League action continued thick and fast for all six senior sides at Oxford Cricket Club, with two wins, five losses, and some standout performances from all areas of the Club.

Starting on Saturday, the Men’s 1st XI travelled to Chesham. After losing the toss and being inserted, Oxford lost last week’s top scorer Julian Laird early for 4, and found themselves 92/4 inside eighteen overs. However, a 74-run partnership between Gaajuran Ganagabalan and Brendon Smith saw the side get past 150.

Smith was run out for 30, but Ganagabalan continued on, bringing up a spectacular maiden century for the Club. Finn McKeown (22) also provided valuable support for Ganagabalan, who was finally dismissed for 163, as Oxford closed on 285/9 from their fifty overs.

In reply, captain Jack Wilkins and quick bowler Brad Taylor each took two wickets to reduce the hosts to 20/4 inside ten overs. Oxford weren’t done there, as there were also two wickets each for Brendon Smith and Will Smith in a dominant spell of play, leaving Chesham 46/8. An unbeaten 25-run stand between Daksh Sabherwal (26*) and Alfie Clifford (13*) saw Chesham to 71/8 before the rain came and the teams were forced off the field. Unfortunately, play never restarted and Oxford went away victorious by 189 runs.

Wilkins was pleased with every aspect of the team performance, and the back-to-back victories that have kicked off the season for the team:

“Losing the toss wasn’t ideal at first as I would have loved to bowl, Juels getting out early showed how it was a bowler friendly wicket. Gaaj then had a great tempo to his destructive innings including some insane ball striking was a pleasure to watch! Also perfectly supported with great knocks from Brendon & Finn

Onto the bowling the lads stuck at the plans perfectly with support from a very energetic feilding unit. Totally out clarsing Chesham in all aspects

Wickets from all the bowlers just showed how strong our options were. All in all a great game of cricket and very professional performance.”

Elsewhere, the Men’s 2nd XI were hosting Sandford St Martin at Jordan Hill for their first home fixture of the summer. Captain Richard Musk won the toss and invited the visitors to bat first, with the captain leading from the front and taking an early wicket. There were two wickets for Charlie Lawn (2-23) and one for Mukul Mahesh (1-30), but the standout performance was from Mark Beer, who tore through the visitors’ middle order in a spell of 4-22, featuring a stunning catch by Adam Hall at first slip. Mahammad Sayyed was impressive behind the stumps, with three catches in the innings, before Raj Kiran Chowdaboyina picked up the final wicket as Sandford St Martin were dismissed for 108 inside thirty-eight overs.

In reply, Arthur Muir and Lee Marland opened for the hosts, racing to 28/0 at the end of the fourth over. Marland was the bowled offering no shot to the spin of Kieran Beesley with the score on 30. This triggered an almighty collapse, as Oxford lost another seven wickets for twenty runs inside of eleven overs to leave them 50/8. Lawn and Mahesh tried to rebuild following a rain delay, but their efforts were in vain. Last man Muhammad Saqib was run out for 6 to see Oxford all out for 73, a loss by 35 runs.

After the game, Musk rued another close defeat, but was full of praise for the bowling and fielding effort:

“Once again a great bowling and fielding performance with a standout contribution from Mark Beer and tidy keeping from Mahammad Sayyed. Having got off to a great start we the bat, poor application and adaptation to the match situation lead to another frustratingly narrow defeat.”

Also in action were the Men’s 3rd XI, who hosted Bradenham, all the way from Buckinghamshire, at Marston Sports Ground. The visitors won the toss and elected to field first, and removed both Oxford openers Steve Hurt and Andy Smith for five. A gritty 42-run stand between Ali Shah and Ben Andre, fresh from fifty last week, took Oxford past fifty on what looked a challenging batting deck. Andre was removed, before Shah found another ally in Dara Bannerman (19), in a partnership worth 53. Shah accelerated towards the back end of the innings, passing fifty and hitting sixteen boundaries on his way to a well-made 90, while running out of partners at the other end. Oxford finished on 168/8 from their forty-five overs after some late hitting from wicket-keeper Dan Broughton (4*) and Mamun Ahmed (10*).

In the field, Bannerman was immediately in the wickets, as Bradenham made a slow start to the run chase. A watchful 56-run partnership between Graham Tennant (21) and Steve Mann (26) was ended by Arshad Siddiq (1-31), while Bert Odley (1-19) was also in the wickets. In a run chase interrupted by rain, the visitors were set a revised target of 139, with Shah (3-29) and Bannerman (3-19) taking late wickets to give Oxford hope of victory. However, Bradenham got over the line in the final over, condemning the side to a loss by two wickets.

