Tiddington beat Cumnor and Goring to become U13 Ron Maudsley champions at Dragon on Sunday and represent Oxfordshire in the ECB U13 competition.

Metrological records were broken on Saturday by the amount of rain that fell across Oxfordshire. With more rain overnight and heavy thunderstorms forecast for Sunday the U13 final looked at risk of not going ahead. The ground staff at our original venue decided their ground was unplayable early Sunday morning, and a result by a coin-toss looked likely. 

After much searching, Dragon School very kindly agreed to host us, and fortunately the worst of the weather held off and we managed to play cricket.

In the first semi-final Warborough & Shillingford forfeited the match, putting Goring straight through to the final. 

Semi-final 2 was between Cumnor and Tiddington, with Tiddington coming out as the winners. Cumnor won the toss and elected to field. Tiddington set 109 all out from their 20 overs. Amies top scored and retired on 33, Barnes (16) and Peacock (17) offered support, after a brief interruption for lightning and thunder. Kent recorded the best bowling figures for Cumnor – 4-15 from his 4 overs. Cumnor started their run-chase positively, not losing their first wicket until the 9th over at 40-1. However, losing wickets regularly brought them up short at 100-8 off their 20 overs. Spicer (29) top scored for Cumnor. Lamb recorded the best bowling figures for Tiddington 3-15 from his 4 overs.

After a short break, and keen to get the next game finished before the sun set, the final got underway, with Goring batting first. Losing early wickets, Goring slipped to 33-3 before Galbraith (22) and Dineen (24) steadied the ship and managed to reach a defendable total of 109 all out off their 20 overs. Pick of the Tiddington bowlers was Lamb again with 3-12 from his 4 overs, followed by Amies with 3-21. Tiddington started their chase slowly, and were just 35-3 at the halfway stage, needing some high scoring to reach their desired total. Amies again played a crucial role in the chase, reaching 28 and was assisted by Peacock’s 21. Tiddington levelled the scores up with 3 balls to go, but lost their 8th wicket a ball later. Knowing that level scores would be victory for them given they had lost fewer wickets than Goring, the final ball of the innings was defended and saw Tiddington victorious. 

The presentation of the trophy and medals was conducted by Joe Clapton (Competitions Manager) who thanked Dragon for hosting, the umpires, coaches, scorers and all the teams for a great day of cricket. Thank you to all the clubs who competed in this year’s Competition, and we look forward to seeing more great cricket over the summer. 

Congratulations again to Tiddington who now progress onto the national round of this competition and represent Oxfordshire as county winners.

It’s a ton up for Simpson in the 3rds! 

And the Over 60s 1st XI top the Midlands South East Group and look well set for a tilt at the title

The 1st XI became the first Oxfordshire Over 60s side to top their County Championship regional group when winning their final group game this week, while all-rounder Mike Simpson also rattled up a century for the 3rds in their win against Warwickshire.

The 1sts were away to Buckinghamshire at Buckingham Town CC and ran out comfortable winners by 76 runs but looked in more than spot of bother when Bucks won the toss and asked the visitors to bat.

Skipper Manger and Nick Morman opened in the absence of the injured Darryl Woods and both went for 0 having faced the grand total of four balls between them and with the score on 0-2 Bucks were enjoying a dream start.

But the depth of Oxon’s batting has been the team’s major strength this year and Charlie Anderson and Paul Hemming soon had things under control and moving in the right direction as they added no less than 119 for the third wicket, before Anderson fell just three runs short of a much deserved fifty.

Hemming as usual battled on and added another 35 for the fourth wicket with Nick Edmonson (20) before he too was dismissed for another fine knock of 63, which together with 22 from Rupert Taylor, should have seen Oxon well past the 200 mark but the innings fell away somewhat as Bucks fought back well to restrict Oxon to 197.

For the hosts Kevin Woodhouse and Bobby Fryer did the early damage that put Oxon on the back foot and they both turned in excellent figures of 3-29-7.3 and 1-21-9 respectively.

