MILTON CRICKETERS CREAM JERSEY
The intrepid travellers of Milton Cricket Club have completed another successful international tour, this time royally beating the cream of Jersey
With no cricket in Bloxham or Adderbury for several years now, the hamlet of Milton (population 150) helps keep cricket alive in the villages just south of Banbury - and over the past decade, as well as beating top clubs in Marbella and Malta, has taken the scalps of the full Italian, Slovenian and Menorcan national sides
Now it was the turn of two of Jersey's leading clubs to fall to Milton's seasoned tourists
Both matches were played at the magnificent Farmers CC ground, which in May hosted several ICC World Cup games - despite only 4 years ago being a Jersey Royals potato field!
Against Farmers CC Milton posted a healthy 209-4, with in-form tour debutante Andrew Stanley on 98 not out, missing out on a second successive century (and cheesily, the cost of buying a jug)
Ian Adams (32) and Guy Wilby (24) milked the Farmers' youthful spin attack with some lusty agricultural blows over cow, and veteran kiwi vet Mike Whataman chipped in with an earthy 30
In reply Farmers were never quite in the hunt, despite the valiant effort of skipper James Perchard's maiden 50.
Milton's varied bowling attack shared the spoils, with ageless opener Mick Pearson overcoming his 60th birthday junket with 4 successive maidens, and tour surprise package Kit Kinch weighing in with 3-41 of tantalising leg-spin to keep Farmers' reply to 163
Next day all-rounder Cakes Burdon almost single-handedly saw off a strong Centurions XI with an opening burst of 3-6 in 4 overs, helping to reduce the dairy boys to 77 all out
In reply Burdon finished on 48 not out (another jug avoidance) of a Milton total of 78-4, having lost run machine Dickie Lambden first ball
But this was a great team effort, with Vin Bedward picking up 3 wickets, some smart catching from skipper Leon Houseman, and the silken stumping skills of ageing Nick Fennell, dragged out of retirement to replace star man Chris Higgs, struck down by a mystery bulimia virus after the pre-match entertainment
Next year? - bring on Estonia
Milton 209-4 (A Stanley 98* I Adams 32, G Wilby 24)
Farmers CC 163 ( J Perchard 60, C Kinch 3-41
Centurions CC 77 (M Burdon 3-6 V Bedward 3-38)
Milton 78-4 (M Burdon 48*)
Nick Fennell
Secretary Milton CC
07850 017393
nf@archway-management.co.uk
|
