further. Next week, win the toss and field first seems the only option for a shell shocked batting side.

At the start of the game, high scoring Bourton would have settled for chasing a total of 207. But sporting pyschology makes a capricious bedfellow and after having us at 136 for 6, 207 was not the amble in rolling downland they expected, but a stiff Alpine climb instead.

A pandemic of LBW’s dictated the course of this game, Batting first, Mark Ellison and Glyn Lumb put on 104 for the first wicket before Glyn became the first of 4 LBW decisions to go against us, as he was sawn off after scoring 39. Mark made 68, and then a typical Challow slump saw us wobbling at 136 for 6. Lawrence Houghton 33 and Alex Lynch 31 made vital runs down the order as we reached 207.

Challow were always on top after tea and reduced Bourton Vale to 56 for 3, the key wicket was claimed by Mike Konschel as he had Winstanley caught for 59 and Mike went on to finish with 3 for 44. Spinner Adam Hunter claiming 3 wickets with his own epidemic of LBW’s for 27 runs. Bourton Vale slumped to 150 all out in the 42nd over. We continue our promising start to the season with a decent 57 run victory. However, even if Bourton had made the runs, given their start to this season, they would probably have played an ineligable player and given the points to us anyway.

Two quick wickets left the game in the balance after 20 overs, but Brackley proceeded to rattle up another 200 runs off the remaining 30 overs to finish with an impressive 256 for 3.

Our start faltered, indeed some might say slumped to 38 for 4, but skipper Justin Penrose and Adam Tamplin (68) added 76 for the 5th wicket. Shagger Watts with 41not out steered us to 215 for 7 at the close.

17 points for the visitors against our 13 - not a fair reflection I would usually say, but as it was us using the inept points system to our advantage, we’ll call it an honourable draw.

Dismal batting from the home team, 80 for 3 became 90 all out. Only two of the wickets were down to our opposition, the rest were giveaways. Only two players reached double figures with top scorer Barry Martin 48 scoring more than half of the runs and saving the side from total humiliation.

Barry then swung the game back our way with three wickets and Swinbrook trembling on 22 for 3. Such a low score determined that if Swinbrook batted their overs they would win the game and that’s precisely what they did. Winning by 5 wickets and leaving us ruing an awful, with a couple of notable exceptions, batting recital. 120 could well have won this game, if we had been incompetent with the bat rather than dreadful we would have got that score.

Cherwell 1

BUCKINGHAM v 1st's

Glyn Lumb went first after a solid opening partnership of 68. In form Aussie Mark Ellison and skipper Will Clarke added 97 taking the score to 165 after 31 overs before Mark was stumped for 83. Will continued to dominant the bowlers and was eventually bowled just short of his hundred on 91 as wickets were sacrificed for quick runs as Challow posted 254 for 7.

Challow made a good start with the ball as David Slade removed one opener and Olly Dimbylow picked up two cheap wickets to leave Buckingham on 41 for 3 after 14 overs. From then on the match slipped away into a tame draw as Buckingham played dull cricket, finishing on 204 for 8. The points situation reflecting the general balance of the game, only because we were put in, our 18 points against their 12 is not the travesty it might have been had we won the toss and batted.

Cherwell 4

2nd's v BUCKINGHAM 2nd's

Challow took full advantage of a typical home reinforced road of a wicket and racked up 251 for 4 off their 50 overs. The openers Owen Dimbylow 42 and Mark Podbery put on 109 in 22 overs. Neil then joined his brother as they added a further 71 runs in just 16 overs before Neil was caught and bowled for 42. Skipper Justin Penrose chipped in with a quick fire 26 which saw Challow reach the just above par score of 251.

Any side that has an opener named Mark Thatcher deserves to lose, however this Thatcher was actually Matt, but that did not take away the fact that our opponents still deserved to lose. Buckingham's response was brisk and up with the clock, but their tail began at 4 and the game became just a question of whether the points could be ours, unfortunately not as it turned out. Owen Dimbylow completed a fine match by claiming 4 for 39 and with tyro leg spinner Rob Harries picking up 3 for 54 Buckingham grimly held out for an undeserved draw at 182 for 8.

18 points played 12

OCA 7

3^rd'sV Freeland

Electing to bat given the OCA points set up, can be an indication of uncertainty about ones own batting strength. Although the 3rd's finished with 176 for 9 it was always likely to be just below par. Francis Brown made a solid 59 in his first game, putting on 89 for the first wicket in 27 overs. Barry "the jester" Martin then picked up the tempo with a quick fire 48 that include consecutive 6’s .

A great start as Steve Kennedy McGregor with two wickets in the first over put Wantage right on top. 33 extras - yes 33!! cost us the game, runs came steadily and wickets falling like clockwork as an exciting finish enfolded. With the last pair at the wicket 10 runs were still needed and then 6 runs of the last over when a lusty boundary from the number 11 secured Freeland victory by 1 wicket with 4 balls remaining. Bugger it!

The opening attack of David Slade and Olly Dimbylow made the Oxford batsmen work hard for their runs. Oxford struggled and at halfway were 83 for 2. New boy Lee Stevens ripped out three key middle order wickets, finishing with 3 for 34 from 10 overs. Oxford finished on 182 for 9, a figure well with our compass you would think.

And so it proved, as Mark Ellison and Glyn Lumb put 59 on for the first wicket. A second wicket prtnership of 125 with Will Clarke saw the home side coast home with half of their overs unused. Mark Ellison gave a chanceless, cultured demonstration of strokeplay. Shots on all sides of the wicket saw him finish unbeaten with 117.

The Owen Dimbylow show resulted in maximum pints (sorry Freudian slip there) points for the seconds. Owen top scored with 61 and with Justin Penrose 55 enabled the 2nds to reach 195 for 8. An above par score on what is often a bowlers wicket.

An opening partnership of 85 in 20 overs for Wallingford, looked to have taken the game away from us but Owen completed a fine all round game, working his way through the order to claim 6 for 36 as Wallingford were all out for 154 in the 44th over. The day was ours - victory by 41 runs.