Broadway 2nd XI concluded their 1st season under the captaincy of Steve Wheeler with a comfortable mid-table finish, but at times it didn't always look like it would be comfortable, here we review the season:-

The season started with a home fixture against Alvechurch & Hopwood 3rd XI. Broadway fielded first and were well on top early on, until a belligerent 99 from Khan took Alvechurch to 202. Tom Willett 3/35 & Carlo Carenza 2/30 were the pick of the bowlers. Broadway never really looked like chasing down the target - apart from during a stand of 50+ for the 4th wicket between Steve Wheeler (61) & Luke McDonagh (30). Broadway ultimately finished 32 runs short. 

The first away trip of the season was to Rowington. Broadway were able to field possibly their strongest line up of the season for this fixture, and on what is always a great batting track, Broadway did well to restrict the hosts to 121 all out. Warren Marston 3/31 was the leading wicket taker, but was ably supported by Josh Burford (2/17) & Willett (2/16). Broadway batted sensibly in chasing down a potentially tricky target and the innings was built around a solid 45 from Kevin Holmes. Broadway got home with 6 wickets and more than 11 overs to spare. 

The first home victory followed a week later against Bidford. Bowling first again was a good option for Broadway, as they skittled the hosts for 149. Burford, McDonagh, Marston & Carlo Carenza each taking 2 wickets. James Hands led the reply with 47, supported with cameos from Wheeler (27 not out) & Marston 25. Broadway again reached the target with 6 wickets remaining & nearly 10 overs to spare.

With back to back wins under their belt, confidence was now high in the team, but this was brought back to earth with a defeat at Claverdon on an unsatisfactory wicket. Broadway batted first and were bowled out for 118. Wheeler carried his bat for 52 not out, with only any support from McDonagh (20). Early wickets in the reply gave Broadway a chance of victory, but some lusty hitting by the Claverdon lower order, gave them victory by 4 wickets. Burford 2/35 was the leading wicket taker, but Willett' spell of 10-7-4-1 should not go unmentioned.

The incosistent start was maintained with the visit of early season high-flyers Henley. Broadway again batted first, but this time a solid opening stand between Stuart Clark (21) & Holmes (62) laid the foundations for a competitive total of 202 for for 6. The tempo was upped during stands between Jimmy Martin (45 not out), Marston (28) and a useful cameo of 16 from Frank Carenza. Broadway bowled & fielded well in defending their total. Marston (4/48) & Burford (3/23) were the top bowlers, as Broadway bowled Henley all out for 163.

The following week a visit to another of the early season pace-setters maintained Broadways inconsistent record. Broadway bowled first & Catherine De Barnes scored an impressive 221 for 5. Marston took 3/60, but with the exception of Carlo Carenza & Willett who went at less than 3 an over, all other bowlers proved expensive. In reply several batsman got starts, but none were able to kick on to a bigger score. McDonagh (29) was top scorer & once Will Jelfs (17) had departed, Broadway succumbed to a 79 run defeat.

Successive away defeats were confirmed when the side visited .Exhall & Wixford 3rd XI Amazingly a full game was played, despite heavy overnight rain & the constant threatening clouds throughout the afternoon. Broadway batted first and after a poor start by the top order, the innings was revived in a fantastic century stand between Marston (59) & McDonagh (83 not out).  A total of 196 for 6 was probably just below par with a short boundary on 1-side of the ground. The Exhall captain scored 99 not out in reply, taking advantage of the short 3rd man boundary, using the pace on the ball to deflect runs behind the wicket. Willett 2/37 was the pick of the attack, but couldn't stop Exhall getting their target with 5 overs & 5 wickets remaining.

A 3rd consecutive defeat followed the next week against Welford, who ultimately ended the season as league champions. Broadway were put into bat first and all the batsman - with the exception of Marston (46) - struggled against the best bowling attack in the league. Broadway did manage to reach 104 and gain 1 batting bonus point. In reply Broadway did manage to pick up 6 wickets, on a good pitch for bowlers. Marston 2/11 & Willett 2/26 were the top bowlers.

The league position was now looking ominous going into back to back fixtures against Long Itchington, who at the time occupied 3rd place in the league.

