27th May – Buckhorn v Horningsham (Three Counties League)

Simon and the spinners see Buckhorn breeze home

Buckhorn’s first league game of the season saw excellent weather and the return of some familiar faces to the Buckhorn team, with the Ellwood brothers and Charlie Leach making a comeback. The pitch was looking in great condition after some excellent weather and a lot of hard work from our head curator / President.

Adam B won the toss and selected to bat, which meant Simon B and George Wayman would go out to face the new ball. Both played well at the start and George played in his typical manner, dispatching anything in his arc over the boundary ropes. Unfortunately, this resulted in him getting bowled for 37 (two 6s & four 4s) in the 9^th over. Meanwhile, Simon B continued plodding along and accumulating runs, hoping to see Buckhorn to a competitive total. George ellwood was in at 3, for his 1^st game of the summer. He looked good for his 12, but was caught and bowled to a ball that just held up on him. The skipper, Adam B, was in at 4 and he helped Simon B rebuild the innings. The two brothers played really well, putting all the loose bowling away and manipulating the field. Simon B went to 50 and continued on. Drinks came and went at the 27^th over and then the brothers went after everything to get Buckhorn’s total beyond reach. The boundaries started to flow and there were some great shots on display. Simon B was looking in good touch and got past his 100 with a maximum, and both brothers looked in aggressive form; but one shot too many saw Adam B caught at backward point attempting to heave another delivery over the ropes. Charlie Leach was next in and he helped Simon B push the runs harder; however Simon B was soon out, caught at long on for 115. The rest of the innings for Buckhorn saw some flashing blades, especially from Will ellwood, who made a rapid 16; but was out stumped trying for more quick runs. Buckhorn finished their innings on a good total of 245/8 in their 40 overs.

Horningsham’s innings got off to a decent start, but in the 10^th over George Ovenden made Buckhorn’s 1^st blow. It certainly wasn’t a day for the seamers, as each only picked up one wicket, despite toiling away hard in the heat. The real inroads came from the spinners – Adam B and Will Ellwood. Both bowled a good line and length and tested the Horningsham batsmen. Both were well rewarded, as each bagged 2 wickets at a cheap economy rate. Buckhorn toiled away and worked fairly hard in the field, with Simon B and George Wayman combining sharply to snare a run out, and no dropped catches. Horningsham were all out in the 38^th over for 140, which was a resounding win for Buckhorn. However the conceding of 28 extras caused Buckhorn a little extra work, but overall it was an impressive first league match of the summer for a Buckhorn side eager to take back the league title this year.