Banbury Cricket Club exit T20 on toss despite Sam Fanning’s debut fifty
Banbury Cricket Club are out of this season’s Home Counties Premier Cricket League T20 competition after their second-round tie with Gerrards Cross was decided by a coin toss, following persistent rain at White Post Road on Saturday.
Having progressed from the opening round earlier in the day, Banbury’s hopes were ended in unfortunate fashion, with the sides unable to complete their clash after the weather intervened.
Overseas signing Sam Fanning impressed in just his second innings, scoring 52 off 38 balls, while Kieran Coyne added 45 at a brisk strike rate of 160.71.
Banbury had reached 102-2 after 12.2 overs when umpires Martin Thomas and Andrew Smith halted play due to heavy rain. Gerrards Cross were yet to begin their reply.
Earlier, Banbury had thrashed Oxford Cricket Club in the first round, setting the tone for what looked set to be a successful day before the conditions worsened.
Batting first, Banbury posted 165-6 before dismissing Oxford for 82 to secure an 83-run victory.
Fanning’s much-anticipated debut innings was cut short early as he was trapped LBW for five, while captain Coyne also fell cheaply, caught for two when chasing a wide one in the third over.
Hayden Russouw added impetus with two fours and a six before being dismissed, leaving Banbury under early pressure.
However, Lloyd Sabin and Ben Miller steadied the innings with an excellent partnership, accelerating the scoring as the boundaries began to flow.
Miller was eventually bowled in the closing overs, but Sabin continued to attack, striking successive sixes in the 18th over on his way to 74.
Sabin’s innings helped Banbury surpass their initial target of 150, sending them well on their way.
Banbury’s bowlers then dominated, with Russouw taking three wickets from his three overs and Samuel Hicks claiming two from two to wrap up a convincing win.
The First XI players had the afternoon to relax and enjoy Gerrards Cross nudge past Aston Rowant by just seven runs in the other round-one tie.
Then followed Banbury’s rained-off clash with Gerrards Cross. It was a great shame those at White Post Road never got to see how that one turned out.
Despite their T20 exit, Banbury can take confidence into their opening league fixture at home to High Wycombe, this Saturday at 11.30am.