In reply Bucks made a steady start with Steve White again looking a real danger as he settled in and looked set for a repeat of his good knock against Oxon earlier in the season. However, opening partner Anwar Mahmood played too freely and went early bowled by Jon Woods (1-36).

Batting at three Michael Farnon again played freely and again paid the price when he was well taken by Neil Megson off the bowling of Paul Hemming with the score on 54. Then shortly afterwards the dangerous White was trapped lbw by the resurgent Ian Curtis, quickly followed by Adrian Johnson to the same Megson/ Hemming combination.

Murray Scott battled gamely for 20 as he looked to halt the slide but he succumbed to a caught and bowled from Steve Roberts, and thereafter the remaining batsman surrendered tamely to a superlative spell of left arm spin from Ian Curtis who turned in figures of 5-19 from his nine overs, to bowl out Bucks for just 121.

Next week sees the 1st XI start their series of eight second round matches which will decide the County Championship quarter finalists when they take on Sussex at Horsham CC.

The 3rds travelled to Coventry this week to take on Warwickshire at Standard CC and returned home with a fine win by 86 runs mainly thanks to a fine century by Mike Simpson.

Warks won the toss and asked Oxon to bat after which Ralph Orchard and Howard Lancaster got the innings off to its customary steady start before Orchard went for 17. That then brought in Mike Simpson alongside Lancaster, both of whom have been in prime form with the bat.

And both continued in same vein, with Lancaster accumulating steadily as Simpson played the more expansive role and began to dominate the homes sides bowling. Lancaster eventually departed for a well-made 63 as Simpson pressed on towards his hundred, finally bringing it up with two well struck fours before departing to another attempted boundary in the pursuit of more quick runs to add to the final total of 238 for 4.

In reply Warwickshire lost wickets at regular intervals and were always struggling to keep up with the required rate, mainly thanks to a good team bowling performance, with that man Simpson again at the centre of the action taking 3-14 from his nine over spell. He was well supported by Steve Wison with 2-32 from his nine and Nigel Walker with 1-26 from nine overs  despite two dropped catches off his own bowling!

In the end the Warks reply petered out somewhat despite a fine battling 50 from Clive Lee and the innings closed on 148-8. leaving the visitors with a handsome 86 run win.  

Not such good news from the 2nd XI this week as they went down to Worcestershire by four wickets in a low scoring affair away at Birlingham CC near Evesham.

The hosts won the toss and asked Oxon to bat after which skipper Andy Haynes and fellow opener Ivan Mulford, were making steady progress when Haynes fell lbw for 16 with the score on 39 off 10 overs.

Mulford continued his good work and was looking set when run out for 33, but the usually reliable middle order failed to fire as four batsman came and went all for single figure scores, before Steve Kelly (18) and wicketkeeper Rob Kerr (28) stopped the slide and managed to restore some respectability as the visitors eventually managed to muster 138 for 7 from their 45 overs.

For Worcs Andy Harn (2-26-9), Martin Woodward (2-9-9) and Rob Sharp 2-18-9) proved to be the undoing of Oxon’s batting.

With ball in hand however the visitors showed again what a good bowling unit they can be even when defending a low total.

Graham Nelson and Andy Slater both struck early with successful lbw appeals and Worcs were in trouble at 17-2. Rob Sharp then joined opener Peter Harler and gave the senior batsman the support he needed as they chipped away and added 52 before Sharp was again pinned in front by skipper Haynes, who followed up by dismissing Tony Consett first ball caught behind. 

It looked like game on for the visitors as Worcs slid to 69-4, but at the other end Harler continued his steady progress. 

Steve Kelly managed to winkle out two more home wickets, but in a tense finish – thanks to obdurate support from Ian Sadler and Graham Saint – Harler’s 79 not out from 116 balls eventually saw Worcestershire over the line.

