In the midst of thirty-degree heat and red weather warnings, Oxford Cricket Club were still in high spirits. Across eight fixtures for the six senior sides, there were three victories and five defeats.

Starting on Tuesday, whilst the planned Hartwell Cup T20 against Cumnor was conceded at the last minute by the visitors, the Club still enjoyed a social BBQ and screening of the football at Jordan Hill, making the most of a sunny night! Many thanks to the Social Committee of Ben Newbury and Felicity Rae-Welsh for their efforts in organising, and to Charlie Lawn for his work behind the grill. Thursday’s Oxfordshire Cricket Board Women’s Hundred fixture against Steventon was also conceded, resulting in a 100% record in the midweek fixtures, without a ball being bowled!

Over to the weekend, the Men’s 1st XI were taking on Ickenham. Captain Jack Wilkins lost (another) toss and the visitors, unsurprisingly, elected to bat first in the heat. Wilkins removed opener Noah Mungrue (4) early, before Elliot Evans (34) and Luke O’Driscoll (57) added nearly 100 for the second wicket. Wilkins removed both LBW in quick succession to leave Ickenham 105/3 in the thirty-sixth over, before the left-arm spin of Alfie Smethurst picked up another shortly after. Ickenham collapsed from 109/3 to 151/8 with wickets for Smethurst (3-29) and Will Smith (2-51). From there, Krissie Mistry when on the counter-attack, hitting an unbeaten 34 from 25 balls. When Julian Laird (2-39) took the final wicket, Ickenham were all out for 194 in the fifty-eighth over.

Openers Josh Towell and Gaajuran Ganagabalan put on 33 for the first wicket, before the latter skied one to mid-off for fourteen. Towell was then joined by Laird and the two combined for 67 runs before Towell (29) was caught down the leg-side. Laird kept going, and brought up fifty on his way to a fine 71 from 47 balls, including five sixes. When Laird was removed with the score on 130, Oxford collapsed spectacularly, losing their remaining seven wickets for thirty-nine runs as Mistry ran riot, on his way to a five-wicket haul. Smethurst was the last man out, caught down the leg-side, Oxford were bowled out for 169, to lose by twenty-five runs.

The Men’s 2nd XI were on the road to Minster Lovell. Captain Richard Musk won the toss and elected to field first, hoping to make use of the multitude of bowling options at his disposal. Musk struck in the first over, removing James Mattinson for a duck, caught by wicket-keeper Mahammad Sayyed. Sayyed was in the game again as Zak Jarvis (10) was stumped off the bowling of Rohan Hariharan shortly after. Mukul Mahesh bowled Connor Tinsley (8) to leave Minster Lovell 41/3 before wicket-keeper Nathan Harris (51) and captain Oliver Mersh (55) each hit half-centuries in a partnership worth 95. From 136/3, Arthur Muir led the Oxford fightback, taking 5-26, with one for the off-spin of Muhammad Saqib, as Minster Lovell collapsed to 174 all out in the fifty-third over.

In reply, Jarvis ran through the top order, taking three wickets as Oxford slumped to 19/4 in the ninth over. Only Sayyed (12), Raj Kiran Chowdaboyina (16), and Musk (12) made double-figures as Oxford were dismissed for 87, to lose by eighty-seven runs.

Over at Marston Sports Ground, the Men’s 3rd XI were hosting Bledlow Village. Oxford captain Steve Hurt won the toss and elected to have a bowl. Following early runouts for Charles Gall, Tom Tebay, and Emilia Bartram, Mamun Ahmed continued his blistering form this season, moving past twenty wickets as he ripped through the middle order in a spell of 6-32 which included six maidens. Alf Symons also took a wicket as the visitors were bundled out for 122 in the thirty-third over.

The Oxford run chase got off to the worst possible start, losing Hurt LBW second ball. Gall (3) and Ross Buchanan (5) fell soon afterwards to leave the side 23/3. Tebay and Bartram rebuilt, with the former playing a watchful innings, and the latter counter-attacking with 26 from 28 balls. Tebay was removed for 32, while contributions from Theo Share (10) and wicket-keeper Angus Barnard (12) got the side closer to their target. Quick wickets left Oxford seven down, but Symons (3*) and Albert Brown (0*) saw the side home in the thirty-seventh over to win by three wickets.

After the game, Hurt was delighted with another win for the side - pushing them higher up the league table:

”Another excellent performance in the field by the 3s. Three early run-outs put the opposition on the back foot. Mamun then put in another match-winning performance with the ball.”

