We are pleased to announce that we will be running Dynamos Cricket sessions this summer for young people with physical and learning disabilities. Information below.
Oxfordshire Cricket is pleased to announce the women’s squad selected to play against Berkshire on Sunday 11th of June in a match at Wraysbury in Berkshire, with the match starting at 11.00 am:
Abi Norgrove
Abi Currie
Emilia Bartram
Numa Shah
Ellie BATH
Ellie INGRAM
Izzy KIRBY
Genny PORTER
Katie WAUGH
Chloe WESTBURY
Carla WOOD
Becca WOODNORTH
With bad September weather, fading light and the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, last year’s inaugural U13 Hundred semi-finals and final were postponed into this season with all players from last season being eligible to take part.
On a sunny warm early June day, the finals day was held at Abingdon School, Coxes Field on Sunday 4th of June.
The first semi-final saw Wolvercote beat Sandford St Martin by 83 runs. Batting first, Wolvercote set 159/2 from their 100 balls with Cowley and Du Plessis scoring 72 and 66 respectively to post a competitive total. In response, Sandford St Martin lost early wickets. Captain Gardner posted 33 not out as his side finished 76/8 from their allocated balls. The pick of the bowlers for Wolvercote was Gibbons who finished with figures of 5-3 from 20 balls.
Semi-final two took place shortly after, with Goring and Cumnor looking to progress to the final. Goring batted first, and posted a very competitive 137/3 from their 100 balls – Logan’s 36* and Richards’ 44 being the main contributors. Cumnor got off to a nervy start, falling to 29-3. Nicholson strode to the crease and scored 84 from 43 – with a six on the 97th ball of the game winning it for his side. His partner Spokes must also be commended for his contribution of a run a ball 26 which saw Cumnor progress to the final.
After a short break, the final got underway, with Wolvercote again batting first. Robinson’s 63 from 35 was the pick of the innings, with cameos from his teammates helping their side to 135/7. Needing another masterclass from one of their key players, Cumnor sent Davies and Nicholson out to open in the hope that they could see their side over the line. Unfortunately, that was not to be the case, with them falling for 20 and 33 respectively. Spokes and Cobner-Vale attempted to rally and did so successfully for a while until both fell foul of the chase and lost their wickets. Cumnor finished on 117/8, a mere 18 runs short with Wolvercote being crowned champions.
The presentation of the trophy and medals was conducted by Joe Clapton (Finals Day Manager for the day) and Chris Mitty (Director at Oxfordshire Cricket) who thanked Abingdon School for hosting, the umpires, coaches, scorers and all the teams for a great day of cricket. Thank you to all clubs who competed in this first year of the Competition, and we look forward to seeing more great cricket over the summer.
Oxfordshire Cricket is pleased to launch this year’s 2023 Grassroots Cricket Awards, which seeks to reward and recognise volunteers across Oxfordshire who have made a difference to their club or community group. After last year’s success at holding the awards at Wormsley, this year we will again hold a large portion of the awards at the Finals Day and Pathway Awards. There will also be a range of additional events that we will look to reward and recognise volunteers.
There are eleven award categories that will allow us to recognise and reward those in Oxfordshire that have made an outstanding contribution to cricket this year, be it a young volunteer who has gone over and above or a club that has excelled in opening up the game to a brand new audience this summer. The deadline for all nominations is Friday the 21st of July 2023. Last year after rewarding and recognising over 112 volunteers across Oxfordshire, this year we would like to go beyond that to reward and recognise those that help make a difference.
The categories are as follows:
threat climate change poses to cricket, by making sustainable changes to operations, adapting their facilities and/or engaging their local community.
recognise those volunteers who are working hard and improving the places where the game is played
How Can You Nominate Someone?
You can nominate someone by clicking here to complete an online form to nominate someone. The deadline for all nominations is Friday the 21st of July 2023, with the county winners being put forward for the national awards.
Where will the awards take place?
The awards will take place on Sunday the 17th of September 2023 at the magnificent Wormsley Estate as part of our Awards and Finals Day.
On a very hot day at Didcot, Oxfordshire won the toss and decided to field. The wicket was soft after a thunderstorm the previous evening had, according to the groundsman, “turned the field into a lake!” Somerset started steadily but slowly. When their second wicket fell, the score was only 114-2 in the 35th over. Their opening bat Julian Harvey had scored 52 off 126 balls. The need to increase the scoring rate was not achieved until the number six batsman, Richard Ford, arrived at the crease and struck 36 from 23 balls. However even his efforts only took the score to 187-6, seemingly a lower score than might have been expected on a wicket that had played well. All the Oxfordshire bowlers had bowled a good line and length, the pick probably being Alan Weaver whose miserly spell brought figures on 9-1-21-1.
If Oxfordshire thought that the target would be straightforward, they soon realised that this was not the case. The first 3 wickets fell inside 7 overs, all 3 batsmen being bowled for ducks! At this stage Steve Roberts joined skipper Andy Haynes and they managed to recover the situation. They both scored freely around the wicket and the total moved forward. Haynes was dropped once, on 35, but unperturbed went on to score an excellent 82 off 80 balls with 11 fours. The score was 131 when he was out but then Steve Roberts continued his fine form to win the match with over 11 overs remaining. He made a magnificent 89 not out with 12 fours off just 83 balls.
