With the weather better than previously forecast, Russell won the toss and elected to bat first due to four members of the team being in transit having not been aware that Bodicote was a long trek into deepest Oxfordshire.
The innings started steadily but was jarred by the loss of Russell in the sixth over. Again runs accumulated steadily until the loss of Syed then Garry in the same over. Alex Sear, on league debut for the club, joined Ben at the crease and together had a stand of 51, taking the score to 98, two runs short of a batting point, with six wickets remaining. Unfortunately we then lost three wickets for three runs in the following two overs. We had secured one batting point but a second looked ominously out of reach. James Chantry joined Ian Easton, who was on one not out, and together they had a 19 run stand, with Ian scoring 14 runs by hitting two 4s and a mighty six (his first). Sadly the last two wickets fell for the addition of just two further runs leaving us 122 all out, three short of that second batting point.
After tea, the Bodicote openers headed to the middle and immediately demonstrated their intent to win. Russell used five bowlers, including himself, but they could not get to grips with the pitch and the batsmen reaped the rewards, completing the run chase in 18.5 overs without the loss of a wicket, winning by ten wickets and leaving Castlethorpe with just their solitary batting point.
Next week is an even further journey than this week, to Radway in Warwickshire. Let's hope we travel better for that match.
Match report by Sharron Jones
The innings started steadily but was jarred by the loss of Russell in the sixth over. Again runs accumulated steadily until the loss of Syed then Garry in the same over. Alex Sear, on league debut for the club, joined Ben at the crease and together had a stand of 51, taking the score to 98, two runs short of a batting point, with six wickets remaining. Unfortunately we then lost three wickets for three runs in the following two overs. We had secured one batting point but a second looked ominously out of reach. James Chantry joined Ian Easton, who was on one not out, and together they had a 19 run stand, with Ian scoring 14 runs by hitting two 4s and a mighty six (his first). Sadly the last two wickets fell for the addition of just two further runs leaving us 122 all out, three short of that second batting point.
After tea, the Bodicote openers headed to the middle and immediately demonstrated their intent to win. Russell used five bowlers, including himself, but they could not get to grips with the pitch and the batsmen reaped the rewards, completing the run chase in 18.5 overs without the loss of a wicket, winning by ten wickets and leaving Castlethorpe with just their solitary batting point.
Next week is an even further journey than this week, to Radway in Warwickshire. Let's hope we travel better for that match.
Match report by Sharron Jones