1st XI get back on track while 2nd XI misery continues.
The1st XI managed a much needed win on Saturday to keep their title challenge alive after two consecutive defeats. facing Long Buckby in the third of three away matches Isham knew that a win was essential to keep presure on the top of the table. On a scorching summer afternoon Isham won the toss and elected to field after 2 poor performances batting first in their previous fixtures. Regular opening bowler Law was unavailable so skipper Court opened the bowling with overseas Somerfield who struck early to remove Wykes for 0. Bucks skipper Flynn and opener Courtney settled down and set about seeing off the new ball. Isham skipper Court was next to strike in the 10th over as he got one to nip back and clean bowl the Bucks captain Flynn. After 12 overs both openers were rested due to the sweltering heat and the spin of Reynolds and seam of Patel were introduced into the attack. Oliver and Courtney were now batting well together and began building a partnership which was then broken by Reynolds as he trapped Oliver in front for 22. Patel and Reynolds continued bowling well and Long Buckby found runs hard to come by. Somerfield was introduced for his second spell in the 28th over. He quickly opened up one end removing Bott and Colton in quick succesion. Leading wicket taker Shaun Wills replaced Reynolds and in tandem with Somerfield cleaned up the lower order - both finishing with 4 wickets a piece. Opener Courtney ran out of partners and was left to carry his bat for a chanceless 88 which in the circumstances was an excellent innings.
The Isham reply began badly with both openers falling early on. The in form Reid trapped in front for 4 and Tim Robinson caught at mid off for 0. This put keeper Harrison and Reynolds at the crease together. Initially both batsmen did what was needed and played themselves in slowly. then Harrison switched on and decided to tuck into opening bowler Reeve who until then had bowled well. Reeves firt 3 overs had gone for 3 runs while taking 1 wicket. His next 3 went for 43 runs, mostly off the bat of Harrison as he dispatched the ball to all parts. 
Reynolds also started scoring as the run rate soared above the 3.4 an over needed at the start of the innings. Just as he was in his stride Reynolds played one shot too many and was caught at backward point for 21 attempting to cut a short delivery. Skipper Court was next in and kept the momentum of runs going with some positive shots. As with Reynolds, just as he looked set to carry on and score some runs he was on his way back to the pavilion - trapped LBW to a leg stump yorker from Church who now had all 4 wickets. Aussie Somerfield came and went, scoring 1 run before chopping a short, wide delivery back onto his stumps giving Chuch his 5 wicket haul. Harrison continued to bat superbly and was ably assisted by George Chudley at the other end. Once again though, just as Chudley was getting into his stride he was removed for 21 caught in a similar fashion to Reynolds going for the cut shot. With 30 runs still needed and 6 wickets down a steady head was needed. Enter Will Chudley who confidently joined Harrison at the crease. Showing the value of a long batting line up, Chudley punished the Bucks bowling, especially the spin of Wykes. Anything short or wide was dispatched and the Bucks total was soon within sight. Chudley finished the game with a pull to the square leg boundary, finishing 19 not out. At the other end Harrison finished on 89 unbeaten after playing a superb anchor role which won Isham the game, giving them the boost they need going into next weeks top of the table clash against Geddington at Orlingbury road.
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The 2nd XI were intent on stopping their run of defeats and not make it four in a row againgst fellow strugglers Gretton. Winning the toss Isham put the visitors into bat. Openers Baines and Andrew Ward began steadily as White bowled some tight lines. At the other end Long was struggling on his return to playing and was punished by Ward in particular with anything wayward being dispatched. Whites good bowling was rewarded with the wickets of Baines and then Ian Ward, both caught behind by keeper Perkins. Duncan and Andrew Ward settled things down and began to build the Gretton innings. Long and White were replaced by skipper Pete Wills and spinner Hussain. Wills made the much needed breakthrough removing Duncan for 19 and then Baines for 0, both caught by Barlow much to the amazement of all players and spectators! Opener Andrew Ward had passed his 50 by now after surviving a big LBW shout early on. Gretton's best option was to play around Ward, giving him the strike whenever possible. Legspinner Hussain had now found his lines and duly picked up 4 wickets in succesion. Number 10 Pavitt supported Ward well after the flurry of wickets, the pair putting on a 30 run partnership before the reintroduction of Long who bowled Pavitt for 13. Ward reached his ton and was the final wicket to fall as he was bowled by Long for 113. Gretton finishing on 206 all out. Isham left to reflect as only 3 other batsmen made double figures.
206 was the target with 54 overs to get it in. With probably their strongest batting line up thus far this season Isham felt it was an achievable target. Openers Kelland and Zia began well, putting on 30 before Zia was much to his and everyone elses amazement adjudged LBW to Baines after trying to latch onto a ball destined to go for a legside wide had his pad not interviened! This started the rot as only one other batsman - Perkins, reached double figures. None of the Isham players took on the responsability of anchoring the innings and a series of poor shots led to them being dismissed for 99 inside 32 overs. A poor batting display from a top 7 of genuine batsmen. The result leaves Isham second bottom behind Gretton, 57 points adrift of safety. Wins are now needed as we hit the second half of the season.....
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