For Oxon all the bowlers did their bit. Openers Slater and Nelson returned figures of (1-19-6) and (1-21-7) respectively, while skipper Haynes was the pick of them with (2-14-9), well supported by Steve Kelly with (2-36-8).

Despite the defeat the 2nds remain in third place in the Midlands Division and next week entertain Bucks at East and West Hendred CC in a must win game to keep them in touch with rivals Warwickshire for the second of the two places up for grabs to progress into the main Cup competition play offs. 

The Over 70s Oxs/Berks 1st XI was at home this week and went down to a seven wicket defeat at the hands of Hertfordshire. The visitors won the toss and asked Oxs/Berks to bat and they immediately made the early breakthrough they were seeking when Nino Trapani went for just two with the score on three.

Derek Watts and the in-form Ian Harvey then looked as if they were repairing the damage with steady progress before a run out saw Watts depart for 21 with the score on 38. Again Harvey and new batsman Jerry Senior looked set in adding 35 before Senior went for 13, shortly followed by Harvey for 21.

With the score on 75-4 a partnership was required, instead three wickets fell for 25 runs before Adrian Manger (25), Charles Bury (11) and Nigel Walker (22) ensured respectability by adding a quick fire 65 runs in the latter overs before the innings closed with the score on 165 for 9.

For Herts the opening pair of Sandy Reynolds and Alan Hunter really turned the screw on the hosts, returning figures of 0-11 from nine and 2-16 from five, well backed up by Keith Martin (2-18-9) and Phil Waters (4-30-5).

So a good start was needed by the Oxs/Berks bowlers to get a result and Trevor Spindler and Nigel Walker did just that when sending back Dominic Ingram, David Robinson and David Spring all for one run each, with just 45 on the board. However, at the other end current England Over 70s opener Duncan Elder was busy scoring most of those runs and look ominously well set.

And so it proved as he went relentlessly on making an impressive 111 not out, well supported by Alan Hunter who made a steady 38 in an inbroken stand of 121, which saw Herts home by three wickets.

Next week the Oxs/Herts Over 70s XI are at home to Warwickshire at the University College CC ground in Oxford.

Oxfordshire Cricket are pleased to announce the team selected to play against Cornwall in the opening match of the Durant National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA) Championship this coming Sunday 7th to 9th July 2024.

Current leading run scorer Jamie Harrison and leading wicket taker, Henry Welch feature in the opening squad of the Championship campaign, alongside Tom Davis, Dylan Driscoll, Hayden Rossouw and George Tait who all played in the last One Day Trophy fixture of the season. There are five changes to the team, with newly appointed captain of multi-day cricket, Max Mannering returning to begin his new role at the helm of the Championship side with an average age of just 21. Freddie Smith is recalled after an impressive start to the 2024 season for Oxford Downs CC and will feature as the wicket keeper batter. Pace bowler Thomas Rex is also recalled, as is Tristan Rossouw who will be looking to build upon his maiden fifty against the same opposition last time out. The team also welcomes the return of Luke Hayes who is set to play his first competitive game of the season following a lengthy absence with injury.

The selected team listed is subject to any changes before now and Sunday morning. 

Dated – 5th July 2024

Wolvercote beat Langford and Goring to become U15 County Cup champions at Didcot on Sunday and represent Oxfordshire in the ECB U15 competition.

The first semi-final of the day saw Goring beat Banbury by 7 wickets in a low-scoring game that went down to the final over. Batting first, Banbury set 95-8 from their 20 overs, with Miller and Spokes top scoring with 18 a-piece. The pick of the excellent bowling attack by Goring was Robinson, with 2-10 from his 3 overs. Walsh and Cooke also took 2 wickets each, and set themselves up with a total of under a hundred to chase for a place in the final. Banbury started well, dismissing the dangerous Richards for 0. However, Goring re-built and despite looking to be behind the rate at points, Walsh (20) and Logan (41) saw off the lion’s share of the run chase before Offwood took them over the line with 3 balls to spare. Pick of the Banbury bowlers was Rorich who returned an excellent 1-7 from his 4 overs. 