In the away fixture, Broadway managed to secure victory in the most unlikely manner possible.  With several players unavailable for selection, frantic phone calls on the Friday evening managed to scramble together an XI, containing 3 youth team players making their debuts. Knowing that they had to bowl & field well in the situation, Broadway did just that. Restricting the hosts to 166 all out. Hands took at the time the best figures of the season (5/27) after openers Carlo Carenza & Willett had once against bowled economically up top. Stuart Bearcroft finished with 2/11 - the beginning of a remarkable match for the newcomer. In reply Broadway got off to the worst start possible, losing the top 3 batsmen all for ducks. Wheeler managed to survive the opening bowlers, with vital support from Carlo Carenza & Jelfs - who despite not scoring many runs, did a valuable job in seeing off the new ball. Still the position looked unwinnable until Bearcroft came in at the fall of the 5th wicket. Playing without any fear, Bearcroft took the attack to the bowlers and soon got the field spread & the required run rate down. With the field spread Wheeler was then able to start picking up his own pace. The pair got them virtually to the target before Bearcroft was unfortunately run out in the final over for a fantastic 54. Wheeler 64 not out was able to hit the winning run of the very next ball to cap a remarkable victory.

In the home fixture against the same opposition, Broadway completed a more straightforward victory. Another fine bowling & fielding performance kept the visitors down to 167 (1 more than last week). Willett 6/41 bettered Hands' figures of the last week, with Burford supporting with 2/28. Rain reduced the target to 98 off 25 overs & Holmes (47)  & Martin 42 not out securing a comfortable victory with 8 wickets & 4 overs left. 

It surprisingly took until the 11th week of the season, for the first game to be called off due to weather. The away fixture at Alvechurch & Hopwood was cancelled following heavy overnight and morning rain, denying Broadway the chance of a third successive win.

The following week Broadway went down to a disappointing defeat at home to strugglers Rowington. Broadway once again bowled first and kept the visitors to a par score of 178 for 8. Carlo Carenza had outstanding bowling figures of 2/14 off 10 overs & Marston picked up 3 cheap wickets. Broadway' batting once again failed to fire, with only Holmes (45) offering real resistance. Several batsmen got starts and got out & too much pressure was left on the lower order & the side fell 26 runs short.

The following week the club went on tour to Bournemouth & it was perhaps no coincidence that the most disappointing result of the season followed the next weekend when the side lost by 10 wickets to bottom of the table Bidford. Batting first Broadway never got to grips with a slow wicket and could only manage 118 for 7 off 45 overs & after a couple of dropped catches early on in the reply, the Bidford openers settled down to knock off the winning runs with 18 overs remaining.

After 2 poor results the side had once again slipped into the relegation battle and the situation wasn't eased the following week when rain denied them an almost certain victory at home to Claverdon. Batting first Broadway put in their best batting performance of the season in reaching 254 for 6 off 45 overs, thanks to Hands (98) who was cruelly denied a maiden century after a fine innings. He was supported by Marston (84) in a massive second wicket stand. There were useful cameos too from Martin & Wheeler who both hit run a ball 20's. In reply Claverdon were 34/1 off 13 overs after tight bowling from Nick Stewart & Carlo Carenza. Then heavy rain came from apparently nowhere - with this fixture being the only fixture in the whole of the Cotswold Hills League that was abandoned due to rain !

Despite the confidence taken from this batting performance another defeat followed in a close encounter at Henley. Bowling first Broadway kept the hosts down to 178 for 7 on a fast outfield. Willett 2 for 37 and Bernie Donoghue 2 for 14 were the main wicket-takers. Another cluster of early wickets, meant Broadway were up against it & only Wheeler (42) got settled, despite 3 other batsmen making 20's. Broadway fell 17 runs short.

After 2 slightly more encouraging performances Broadway did their survival prospects no harm at all with a victory over Promoted Catherine De Barnes. Broadway bowled first and bowled the visitors out for 135, Willett took 3 for 39 & Carenza 2 for 22, backed up by probably the best fielding display of the season. Broadway batted watchfully in reply with Marcus Humpston making 40 in his only appearance of the season for the side. Backed up by 20's from Holmes & Marston.

Survival was secured the following week with another home victory, this time against Exhall & Wixford 3rd XI. On a wet wicket, Broadway scored a competitive 177 for 5, thanks mainly to Holmes' 80. With useful support from Frank Carenza who scored a patient 21. With the wicket drying out, batting became difficult and some disciplined bowling kept the visitors down to 139 all out, with 3 wickets apiece for Carlo Carenza & Gary Hawkins & 2 for Willett & Marston.

The campaign ended with a fixture at league champions Welford. Batting first Broadway could only muster 144 all out on a slow wicket against good bowling. Chris Close & Wheeler both scored 29. as all the top 6 scoring double figures but no-one going on to a big score. In reply Broadway kept it tight early on with an early wicket for Willett to confirm his position as leading wicket taker,  but the lack of depth in the bowling attack, meant that the champions reached their target with 8 wickets & nearly 10 overs to spare.

Ultimately Broadway can be relatively happy with a season of consolidation. Some fine victories against the top sides in the division have made the side aware that they can challenge for promotion in 2012, they just need to now add some consistency to their play.

Steve Wheeler - 4/9/11