On a very hot day at Didcot, Oxfordshire won the toss and decided to field. The wicket was soft after a thunderstorm the previous evening had, according to the groundsman, “turned the field into a lake!” Somerset started steadily but slowly. When their second wicket fell, the score was only 114-2 in the 35th over. Their opening bat Julian Harvey had scored 52 off 126 balls. The need to increase the scoring rate was not achieved until the number six batsman, Richard Ford, arrived at the crease and struck 36 from 23 balls. However even his efforts only took the score to 187-6, seemingly a lower score than might have been expected on a wicket that had played well. All the Oxfordshire bowlers had bowled a good line and length, the pick probably being Alan Weaver whose miserly spell brought figures on 9-1-21-1.
If Oxfordshire thought that the target would be straightforward, they soon realised that this was not the case. The first 3 wickets fell inside 7 overs, all 3 batsmen being bowled for ducks! At this stage Steve Roberts joined skipper Andy Haynes and they managed to recover the situation. They both scored freely around the wicket and the total moved forward. Haynes was dropped once, on 35, but unperturbed went on to score an excellent 82 off 80 balls with 11 fours. The score was 131 when he was out but then Steve Roberts continued his fine form to win the match with over 11 overs remaining. He made a magnificent 89 not out with 12 fours off just 83 balls.
Oxfordshire secured a comfortable victory against Devon by 8 wickets. Devon won the toss and elected to bat on a sunny day at E + W Hendred where the ground looked immaculate (thanks Ivan). After losing an early wicket, Devon added 50 for the 2 nd wicket in what was to be their only notable stand of the innings. Accurate bowling from all Oxfordshire’s bowlers restricted them to 141 all out (they only had 10 players as one player’s car broke down on the motorway) and the wickets were shared around. Making a welcome first appearance of the season was Steve Roberts who had the best figures of 8.5-4-16-2.
Oxfordshire’s intent with the bat was demonstrated by Darryl Woods who struck a straight 6
off the 4 th ball of the innings. He followed this with 7 fours as he made 37 off just 34 balls.
His opening partner, Andy Haynes also scored freely in compiling a score of 40. It was then
left to Mike Howat (31*) and Charlie Anderson (22*), running well between the wickets, to
see the side to victory after only 22 overs.
Oxon 50+ 2nd XI began the 2023 season on 3rd May with a 3 wicket win against Notts at Radcliffe on Trent CC.
Oxon dismissed Notts for 139 in 44.0 overs, with Carl Needham taking 3 – 32.
Oxon reached the target making 140 – 7 with 4 overs to spare., Andy Thomas top scoring with 36 runs.
Oxon 50+ 2nd XI then travelled to Cropston CC on 17th May to play Leics who batted first and set an imposing target in scoring 274 – 3 in their 45 overs.
Oxon made a spirited reply, but ended up just short on 262 – 6 losing by 12 runs, led by Ross Buchanan (65 not out in 46 balls), Jonny Atkins (79) and Andy Cross(50 in 47 balls).
A remarkable co-incidence in the Oxon 50+ 2nd XI next match v Herts at Aston Rowant CC on 25th May saw both teams total runs differ by just one run from the previous match v Leics, resulting in the same result — a 12 run defeat which ended a run of 8 consecutive wins against Herts in past seasons.
Oxon were without 4 regular bowlers as Herts ran up 275 – 5 off their 45 overs with Matt Todd taking 3 – 35.
Oxon nearly reached the target, ending with 263 all out, the 10th wicket falling off the last ball of the innings.
Andy Cross (86 runs) and Mark Sheehan (70 runs) top scored for Oxon.
Report by Neil Harris (Scorer for Oxon 50+ 2nd XI}
Tuesday 30 May at Great Alne CC
Having been inserted, the hosts got off to a good start against some accurate bowling by Oxon’s openers Nigel Walker and Graham Nelson, reaching 42-1 from the first ten overs. Accurate spells from Ran De Silva and Nick Warry pegged Warks back before two quick wickets from Hugo Ritson-Thomas left them on 99-5. Some lusty leg-side blows in a 50 run partnership put the home side back on course and they closed on 180-7 from their 45 overs with Nelson taking 3-37 and Ritson-Thomas 3-51.
Warwickshire’s tall opening bowler Paton found some steep bounce and his three early wickets left Oxon reeling at 9-3. Derek Watts and Chris Butcher shared a stand of 59 before both were out in consecutive overs leaving the visitors 68-5 at the halfway point. Graham Nelson shared two 40 run partnerships with Hugo Ritson-Thomas and Ran De Silva before a run-out left Oxon needing 17 to win from the last four overs with the last pair at the wicket. The 42nd over was a maiden, adding to the tension, and the final over started with four needed and last man Nigel Walker facing. He lofted the first ball into the leg-side and his watching teammates assumed he would take a single and leave Graham Nelson on strike. But no! Nigel scampered a second run and took the responsibility of hitting the winning runs which he did off the third ball to leave Oxfordshire victors by 1 wicket with half an over to spare.
An excellent team effort ensured a nail-biting finish and keep Oxon in second place in the table; they host leaders Wales at East & West Hendred CC next Tuesday.