Semi-final 2 was between Langford and Wolvercote, with the latter batting first and setting 144-5 from their 20 overs. Robinson’s 51 made him the star of the show, with support acts Beard (30) and du Plessis (22*) helping their side up to a very reasonable score. Greenslade recorded the best bowling figures for Langford – 1-20 from his 4 overs. Langford set about their run-chase positively, but lost early wickets in their attempt to keep up with the required run rate. However, their innings took a turn when Hewlett had to retire hurt, after being hit in the neck with the ball. After a lengthy break where all were concerned for his well being, he seemed to show some signs of improvement and the game continued. The resumption in play saw a flurry of wickets saw them fall to 47 all out. Wolvercote’s bowlers performed well given the circumstances, with Newman the standout with 4-10 from his 4 overs.

After a short break, the final got underway, with Wolvercote batting first. Goring seemed to be repeating their bowling efforts from their earlier game, restricting the Wolvercote batters and taking key wickets. However, they rallied and Lovell (22*) and Bewes (27*) managed to get their side up to 118-6 from their 20 overs – a total that would be defendable if they bowled well. Robinson again starred with the ball, taking 2-16 from 4 overs. Goring began their chase well, with openers Richards (47) and Walsh (13) setting the tone. But losing key wickets and with Wolvercote capitalising, they fell short by 16 runs, ending all out for 102. Newman again stood out with the ball (3-14), but Gibbons returned the best figures of 3-12 from his 4 overs.

The presentation of the trophy and medals was conducted by Joe Clapton (Finals Day Manager for the day) who thanked Didcot 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 year’s Competition, and we look forward to seeing more great cricket over the summer. 

All of us at Oxfordshire Cricket wish Tommy Hewlett a speedy recovery and hope he is back playing with his Langford teammates soon.

Congratulations again to Wolvercote who now progress onto the national round of this competition and represent Oxfordshire as county winners.

Oxfordshire Cricket is pleased to announce the 12 player squad to play against Somerset on Sunday 30th of June at BNOCC.

The selected squad is subject to any change before now and Sunday morning.

Absent friends!

Hard yards for the senior group teams as holidays and injuries begin to bite

With a number of key players missing this week through injuries and holidays the dream start to the 2024 season faltered somewhat as the last of the group’s unbeaten teams finally succumbed to defeat.

The 2nd XI’s winning run was ended by a strong Warwickshire side in what was always going to be a tough away game at Four Oaks Saints CC in Sutton Coldfield. 

Andy Haynes’ side went down fighting by just three wickets in a very low scoring game which nevertheless was only concluded in the 40th over of the second innings.

Forced to bat when winning the toss with two players still struggling with traffic on the motorway as the start loomed, the visitors were soon in trouble at 18-2 from six overs with the Warks bowlers maintaining an immaculate line and length on a helpful if somewhat slow pitch.

And wickets then fell steadily throughout the innings, with only Tom Scrase (22) and the ever consistent Steve Partington (30 not out) really batting with any authority. Chief tormentors were Russell Lowry with 3-26 from nine overs and Russell Longhorne 3-24 from nine. Oxon made only 111 and were bowled out in just 35 overs.

Game over – or so most of the home supporters thought! However, with the Warks reply at 18-2 off 6 overs (sound familiar?) it was soon very much game on – and what a battle it proved to be. 

Ian Curtis’ left arm spin first accounted for Mike Weir – well stumped by Jerry Senior – and then Graham Nelson removed the dangerous Abid Din caught by Dave Warner at mid-off.

Richard Jackson (29) and Phil Clarke (23) then steadied the ship and Warks look back on course for a routine win. However, a shooter from Robin Pykett accounted for Jackson when he looked well set and when Clarke went soon after caught in the gulley by Graham Nelson off Curtis, Oxon were not slow to grab the opportunity offered.   

