Owls held as Thursley go down

The table topping Wrecclesham Owls were held to a winning draw by a battling Thursley side at the recreation ground on Saturday.

The result leaves the Wreccers tantalisingly close to sealing their third successive promotion as they bid to play Division 1 cricket for the first time in their proud history.

Saturday's game saw bottom Thursley win a valuable toss and ask the home side to bat first on a lively looking track in overcast conditions.

Wrecclesham struggled to master the bowler friendly conditions early on with Chris 'I will never die' Spooner and Ben 'Treasurer' Pound making a very cautious start, failing to score off the bat in the first 7 overs.

When the accurate Wells removed Pound and James 'Wtf has happened to Graham Napier after Wrighty was given his nickname?' Wright in successive deliveries to leave the Owls on 14-2 the form book was turned on its head as Thursley wrestled the initial advantage.

However thankfully Chris 'The Rock' Windeatt (30) continued his fine recent form and Spooner threw off the shackles as the pair shared a patient yet fruitful 55 run partnership before the former was dismissed LBW to leave the Owls in the much healthier position of 69-3.

Despite Spooner, who showed tremendous temperament throughout yet another high class innings to underpin a competitive total, the middle order didn't quite fire with Henry 'Waka Waka' Bate, Jonny 'will he ever socialise with the cricket team?' Elworthy both failing.

Matt 'MB is he on E?' Parkinson fared a little better getting a start but as so often been the case this season, was guilty of playing a rash shot and sent back in the teens after sharing a decent 35 run stand with Spooner.

When Spooner was caught on the boundary for an excellent 79, the highest score of the game by some distance, Wrecclesham had work to do at 145-6.

It was therefore important that the Owls once again highlighted their strength in depth and Dan 'Bionic Man' Vasey, coming in at 8 and wielding a brand new willow, did just that, smashing 31 in under 4 overs to up the run rate to devastating effect and ensure the Owls were in a position to post a decent total.

Some reverse sweep shenanigans from the skipper finished things off on a light note as the Mighty Wreccers declared on a respectable 189-8 from 46 overs.

After a sumptuous tea and basking in late afternoon sunshine the Owls took to the field knowing that 10 points would put them in touching distance of promotion.

In the absence of leading wicket taker Oli 'Bondi Beach' Caston, Dan Vasey opened things up with Spooner, bowling down the hill for the first time this season and the pair made in roads immediately.

Spooner had Fuller caught by the reliable hands of Andy 'A Team' Collnis as early as the third over and Vasey, not to be outdone, followed up with the wicket of Scott in the fourth.

The pair combined well, using the conditions well to restrict the run rate and when Vasey accounted for Smith to leave Thursley at 19 for 3 from ten overs, the visitors decided to shut it down, big time.

Tilson and Phipps, on a pitch which became more unresponsive as the game progressed, bizarrely dropped anchor as early as the 11th over as the pair looked to secure the 2 points which would ultimately ensure Thursley's relegation.

Despite some close shaves and some excellent bowling from both openers - Spooner (14-3-28-1), Vasey (12-5-20-2) - and able support the evergreen Graeme '1000 wickets' Larby (8-5-17-0) who bowled 6 overs for 2 runs at one stage it was not until the 32nd over, with the score at 56, that skipper Boniface made the breakthrough, bowling Tilson (17) with a nice yorker.

However Phipps remained resolute at the other end despite the ongoing attention of several close fielders and restricted the damage to the Thursley lower order by taking the majority of the strike.

Wright, looking to make amends for his GD, had a blast from the top end and immediately got amongst the action bowling Wells in his first over and taking 2 further wickets in a lively 4 over spell.

Unfortunately that man Phipps was not among Wright's victims and he even survived a late onslaught from hat trick seeking Andy Collins as he carried his bat for 39 in a passable impression of Steve Houghton.

The visitors limping to 116-7 from 44 overs and were subsequently relegated.

With Wood Street beating CODY and Blackheath recording an 8 point win, a 10 point win is enough for the Owls to secure the title at Peper Harrow on Saturday.

Afterword by Joe Boniface

A good effort gentlemen, given the conditions, it is safe to say that if we had won the toss I am convinced we would have won the game.

Spoons, another fine effort to add to the back catalogue, good to see you back to your best in some truly testing conditions. If we go up it will be great to see you playing on a stage befitting your ability.

Dan, another excellent contribution with bat and bat, it is up to the likes of you to step up in Oli's absence and you did so to superb effect, more of the same please!

Wrighty, same goes for you, we need you to keep contributing with bat or ball and I was delighted with the way you chipped in with some wickets after a rare failure with the bat.

AC, great hands in the field again and it is great to see that you are relishing your new position in the thick of the action!

As it happens the results still ensure that fate is very much in our own hands and a victory away to Peper Harrow on Saturday is very likely to give us promotion and effectively seal the title for us.

These kind of games are why we play the game and so we need to embrace the game with the same sort of enthusiasm we have approached the rest of the season.

Bring it on!

Up the Owls

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