The 4s arrived for their match vs the Nondies in now traditional fashion at 12:15 primed and ready for a customary stretching and yoga session led by Smith senior; a few weeks into the season now the team are now au fait with the ‘lizard’ position, the ‘downward dog’ and gaining in flexibility week on week. By the middle of the season, the ‘sun salutation’ will offer no fears to this fine bunch of athletes, old and young!

Sharing the large changing rooms at Marston with the OCC 3rd XI, this offered the club a bonding moment as the 4s were playing ‘away’ only a few yards across the trench at Exeter College’s abandoned looking sports ground. The opposition and OCC in equal dismay at the uncut, tufty, unrolled, bone dry surface that was presented by the local Marston groundsmen on behalf of Exeter College. Everyone was set for a long day of running 2s and 3s given the outfield was nearly a foot long, but thankfully no cattle or cow pats seemed evident in the outfield as we started the match. [NB Jim Oates did find a large metal rod lying deep in the outfield mid innings!]

Sightscreens were looked at longingly by the Nondies batsmen over the trench in the 3rd XI match as our bowlers came bustling out of the tree line and nabbed a couple of early wickets. Skipper Ed Baldock dismissed their opening batsmen first ball of his spell in the 2nd over with a yorker that sent their in-form batsman back for a golden duck. Baldock bowled a quality opening spell with his partner Matty Wyatt, as once again the Oxford 4s’ bowling attack made early inroads and kept scoring to a minimum. Roger Young took an agile catch off an edge at gully from a ball by Matty Wyatt that jumped nicely off a length. Seam up or natural variation? Only the batsmen was wondering as he trudged back to the pavilion. The Nondies’ wagon wheel at this point mainly consisting of edges and guides through gully region as scoring in front of square proved a challenge.

Baldock’s youth policy of past weeks continued with the first changes of bowling seeing Theo Baldock and Patrick Smith, with a combined age of 28, come into the attack. Both showcased their ability to swing the ball and cause the Nondies batsmen trouble. Youngest Baldock keeping one end tight, bowling with confidence and maturity, while at the other end (after a rusty first over) Smith’s line, length and prodigious outswing caused much playing and missing by the Nondies early middle order and eventually gained its just rewards with 2 wickets, one of which featured Ross Buchanan, his youth coach, catching a big snick at first slip, with the second wicket being clean bowled by a yorker after the batsmen had been in torture trying to get bat on ball and failing on most attempts.

Oxford’s relative control of the match continued as the bowling attack now featured Peter ‘Fantasy League Fame’ Joyce and ‘our Roger’ (see ‘their Roger’ later!) Young who both kept scoring steady in their 6 overs apiece with Joyce taking the wicket of their well-set pony-tailed and grizzly opening batsman for 57, with a thick snick taken well by Max Baldock behind the stumps.

Matty Wyatt returned for his final over as we neared the death phase, taking the wicket of the renowned blocker ‘their Roger’ (Roger Hutchence) of the Nondies, with applause and cheers coming both from his own team-mates as well as the opposition. Shades of Geoff Boycott as this eccentric character seems to both slow the scoring down, offer run-out opportunities and also annoy the proverbial **** out of his team-mates scoring at 1 an over. Like a bad marriage that never seems to end in divorce, it will be interesting to see if ‘their Roger’ will be with the Nondies next year, or see something lethal slipped in his tea as the season progresses…?

Back to the action… with younger Smith bowling a great maiden death over to their frustrated left-handed skipper and skipper Baldock claiming one for not many in his death spell of two overs, the Nondies had been limited to an eminently gettable 126-7 off their 40 overs. Hopes off an early finish, a couple of pints, pizza and chicken wings in the Up in Arms before the Champions League Social were all dismissed quickly as Baldock’s ‘Mentality Monsters’ went out to bat and ready to take ‘each ball as it comes’.

The Oxford innings started well but with the elder Smith ‘looking good before getting out’ with a quickfire 12 off the first couple of overs, it came to the pairing of opener Roger Young and number 3 Steve Cootes to build the platform for victory, playing the good ball well and punishing the bad ball, which thankfully came around with a degree of frequency. When Young was dismissed LBW for 12 to a low grubber, confidence in the 4s was still high as Jim Oates strode to the crease like a Colossus. The Nondies skipper, recognising his distinctive frame from matches of the past, dispatched a few of his fielders to the boundary fearing what may come next. But it was Cootes whom he needed to fear most on this day.

The rest of the innings was like a batting masterclass by Cootes and Oates, with both hitting a blend of boundaries and 1s and 2s off the front and back foot. Cootes particularly enjoying the change of pace and the ball coming on to the bat after changes in the bowling attack. A range of cuts, pulls and back foot punches hit with class, power and timing, ably backed up in a strong partnership with a controlled Oates, batting within himself to help take the team home and purring from the other end of the wicket. The pair finished the match with ample time to spare, Cootes finishing on 52* and Oates 21* to see the 4s home by 8 wickets with 15 overs remaining.

When skipper Baldock has a smile on his face at the end and a relaxed demeanour, the 4s know they have performed to their true potential…! With everyone contributing, a good blend of youth and experience, and some high quality fielding and well-taken catches, the team look in good shape for a promotion push this year. The team and their supporters decamped early at 6pm to the Up in Arms for pre-Champions’ League pints and pizza and some good team bonding. They remain unbeaten for the season and determined to keep the run going.