First Steve Partington trapped Chris Layton in front, Jerry Senior then took a fine low catch off Pykett to remove the obdurate Longhorne and Curtis weighed in with his third wicket when he bowled Lowry. Warks at 71-7 were a long way from home with number nine Dave Rogers walking to the wicket.

However, the game swung yet again as Rogers and number eight Steve Dellow – under no time pressure – mixed stout defence with hard run singles and the odd boundary to post the 41 runs required to see the relieved hosts home by three wickets, with just four overs to spare.

For Oxon Ian Curtis showed his class with a superb spell of 3-21 from nine, well backed up by  tight spells from Steve Partington (1-16 ), Robin Pykett (2-30) and Graham Nelson (1-23). 

Next week the 2nds are at home to Leicestershire at Banbury XX CC, when a win will be imperative to keep in touch with division leaders Worcestershire and maintain the gap between themselves and third placed Warwickshire.

There was better news for the 1st XI as they sought to return to winning ways against Berkshire at Challow and Childrey CC, where they were comfortable victors by seven wickets, despite having to chase down 217 for 7 by the visitors who won the toss and chose to bat.

Berks skipper Jim Warren lead from the front with a fine 56 from just 41 balls and was well supported by Chris Garrod (28) and John Bates (28), with Bates and Warren posting 79 for the third wicket.

With the ball for Oxon, Steve Roberts returned another remarkable spell conceding just 16 runs form his nine overs, while top wicket taker was off spinner Rupert Taylor with 4-63.

In reply the hosts winning total was anchored by Darryl Woods with another peerless display at the top of the order, making 88 from 87 balls in 137 minutes at the crease. He posted 77 with Nick Mormon (19) for the first wicket, 40 with Charlie Anderson (16) for the second and 78 with Paul Hemming (31 not out) for the third. Nick Edmondson (20 not out) then saw Oxon home with Hemming.

The 1sts remain top of the south east midlands division but next week have a tough away trip to Watford Town CC where they take on second placed Hertfordshire.

The 3rds made the long trip to Wembley CC to take on Middlesex shorn of a number of their regular players, including skipper Clive Ricks. However, the new faces stepped up to the plate under stand-in skipper Ajit Shah and made a decent fist of a mammoth chase after the hosts won the toss and opted to bat.

Giles Elwis (53) and Jay Villiers (59) put on 114 for the first wicket before both were bowled in quick succession by Mike Simpson who with 2-31 from nine overs was the pick of the Oxon bowlers, well backed up by David Brook’s 0-30 from nine.

However, the rest of the bowling card made for difficult reading as Chris Chunilall (48) and Peter Berg (76) piled on the runs, with the Middlesex total finally topping out at 263-3.

Undeterred the Cropredy pairing of Ralph Orchard and Adrian Beecroft set about the Oxon  chase with a nice steady start before Beecroft departed for 20 with the total on 35. Ajit Shah then joined Orchard and the pair kept the visitors very much in the hunt with a superb stand of 132 for the second wicket before Orchard retired hurt for a very gutsy 53 from 77 balls. 

Shah then went on to play a captains knock of 75 before he departed at 178. However Mike Simpson with 38 not out kept up the pressure on the Middlesex bowlers ably assisted by Chris Butcher (19) and Simon Oldfield (14 not out). However the home sides 263 was still well out of reach when the Oxon innings closed at 243 for 3.  

Despite this being their second defeat in successive games this was another fine fighting performance by the 3rds. Next week the team is at home to Berkshire at the Brasenose College ground in Oxford when, like their colleagues in the 2nd XI, a return to winning ways is essential to maintain their push to qualify for the cup rather than the plate competition.

The joint Oxs/Berks Over 70s 1st XI was away this week, when they travelled to Frocester CC in Gloucestershire, where they unfortunately ran in to two batsman in prime form and subsequently went down to a nine wicket defeat.  

