Long Itchington come up wide of the mark against Wellesbourne

Long Itchington keeper James Clarke shows his agility with a legside take. Picture: Morris Troughton

After winning the toss, Bourne made a decent start until Gary Maynard was caught behind by James Clarke off Andy Wood for 12 with the score on 34.

Wood picked up two more wickets, including that of Nick Gabbett for 27, to leave the home side stuttering on 59 for three.

However, Harry Jackman and Jamie Maynard got their heads down and produced a useful partnership of 72 until Jackman was caught and bowled by Mitch Lowe for 31.

Steve Chapman then trapped John Edden in front before Tom Shearsby joined Maynard and these two took the score to 174 when Shearsby was lbw to Zak Aulach.

Maynard’s innings ended when he was caught off Alex Jack for a fine 54 and the innings closed on 196 for nine.

Wood(3-32), Jack (2-21) and Chapman (2-48) took the bowling honours but the concession of 30 wides was to prove costly in the final analysis.

In reply, T Perks and Jack started solidly until Gary Maynard bowled Perks for 18 with the total on 28.

Clarke then joined Jack and steadily they took their partnership to 48 before Stephenson had Clarke caught by Gabbett for 14.

Bourne then began to make inroads into the batting as Long Itchington collapsed to 95 for six, Jack falling for 39.

Lowe and Chapman knuckled down and built a promising stand as Lowe, in particular, began to hit out.

However, after clubbing two sixes, he tried one too many and was superbly caught on the boundary by Jamie Maynard off his brother Gary for 36 to leave Itchington 140 for seven.

With the game in the balance, Bourne then took two vital wickets as Gary Maynard returned to bowl Chapman for 21 and Jamie Maynard had Wood caught by Jackman.

Aulach and A Smith put on 21 before Jamie Maynard bowled Smith to end the innings on 175 and leave Long Itchington rueing those 30 wides.

 Wellesbourne crashed out of the National Village Knockout after a disappointing 98-run defeat against Fillongley.

Bourne bowled and fielded very well in restricting the powerful Fillongley team to 198 for nine in their 40 overs with A Blackmore (61) and D Sayed (43) providing the backbone of the innings.

Gary Maynard claimed five for 31.

In reply, Bourne had no one who went on to make the big score that was needed with only Edden (33), Dave Barnett (15) and Gary Maynard (12) reaching double figures.

A Sayed (4-19) and Jakeman (3-12) did the damage.