Captain Hurt was full of praise for the performances of Shah and Bannerman on the day:

“An exceptional innings by Ali Shah on a tricky wicket gave us a good chance of another win. Unfortunately we then got the wrong end of the conditions as persistent drizzle meant bowling with a wet ball. Great resilience in the field took the game to the last over. It was also good to welcome Dara Bannerman back to the side. He showed maturity with both bat and ball.”

The Men’s 4th XI travelled to Didcot looking to kick-start their campaign. Captain Richard Pye called incorrectly and the hosts elected to bat first. An early wicket for Matty Wyatt (1-33) set the tone for the side, while debutant Akmal Taheer picked up a scalp from the other end. In the middle overs, wickets were shared around, with Pye (1-23), Alf Symons (1-23), and Jack Beadsworth (2-23) all getting in on the act. Arthur Parrack (2-12) removed opener Mahesh Chaudari for 53, and Taheer mopped up the tail to finish with an impressive 3-17 as Didcot were bowled out for 136.

In response, any memories of last week’s batting collapse were banished as openers Tom Tebay and Ben Newbury (18) made a fast start. Roger Young chipped in with 16 as Tebay accelerated, bringing up a fine half-century. Tebay (61*) and Beadsworth (16*) got Oxford over the line inside twenty-three overs to win by seven wickets.

Pye was pleased to get his first win as captain, and highlighted the strong performances from Tebay and Taheer:

“Great performance from the 4s. Contributions from everyone. Excellent work from Tom Tebay in particular, with the bat, and a strong club debut from Akmal Taheer with the ball.”

On Sunday, the Women’s 1st XI travelled to Berkhamsted, looking to bounce back after defeat last time out. With another Oxfordshire County fixture making several regulars unavailable, Rosie Tubb once again took charge of a youthful Oxford side. The hosts won the toss and elected to field first. Taylor Barlow made 13, but Oxford fell to 21/3 inside the Powerplay. A 41-run partnership between Tubb (9) and Victoria Bagge (16) settled things down, before both were dismissed and Oxford collapsed to 87 all out.

In reply, Imi Watts struck with the very first ball of the innings, removing Berkhamsted captain Jess Potts courtesy of a catch by Nerys Garrod. Youngster Isla Cutler then produced an incredible spell of bowling, as she took 5-30 from her eight overs, leaving the hosts wobbling at 53/6 - still 35 runs short of their target. However, an unbeaten stand by Willa Stanley (50*) and India Rawlings (12*) saw them home, meaning Oxford were on the wrong end of a four wicket loss. The tiara and wooden spoon both went to Cutler on account of the outstanding bowling performance, but also for eating her lunch on the field and her “unenthusiastic” approach to appealing.

After the game, Tubb found plenty of positives going forward:

“If you asked me at tea if I thought the game was going to go how it did, I would have been unsure. The ladies pulled out a inspired bowling performance on a difficult outfield to keep us in the game. We were so unlucky to not come away with the game. The ground fielding and bowling were superb and I hope everyone is really proud of themselves. Shout outs to Isla for her wicked 5-fer and to Katy and Maria for stepping up and being brilliant!”

Back at Jordan Hill, the Women’s 2nd XI were at home for the first time this season, hosting Stewkley Vicarage in a Super Eights Double-Header. The visitors won the toss and elected to bowl in the first match. Standout performers in the Oxford innings were twins Daisy Phillips (11) and Ella Phillips (17), while Emily Huxley made 19 as Oxford posted a net score of 298 in the pairs game. In the field, Rose Brown took 1-21 with her leg spin as the visitors made a net score of 312, a narrow loss by 14 runs.

In the second game, captain Emily Flashman won the toss and also chose to field first. There was one wicket apiece for each of the Phillips twins as Stewkley Vicarage posted a net score of 296. In reply, Daisy Phillips (12) and Huxley (17) were in the runs again as Oxford finished on 265, a loss by 31 runs.

Flashman singled out the impressive senior debuts of three youth players on the day:

“Great couple of games in the women's super 8's league with impressive senior debuts for Imaan Hassan and Daisy & Ella Phillips. The team can be proud of tight fielding, positive batting and excellent youth bowlers!”

Next weekend, the Men’s 1st XI kick off the action, hosting Thame Town at Jordan Hill, while the Men’s 2nd XI travel to Great & Little Tew. The Men’s 3rd XI are also on the road, travelling to Stokenchurch, as the Men’s 4th XI welcome East & West Hendred to Marston Sports Ground. On Sunday, the Women’s 1st XI have a bye week from the league, while the Women’s 2nd XI host Deddington at Jordan Hill in the latest Super Eights Double-Header.

Images courtesy of ETDC Digital Media.