Oxs/Berks won the toss and chose to bat after which the side compiled a very respectable 211 for 7 from their 45 overs.

The innings was built around two stalwarts of the Oxfordshire game, with Steve Partington opening the innings and scoring 59 from 93 balls before retiring undefeated with a lower leg injury, while batting at four, Adrian Manger rattled up a run a ball 51 before falling lbw. 

For Gloucs Graham Clarke was the pick of the bowlers with 3-40 from nine overs, well backed up by John Turton with a tight opening spell of 2-28 from nine.

However, it was the host’s batsman who really caught the eye as the home side made very light work of a 200 plus run chase, which should have been no surprise given their pedigree!

Openers John Evans and Keith Daniels are both current England Over 70s internationals and Evans is the current England captain. Both were soon into their work and scoring freely despite a very tight spell from Oxs/Berks’ own England player Trevor Spindler who only conceded 17 runs from his opening spell.

Now also missing Partington’s bowling, the remaining Oxs/Berks bowlers were unable to offer any tangible threat to the host’s opening pair until the 27th over when Evans was eventually bowled by Ian Harvey, during which time they piled up a huge opening stand of 153, of which Evans made a run a ball 92. 

Daniels then pushed on with new batsman David Collinson (25 not out), and took the hosts through to the win with seven overs to spare, eventually finishing on 78 not out.

Next week the Oxs/Berks Over 70s travel to Keynsham CC near Bristol where another tough away game awaits against Somerset.

Oxfordshire Cricket are delighted to announce the appointment of Max Mannering as the new captain of multi-day cricket ahead of the 2024 National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA) Championship season. Max has been a key member of the red ball team over the last five years, and will be aiming to build upon the success of the Championship side in recent years in his leadership role. Max succeeds Oliver Clarke who has relinquished his red ball captaincy responsibility. 

Oxfordshire Cricket would like to congratulate Max Mannering on his appointment and wish him every success in his new role as captain of the championship side. 

Reacting to his appointment Mannering said: 

“Having been part of the Oxfordshire pathway for the past 17 years, it is an absolute honour to be offered the Oxfordshire NCCA Championship XI captaincy. 

What Oxfordshire have built over the past 5-10 years alongside our partnership with Sussex, is a fantastic talent factory of young players, which, alongside some experienced heads, has created a squad of players with strength in depth in all departments. I firmly believe we have the talent and the quality to replicate the successes of the 2021 side and win the NCCA Championship, as will be our ultimate goal.

As Oxfordshire captain, you become a custodian of the brand of cricket played by the county, so a huge thanks must go to previous captains, Jonny Cater and Olly Clarke, for imparting a fantastic culture and a work ethic into the squad that will allow me to pick up the baton where they’ve left off and carry forward an ethos where ego and individualism is set aside at the changing room door and every one of us is proud to play together, as a unit, for the badge on our chest.

Overall I’m incredibly excited to work closely with the squad and the management over the coming months and honoured to lead Oxfordshire into battle, in what we hope will be a special 2024 and beyond.“

Head Coach, Rupert Evans said: 

“Congratulations to Max on his appointment as 3-day Championship Captain. Max is a product of the Oxfordshire Pathway programme, having played at every age group from Under 11s to Under 18s. Max made his County Championship debut against Wiltshire at Marlborough CC in 2018 following many good performances for the County 2nd X1 side. Since his debut, Max has developed into an outstanding off-spinner who has produced many match-winning performances for the county.

Max is well respected by his teammates and opponents and has gained captaincy experience as captain of Exeter University and the County 2nd X1. I am pleased he has accepted the opportunity to succeed Oliver Clarke and look forward to supporting him in his new role.”

