After a rain-disrupted weekend last week, a much brighter forecast meant there was (almost) a full complement of fixtures for Oxford Cricket Club. All six senior sides were in action, with two victories, four defeats, and two washouts to show for their efforts.

Persistent rain meant that Tuesday’s opening fixture for the Men’s 1st XI in the 2026 Hartwell Cup ended in a washout, with the game against Oxenford abandoned without a ball bowled. Similarly, the Oxfordshire Cricket Board Women’s Hundred fixture for the Women’s 1st XI was also abandoned on Thursday.

When Saturday rolled around, the Men’s 1st XI were able to get onto the field in the local derby against Horspath at Jordan Hill. Before the game, captain Jack Wilkins presented batter Gaajuran Ganagabalan with his Club Cap for a stellar start to the season, including 240 runs from his first four innings, including a mammoth 163 against Chesham.

With the new timed format replacing the fifty-over per-side contests in recent weeks, and the red ball replacing the white, Wilkins won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first. Opening bowler Brad Taylor removed Dominic O’Connor (6) and Vivek Narayan (5) cheaply, bowling with great control, before also removing Stephen Green (13) and Derval Green (12) to reduce Horspath to 121/4. Taylor ended the day with creditable figures of 4-41 from a tireless nineteen overs, which included six maidens. While all the damage was being done at one end, opener Sravan Konidena battled on, reaching fifty as more wickets fell at the other end. Brendon Smith (1-22) and Alfie Smethurst (3-36) were also in the wickets, as Horspath struggled to 156/8 after fifty overs. Konidena kept going, but was visibly distraught as he fell agonisingly short of a deserved century, hauling out to Smith in the deep off the bowling of Julian Laird for 99. Wilkins picked up the final wicket of Ryan Hicks (21) to leave Horspath all out for 188 from fifty-seven overs.

In reply, Oxford lost debutant Lee Marland (5), Ganagabalan (8), and wicket-keeper Finn McKeown (1) early, as Oxford stumbled to 17/3 inside the first ten overs. Smith joined Laird in the middle and the two settled things down, showing patience to rebuild the innings. Laird reached fifty and accelerated, while Smith provided able support at the other end. Laird brought up a fabulous century with a reverse sweep, and finished unbeaten on 110* from 105 balls in an innings featuring ten fours and four sixes. Smith brought up his fifty and finished on 58*, as Oxford won by seven wickets.

Wilkins enjoyed being back out on the field, after a frustrating run of cancellations in the past seven days:

“Finally after a damp patch of weather we got some cricket in.”

“Winning the toss felt good, as the wicket had been under the covers for a week or so. Myself and Brad opened up with the ball and could tell the pitch was going to favour us with five seamers and three spinners. A long nineteen-over spell from Brad, who bowled very well and deserved a five-for. Alfie coming back for his first game of the year finishing with a three was great to see again.”

“Losing a few early on with the bat wasn’t the ideal start, being 30 odd for 3. Juels and Brendon then saw us home all the way to the end. Absolutely outstanding from both! Some crazy shots from Juels and a calm head of Brendon was a great balance as they took us home with Juels finishing 110* and Smudge 58*”

“All in, a great start to the red ball and the group keeps getting stronger and stronger each week. Always nice to beat the local rivals too!”

Elsewhere on Saturday, the Men’s 2nd XI were on the road for the second week running, travelling to Witney Swifts. After captain Richard Musk lost the toss and the side were asked to bat first, the Oxford innings got off to the worst possible start, with opener Arthur Muir bowled by George Seacole off the first ball of the innings. Mahammad Sayyed met the same fate three balls later to leave the side 0/2 at the end of the first over. Patrick Smith (24) and Faizaan Abbas (24) rebuilt slightly, but when Abbas was dismissed by Craig Wood, the middle order of Raj Kiran Chowdaboyina and Phillip Evans were removed in consecutive balls. Things went from bad to worse for the visitors, as 39/2 became 65 all out, in an innings that featured five ducks, four of which were first ball, with Wood finishing with an incredible 7/18 from only six overs.

In response, the Swifts openers Charlie Fisher and Edward Priest put on seventeen for the first wicket, before three wickets fell on this score, two for Rohan Hariharan and one for Musk. Both struck again, followed by one for Mukul Mahesh, to leave the hosts 33/6 inside eight overs, as Oxford felt a stunning turnaround might be on the cards. Mahesh then removed Wood and Seacole to reduce Swifts to 47/8, still nineteen shy of the target. However, a stubborn 13* from 62 balls from Conor O’Hickey and 5* from 43 balls by Craig Horne saw them over the line, as Oxford fell to a two wicket defeat.

After the game, Musk rued another instance of Oxford ending on the wrong side of the result in a tight affair this season:

“Our batting display fell well short of what we aspire to despite a good showing from Patrick Smith. Nevertheless the whole team showed great character and attitude in trying to turn the game around in the field. We pushed them really close and with a bit of luck our way at the end could have easily won the game.”

Back at Marston Sports Ground, the Men’s 3rd XI were playing host to Long Marston. Captain Steve Hurt won the toss and elected to have a bowl. Not for the first time this season, opening quick Mamun Ahmed backed up the skipper’s decision, blowing away the visitors’ top order taking six wickets, in addition to two from Arshad Siddiq, to leave Long Marston 30/8. Ahmed then picked up his seventh, to finish with an astonishing 7-22 from his thirteen overs. Lewis Drummond wrapped up the innings with his wrist spin, as Long Marston were bundled out for 57 in the twenty-sixth over, with only George Walter (10*) making double-figures for the visitors.

