27/06/2021 Enstone Result: Won Venue: Away Format: Limited Overs by 10 wickets

Batsmen How Out Sixes Total 1 L. Blatchford Not Out 1 86 2 B. Harden Not Out 1 69 3 M. Stanbury Not Out 0 14 4 D. Todd Not Out 1 12 5 D. Henry 0 0 6 P. Wiblin 0 0 7 F. Roper 0 0 8 K.H. Whiter 0 0 9 J. Walter 0 0 10 R. Blatchford 0 0 11 K. Ponsford 0 0 Subtotal 181 Byes 11 Leg Byes 1 Wides 13 No Balls 6 Grand Total 212 for 0 wickets Bowler Overs Mdns Runs Wkts Av. Econ. S.R. 1 K. Ponsford 7 0 26 2 13.00 3.71 21.00 2 R. Blatchford 8 1 31 0 0.00 3.88 0.00 3 B. Harden 5 0 44 0 0.00 8.80 0.00 4 D. Henry 5 0 34 0 0.00 6.80 0.00 5 J. Walter 6 0 46 2 23.00 7.67 18.00 6 P. Wiblin 4 0 19 1 19.00 4.75 24.00 Subtotal 200 Byes 4 Leg Byes 7 Grand Total 211 for 7 wickets Fielder Catches D. Todd 1 J. Walter 1 Fielder Run Outs L. Blatchford 1 B. Harden 1 Fielder Stumpings M. Stanbury 1

Match Report We have certainly seen some fine top order batting performances so far this season, and this was no exception. Rarely have I seen Isis chase down a sizeable total so admirably (and comfortably), but that we did and recorded another victory. Steel grey skies threatened rain that never came, but it was enough to lead the captains to agree a 35-over format. Setting totals on the Enstone artificial wicket has traditionally been difficult for Isis and despite again being without mainstream strike bowlers, Enstone were put into bat when Cap’n Whiter won the toss. For some time it looked like it may have been a bad decision as the Enstone top order built good partnerships to build an impressive score. But three things worked in Isis’s favour. Firstly, a freak run out, when Brad Harden attempted a difficult catch against a fiercely driven ball, brought the demise of poor old Dave Stevens who was run out backing up. That brought in the hard-hitting Alex Bull, who used his long levers to thrash the ball to the boundary and reach 46 in no time. But a good catch at deep mid-wicket by Damian Todd sent him back and thereafter the run rate slowed. Thirdly and importantly, Matt Carpenter retired on 70, which Enstone may now rue as that brought a flurry of wickets and a complete slowing of the run rate. The bowlers had struggled a bit to be sure, but in the end we probably got away with a target of 211 runs rather than more. But, it was never going to be easy and I’ll wager one that the Enstone boys thought impossible. Brad had injured a finger (!) but bravely agreed to open with the dependable Luke Blatchford and together they set about their task with true conviction and no shortage of batting skill. Good strike rotation interspersed with excellent shot-play saw them ahead of the run rate after 10 overs. With the bowling changes they were further ahead and looking impregnable after 20 overs, both having passed 50s on the way to a total of 148 runs at that point. And they would surely have passed the post at a canter, had an altruistic decision to retire them with 180 on the board and less than 40 needed from 11 overs not been made. Had any of us realised Luke needed only 14 for another century we may have made a different decision. But yet, Matt Stanbury and Damian Todd came in and while the run rate slowed as they got used to the conditions, they too scored well and carried their bats to see us over the line with more than 4 overs to spare. 212 for no wicket! A truly magnificent performance and one to be proud of.