It’s 300 hundred up for the unbeaten Over 60s 2ndXI

But it’s a ‘bad day at the office’ for the 1sts, 3rds and both Over 70s XIs

Andy Haynes’ Over 60s 2nd XI enjoyed a thumping win by 148 runs over Lincolnshire this week by piling up 301 for 5 after winning the toss and electing to bat at Shipton under Wychwood.

Opener Ivan Mulford – who had perished third ball last week – led the way with 82 from just 69 balls in a mammoth opening stand of 151 with skipper Haynes who himself posted 72 from 68.

Even quicker however was stand in keeper Tim Riley who made an undefeated 72 from just 51 balls in a partnership of 78 with Dave Warner (24) for the fifth wicket. Ian Fletcher was the pick of the Lincs bowlers with 3-53 from nine.

The Lincs reply go off to a shaky start when Jon Woods had Andy Sharp lbw for 1, but Cliff Adwick (46) Clive Bayston (19) and Chris Bealby (21) batted steadily to see the visitors through to 83 for 2, after which three wickets went down for the addition of only 16 runs, which left the lower order with a mountain to climb and the innings closed on 153 for 7.

The pick of the Oxon bowlers was Robin Pykett who send down nine overs of his left arm spin for just 22 runs and two wickets, well supported by Steve Partington with 2-46 from nine and Steve Kelly with a customary tight spell of 1-14 from nine.

Next week the 2nds take on Warwickshire away at Sutton Coldfield.

The 1st XIs five match unbeaten record finally came to an end when they came up short away from home against their bogey side Northamptonshire in a low scoring game at Podington CC, during which they looked well in control for most of the game. 

Northants won the toss and elected to bowl first on what has now become the norm for the 2024 season – a low, slow, green seaming track. The Oxon top three of Wood (18) Mormon (30) and Anderson (18) once again battled through the new ball and looked to have again set up the middle order to press on.

However, instead two quick wickets saw the visitors slip to 81 for 5 before Steve Roberts (20) Phil Manger (13) and Phil Manning (15) stopped the slide, but not before Manning injured a finger that looks likely to keep him on the sidelines for the next couple of games.

In what looked set to be a very low scoring game Oxon were eventually bowled out for 138 in 36 overs with nine wickets down due to Manning’s injury.

For Northants – who at tea looked well in control of the game – Andrew Brierley with 4-44 and Karl Peasnall 3-28 – took seven of the nine wickets to fall.

In the second innings early strikes by opening bowlers Tim Mahoney and Steve Roberts had the hosts’ openers back in the pavilion with just 15 on the board, both lbw. And it rapidly got worse as Roberts sent back Timms and Denton both for 0 before Mahoney struck again and removed Coleman – again lbw – for just 13 to leave Northants reeling on 35 for 5. 

Game over surely! Not so. Northants numbers six and seven Andrew Brierley and Mark Pearson then proceeded to turn the game on its head yet again with a stand of 102 on a pitch that prior to their arrival at the crease had seen 14 wickets fall at less than 13 runs apiece.

Brierley compiled a patient 46 from 105 balls, while Pearson made a fine 52 from 78, which took the hosts to within two runs of an unlikely win before both were dismissed in a final ironic twist that saw Northants eventually win by three wickets.

Next week the firsts are hopefully back to winning ways at ‘fortress Challow’ when they entertain Berkshire.

And there was no shortage of drama in the 3rds game at Minster Lovell against Somerset where for the second time this season just one run decided the result. Sadly unlike the match against Gloucestershire, Oxon this time finished on the wrong side of that vital single. 

Somerset won the toss and elected to bat on a low, slow track that looked bowler friendly. However, Somerset opener Andy Carson soon made nonsense of that notion and proceeded belt the hosts bowling to all parts of the ground in compiling a muscular 84 in good time, which with good support from Steve Pigden (23) and Kevin Dornan (20) saw the visitors to a very healthy 192 all out in the 45th over.

Of the home sides bowlers only Mike Simpson 2-32 from nine overs and Ajit Shah 4-25 from 8 returned anything like respectable figures. 