The Men’s 4th XI were on the road to Oxford Downs. Regular captain Richard Pye was back from injury, but lost the toss and the side were invited to field first. Matty Wyatt picked up the wicket of Sam Collins (20), bowling fourteen overs in the heat in total. However, Downs went on the attack, with Stephen Roberts making 27, captain Clive Whitby 51, and Jack Robinson 70. Roger Young claimed two wickets with his off-spin, and Arthur Parrack one, plus a runout. Wyatt returned to pick up two more and finish with 3-46, as Downs finished on 217/7 from their forty-seven overs.

Numa Shah got a start at the top of the Oxford innings, making 14. However, the rest of the top order were blown away by George Hook (2-18) and Roberts. Some late hitting from Young (17) and Simon Barnard (27) added some respectability to the Oxford total, but they finished 87 all out, losing by 130 runs, with Roberts taking an impressive 6-12.

After the game, Pye credited the work rate of the team in hit conditions:

”Another toss lost, on a very warm afternoon, but the team showed character in the field. After a flying start from Downs, some control was exerted by Roger Young (bowling 15 overs straight) and Matty Wyatt bowling 10 straight. Matty bowled another 4 at the death - to finish with 3 wickets for 46. A stunning direct hit from the deep from Arthur Parrack for a run out was a highlight. A wily bowling performance from Downs' Steve Roberts (6 wickets for 12 runs - adding to his nearly 700 cherwell league wickets) put a sizeable hole in our reply - but the tail wagged again, particularly Simon Barnard. Wolvercote 3s at home next week.”

On Sunday, the Women’s 1st XI were hosting Thame Town at Jordan Hill. With regular captain Genny Porter absent, vice-captain Emilia Bartram was in charge of this one. Oxford lost the toss and Thame elected to field first. Openers Bartram and the returning Izzy Kirby both made 8, but were dismissed to leave Oxford 27/2 just after the Powerplay. Wicket-keeper Numa Shah (3), Isla Cutler (3) and Ridhi Kashyap (7) all followed soon after, leaving the side in trouble at 79/6, despite 35 from Felicity Rae-Welsh. Victoria Bagge (23) put on 17 with Laura Jacob (5), and 31 with Rosie Tubb (13). Lucy and Ellie Simpson each made 7 as Oxford were bowled out for 149 in the thirty-eighth over. Shirley Emmanuel was the pick of the Thame bowlers with 4-40.

Ellie Simpson (1-26) removed Leanne Harris (16) in the final over of the Powerplay, as Thame made a positive start to the run chase. Kashyap (1-29) claimed the wicket of Emmanuel, leaving Thame 53/2. An 83-run stand between Megs Woodward (51) and Harshani Wijerathna (52*) put Thame on the brink of victory, before Cutler took three quick wickets to guarantee a few extra bonus points. However, it proved too little, too late, as Thame reached their target in thirty-one overs, condemning Oxford to a five-wicket defeat.

Bartram credited her opposition as deserved winners on the day:

”Credit to Thame for a couple of good batting innings that saw them across the line. We had some good moments in the match but just lacked consistency to pull off the win.”

Elsewhere, the Women’s 2nd XI were making the short journey to Oxenford. Regular captain Finn Aston was absent, so Alishba Hussain stepped up to lead the side. Hussain called incorrectly, and the side were invited to bat first. Hussain and Ruby Wilkie made a fast start, putting on 43 in less than seven overs, before the latter was bowled for 14. Hussain kept going, but was dismissed for 32, while Holly Cole (7), Imaan Hassan (6), and Anjali Kotnis (9) all made contributions. Wicket-keeper Hanna Jaadla took over and made a fluent 33 from 34 balls, and found an ally in Rose Brown (10) to propel the score to 180/8 from their thirty-five overs.

In reply, Oxenford openers Sophia Leroy and Daisy O’Connor put on 87 for the first wicket inside thirteen overs, before the O’Connor was bowled by Wilkie for 29. Hassan (2-32) was the pick of the bowlers, but an unbeaten 65 from Leroy saw Oxford lose by six wickets.

Hussain saw plenty of positives in the defeat:

“The result didn't go our way , but there were plenty of positives to take from the game. Some great individual performances and plenty of positives that showed what this team is capable of. We will regroup, keep building and come back stronger next time.”

Next week, there is another packed schedule. The Men’s 1st XI hope to play their first match in the Hartwell Cup, travelling to Oxford Downs on Tuesday night, while the Women’s 1st XI face Oxenford in the Oxfordshire Cricket Board Women’s Hundred at Marston Sports Ground on Friday night. As ever, the Men’s 1st XI kick off the weekend action, travelling to Datchet, as the Men’s 2nd XI play host to Witney Mills at Jordan Hill. The Men’s 3rd XI travel to local rivals Horspath for their meeting, while the Men’s 4th XI are back at Marston Sports Ground to take on Wolvercote. Both Women’s sides have a bye week, with no league fixtures scheduled.