Woolhampton Ease to Victory over Lower Earley

Lower Earley vs. Woolhampton has seen the spoils shared over recent seasons - but today's result was never in doubt as Woolhampton eased to a comfortable win.

Woolhampton were able to bring with them a very strong side - and had the bowling fire power of Michael Green, Toby Winterbottom and Alex Vile to call upon, on a decent track it was always going to suit the Woolhampton pace attack.

Ali Kanji was making his first appearance on a Sunday for Woolhampton in many years, having played in a T20 Blast game for Woolhampton earlier on in the season.

Lower Early won the toss and much to the surprise of acting Skipper Ali Martin they elected to bowl.

Openers Russell Hawkins and Andrew Line started off the Woolhampton innings whilst it was beginning to rain. However the rain soon disappeared and Line and Hawkins slowly got on with things.

Line the first to get out - having missed out on a bouncer the ball earlier his frustration got the better of him - somehow managing to double hit a slower ball down the leg and was caught behind for 9.

James Buckland was well caught at slip shortly after and Lower Earley were fancying their chances in this game. However Hawkins was joined by Steve Howe - who was fresh from his chat with Green about being the face of Newbury and his former modelling days for 18-30 holidays.
Anyway this chat obviously inspired Howe who with Hawkins batted beautifully for a partnership of 130.
Howe hitting a huge maximum right onto the roof of the temporary marques. Howe brought his 50 up with another 6 and began to really accelerate through the gears.

Howe was eventually out bowled for 69 but the damage had been done.
Shortly after Howe was out - Hawkins passed his 50 before getting caught behind the very next ball.
Cameos from Ali Martin (17*) and Winterbottom (11) in amongst a few other wickets saw Woolhampton post a very impressive 194.

At the halfway stage of the Woolhampton innings they were at 64 off 18 overs so really stepped it up in the second half.

After a rather long tea and even some Woolhampton fielding practice the new ball was given to Green who bowled superbly. He was well supported at the other end with Alex Vile.

It was clear that the Lower Earley batsman were going to struggle against the pace attack however when their previous match winner against Woolhampton got hold of one of Green's deliveries his cover drive was airborne and looking like it was going for a boundary only for Howe to pick up an unbelievable catch diving high and somehow holding on to it. Much to the shock of the opening batsman.

Green was too good for Lower Earley and he finished with some pretty impressive figures from his seven overs picking up 3 wickets for just 9 runs.
Winterbottom was equally as impactful picking up 3 wickets in just 3 overs for just 7 runs.

Ali Kanji, Ed Wylie and Ali Martin bowled the other overs and each picked up a wicket.
Skipper Ali Martin gave himself a bowl and picked up the final 2 wickets in his 4 ball spell.

Overall a comfortable win - on an excellent pitch and with the entertainment of being able to watch some Mixed Touch Rugby it was a good day for Woolhampton.

Peter Cooke was down to play only for his wife to go into labour - we wish him and his family well - but a great commitment from Peter to name his son after one of the MOTMs either Steve Howe or Michael Green.