In reply Oxon were again indebted to Shah for holding the top order together with a gritty 46 as wickets fell around him and the hosts slipped to 87 for five as Mike Simpson was joined by Simon Oldfield.

The pair then counterattacked with a combination of hard run singles and judicious hitting to compile a stand of 76 which put Somerset on the back foot as they looked to cruise home with the match seemingly all but won.

Oldfield eventually went lbw for 47 with 29 still required and Simpson was then joined by keeper Peter Howe. Together the pair manipulated the strike and scampered their singles until the final ball when, needing three to win, a well struck cover drive by Simpson could only find one of the five fielders Somerset had ringing the boundary to deliver the win by a single run. 

Simpson was left high and dry on 59 not out. A great knock that deserved to be in a winning cause. You win some, you lose some. 

It was a fighting performance in the end by the 3rds but Somerset were all round the better side on the day – just! Next up the team travels to London to take on Middlesex at Wembley CC. 

At the start of the week the Oxfordshire Over 70s played hosts to Hertfordshire in the South West Friendly Cricket League at Kidmore End’s CC’s Crowmarsh ground.

This was another low scoring affair in which most batsmen struggled to play their strokes thanks to the current wet weather that makes for slow bowler friendly wickets.

However, when Oxon won the toss and elected to field the Herts opening pair of Keith Hammond and Dominic Ingram immediately put the visitors in control with a fine opening stand of 56 in just seven overs.

The home sides four man spin attack then wrested back some semblance of control when Simon Oldfield removed Ingram, while Suresh Patel closed up one end with a fine spell of 2-18 from nine overs. 

Skipper Dave Beck weighed in with a sound 1-28 from eight, while the left arm leg spin of Hugo Ritson Thomas was once again the pick of the bowling with 3-18 from eight, leaving Herts on 166 for 7 from their 40 overs.

The Oxon chase didn’t get off to the best of starts by losing their first wicket with just two on the board shortly after which Nick Warry was forced to retire with a shoulder injury when the score was on 12, which was not added to before the second wicket also went down.

Opener Simon Oldfield was then joined by Howard Voisey and the pair then batted without further alarms to put Oxon in pole position at 83 for 3 with just under half the overs left to get the remaining runs.

Oldfield looked well set to steer Oxon home but couldn’t find a partner to stay with him after Voisey went for 21. The next five wickets then fell for just 25 runs and Oldfield eventually perished as the ninth man down for 59 as he looked for quick runs with the tail in to swing the result in favour of the hosts, who were eventually dismissed 24 runs short of their target.

All the Herts bowlers performed well with openers Ingram and Geoffrey Bassill only conceding 42 runs between them, while John Scott and Jeffrey Permutt, shared six wickets in ripping the heart out of the Oxon middle order to swing the game in the visitors favour.

Next week Dave Beck’s side entertain Worcestershire at Horley as they look to get back to winning ways.

And finally the joint Ox/Berks Over 70s XI were frustrated to find their game again falling victim to the weather, particularly as they had worked hard and put themselves in a good position at tea in their home game against Middlesex at Peppard Stoke Row CC’s ground near Reading.

Acting home captain Steve Partington was asked to bat by Middlesex when they won the toss. Ox/Berks’ top five batsman all made double figure contributions with Jerry Senior top scoring with 46, closely followed by Ian Harvey on 39, seemingly setting up a platform for what should have been a 200 plus total.

However, the visitor’s pegged Oxs/Berks back in the final third of the innings thanks to a fine spell of  bowling by Mike Stafford who took 3-35 from his nine overs, backed up Steve Maloney with 0-22 from his nine, leaving the hosts on 188 for 7 at tea.

But as has so often been the case this season the rain had the final say and not a ball was bowled after tea and what was set up to be a good contest eventually had to be abandoned.

Next week the joint Ox/Berks Over 70s XI make the journey to Frocester for the away game against Gloucestershire, in the hope of better weather.