Despite losing the in-form Tom Tebay (1) early, Hurt (13) and Ali Shah (24) made solid progress toward the target, as they reached 36/1. Any suggestion of a comfortable win and an early trip to the Up in Arms pub down the road were hushed however, as Long Marston came roaring back. In the blink of an eye, 49/3 became 51/7, leaving visible nerves on the Oxford bench, in amongst the mad dash for batting kit from the lower order. Siddiq remained calm however, casually blasting his first ball for six to tie the scores, before a wide ball saw the side home by three wickets.

Hurt was delighted with his seam attack, crediting them with setting up the victory:

”Mamun put in an exceptional performance of skill and stamina. His ability to swing the ball both ways at a lively pace is impressive. Arshad also deserves credit for bowling a great opening spell alongside Mamun.”

Rounding off the Saturday action were the Men’s 4th XI, who traveled to Faringdon & District. With regular captain Richard Pye still only fit enough for umpiring duties, stand-in skipper Alf Symons called incorrectly and was asked to bat first. Krishna Katyal and Roger Young saw the side to thirty in what was a steady start, before two quick wickets checked progress. When Katyal was dismissed for a well-made forty, it sparked an almighty collapse from 54/2 to 67/8. Wicket-keeper Max Baldock dug in as the chaos unfolded, making 5 from 58 balls, but the visitors were bowled out for 69 after thirty-three overs.

During the run chase, there were wickets for Akmal Taheer (1-20), Arthur Parrack (1-23), and Jack Beadsworth (1-11), but the hosts comfortably reached their target in the twenty-third over to inflict a seven wicket defeat on the side.

After the game, Symons has this to say:

“After a good opening partnership between Roger and Krishna, we were unable to build on it with the Farringdon bowlers making good use of a grassy wicket by putting the ball in good areas. Krishna batted very well for his 40, and Max dug in with determination, but wickets fell regularly after the solid start. We took to the field with positive intent, which was good to see, and Akmal, Arthur, and Jack deservedly picked up a wicket each, all bowling spells that made the batters work hard for their runs. Matty looked threatening until he pulled up after two overs, proof it just wasn't our day, and Krish bowled tidily at the end.”

On Sunday, the Women’s 1st XI welcomed Moreton Mavericks to Jordan Hill. Captain Genny Porter won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the returning Numa Shah (1) and Victoria Bagge (5) both edged Rabiya Dogar behind to wicket-keeper Ellie Ingram to leave the side 12/2 in the third over. Isla Cutler was run out by some sharp fielding by Carla Wood to reduce Oxford to 16/3 at the end of the Powerplay. Ridhi Kashyap (7) was trapped in front by captain Georgia Haworth soon after to make it 24/4. Laura Jacob and Imi Watts were brought together in the middle, and provided stubborn resistance in the face of some accurate Moreton bowling, adding only nine runs from the following twelve overs. Jacob fell for 8 from 59 balls, before Watts and the returning Ellie Simpson combined for the most profitable partnership of the innings, adding 33 before Simpson was removed. Porter, only fit enough to bat at #10 following a finger injury last week, made a quick-fire 12* from 13 balls, as Oxford finished on 91/9 from their forty overs.

Moreton made a fast start, with Ingram and Wood adding forty inside the Powerplay, before Wood was bowled by Cutler. That proved the only breakthrough of the innings, as Ingram (45*) and Queentor Abel (15*), as the side lost by nine wickets.

The Women’s 2nd XI were on the road, travelling to Oxford Downs in a thirty-five overs per-side contest. Captain Finn Aston won the toss and inserted the home side. Eleanor Hurt made an early breakthrough, while Alishba Hussain also claimed three. Hurt picked up her second at the end of the innings as Downs finished on 203/5 from their allotment.

Ruby Wilkie batted well for 33, but was the only batter to reach double-figures, as Oxford were bowled out for 86 to lose by 117 runs.

After the game, Aston praised the effort of the team in the field on the day, going toe-to-toe and competing in periods against experienced opponents:

“We fielded first and, despite the heat, kept the energy up. I was very impressed - no one missed an opportunity to walk in or back up. Despite being a less experienced batting team we put up a very good fight lasting 33 overs. Special congrats to Ruby who kept bowled and batted well and Lish who got 3 wickets.”

Next week, there is more midweek action, as the Men’s 1st XI travel to Banbury in the Hartwell Cup on Tuesday night, and the Exiles side play St Clements Strollers in a friendly at Marston Sports Ground on Thursday. At the weekend, the Men’s 1st XI travel to Challow & Childrey, while the Men’s 2nd XI host Abingdon Vale at Jordan Hill. The Men’s 3rd XI are on the road, travelling to high-flying Haddenham, while the Men’s 4th XI complete the league action by welcoming Uffington to Marston Sports Ground. On Sunday, both Women’s sides have no league fixtures scheduled, but instead have a softball festival at Horspath. Finally, the Exiles are back in action for their first Sunday fixture of the season, taking on Charlbury in a thirty-over friendly.

Images courtesy of Clive Jones and Jack Wilkins.