75 points in a Rowe

Things are looking far brighter for the 2nd XI after a sluggish start to the season. Missed opportunities have been a staple of the 2's games so far with people making bright starts with both bat and ball, only to fall short at crucial periods. It is therefore particularly pleasing that not only we won convincingly this week, but there were big contributions from all departments. Long may it continue!

Witney won the toss and elected to field on what looked like a fairly decent track. Skipper and Vice skipper led from the front and opened the batting, looking sharp and aggressive until Stalky was triggered LBW.  That set the tone for a slight top order collapse led by Hyper Active Umpire Finger Syndrome (we know where you live, Kit). There were decent contributions from 'Leg Stump' Orchard and Powell-Williams but on a good batting wicket we found ourselves wobbling at 90 for 5. The innings was rescued by a typically aggressive 63 from 'Boom Boom' Inglis, while new-ish recruit Dawie 'not playing 1sts' Viljoens (his words) batted with superb control, justifying the skipper's decision to have him batting at 8. Good man that he is he still bought a jug later. No jug avoidance there. A nod to the last wicket pair of Dawie and Gadsby, the latter really using a range of slaps through midwicket, who took the total from a decent 182 for nine to an imposing 231 all out in the final over which saw the opposition's heads drop.

Tight opening spells from Gadsby and Orchard nipped out three wickets for just the 24 runs putting Witney Mills on the back foot. Nick 'also not playing 1sts' Rowe (also his words) came on first change and bowled a fantastic spell to turn the match decisively our way finishing with five for 16 off ten overs. His last five overs brought three wickets for no runs. Ben Powell-Williams took two wickets and four catches (another jug) and the other youngsters Alexa, Morgan and Harry contributed with top fielding. Witney rolled over for 89 runs, Cublington winning by 140 runs and securing another 25 points for the 2s to lift us clear of the relegation zone and into the top half of the table.