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Annual Ovington & Itchen Stoke vs Alresford Cricket Match
September 2021

After last year's gap in the 32 year history of this, the Ice Breaker Challenge Cup, due to the Covid shenanigans. I almost forgot to organise it this year! Hence the annual cricket match between Ovington & Itchen Stoke AND Alresford was played much later in the year than usual. (For your interest the first gap in the calendar of this event was in 2012 because no free weekends could be identified due to the magnitude of the celebrations for the Royal Jubilee!)

Anyway.. as it turned out, it was a beautifully sunny afternoon on Sunday September 5th when the match took place at the Old Alresford pitch which is the most stunning location (kindly lent by Rodney Morgan Giles). Delicious teas were available all afternoon and we had a spectacular amount of spectators!

Alresford went in to bat first and made 86 runs. Christian Hollingbery was retired having scored 25 runs but got a chance to come back in briefly before the innings closed at the allotted 20 overs. Then the Ovington & Itchen Stoke team went in to bat.. but the wickets fell rather more quickly than planned and although they managed 79 runs with 4 balls still to play, it was just too much to achieve!

In the absence of anyone important, I presented the cup to the victorious Alresford team. We raised £450 through match fees and donations for teas which goes to St. Peter’s Church, Ovington. It was a fabulous afternoon of sun and sport, enjoyed by many from all generations.

                Ovington & Itchen Stoke                                                          Alresford