First XI
Away to Hanborough Babbs won the toss and elected to bowl, despite the delayed arrival of regular opening bowler Barkat, to make the most of any moisture left in the pitch from Friday’s rain. Samir and Yatish took the new ball and it quickly became apparent that the traffic gods were on our side as Samir grabbed the opportunity and reduced Hanborough to 36 for 5, taking all 5 of the top order (including the top scorer from Friday’s game for a duck), by bowling with accuracy and venom, assisted by sharp catches from Ben, filling in behind the stumps for an injured Gus, and Sahil under a lid at short leg. Yatish toiled against the wind without luck, and was replaced by Sahil in the 16th over, who promptly took 4 for NONE in 3.2 overs which included a further two excellent grabs from Ben behind the stumps. With a wicket for Barkat, once enough time had elapsed for him to bowl, we rolled Hanborough for 73. Mark and Ben got the Wolvercote reply off to a spritely start with crashing cuts (Ben) and elegant flicks to leg (Mark) before Ben fell and Muaz finished the job with Mark in the 22nd over. The game was done and dusted by 3pm and the 1’s returned to fortress Cutteslowe to join many of the 4’s and cheer on the 2’s in their victory over Shipton, sealed with some big hitting by Majid. Huge thanks to Hanif Rahim for scoring the 1’s game and earning vital extra points.
(Report by CB)
Second XI
On a day of glorious sunshine at Cutteslowe Park, Wolvercote won the toss and elected to field first. Toby and Brian kept the batters honest with some tight bowling but failed to hold on to a number of chances. Majid Khan came into the attack and immediately made a big impact with Phil Lohan taking a sharp catch at square leg off a loose delivery. Brian struck, trapping the new batter LBW. Finishing on 1-15 from his 9.
Majid continued to work his magic, causing more problems and soon taking his second wicket, caught behind. Amit then joined in on the action removing their settled batter deceiving him with flight and turn for a caught and bowled. Another quick wicket later followed for Amit leaving Shipton on 40-5. Kalpa replacing Majid to continue his magical exploits with the ball, was unfortunately not to be with their lower order batter swinging from the hips. Drinks however brought about their downfall with Kalpa trapping their batter LBW and finishing with 1-30 and Majid returning and finishing off their innings, with Amit ending with 3-24 from his 8 and Majid 5-5 off his 8 overs. Shipton bowled out for 88 from 35.
Wolvercote looked positive with Dan starting with some nice stroke play, however Potter fell early through extreme lack of bounce. Mo arrived at number 3 and suffered the exact opposite soon after, adjudged LBW to a ball that looked to be going well over the stumps. Tohsif came in and went at number 4 without troubling the scores, leaving Wolvercote 18-3 after 6. Dan steadied the ship slightly, partnered by Deepak, with some glorious 4s, before leaving a delivery which went on to clip the bails.
Deepak also followed soon after, bowled by Dingle. Both bowlers sharing 3 each and Wolvercote on 40-6. Kalpa and Majid now at the crease showing our strength in depth seeing off the openers with some well executed shot selection before teeing into the new bowling. The boundaries soon started flowing with some cultured shots.
Majid ending the innings taking their captain apart with 6,6,4,6 off the last over. Kalpa not out on 22 and Majid on 25. Securing victory by 4 wickets.
(Report by BG)
Third XI
It’s the hope that kills you. After last week’s dismal batting display, Wolvercote 3s posted a credible 227 for 5 in their allotted 45. Lakshman (15) and Crouch (39) set a free-scoring platform 50 before the skipper was cleaned up by a decent full-pitched delivery. This brought Symington (44) to the crease who set about very sensibly anchoring the innings while first Daniel “caught mid-off” Crouch, and then Ackerman (whose 19 reads 2,4,41,6,2 in the scorebook) played their shots. Tom was followed by Gabe, who played a superbly-paced 65no, smashing 17 off the final over. We felt pretty good at the break.
What followed was horrible. K. Thahore smashed us around the park for a rapid 40, before our nemesis, and undisputed man-of-the-match Steve Lewis (coming to the game on the back of 3 consecutive ducks, and dropped on 4) played a sublime knock of 109no. A brace of wickets for Payne was the only consolation as, by this reporter’s calculation (and partial guilt), five catches were shelled, and far too many boundaries slipped through. Whilst the fielding was less than ideal, we were really found out by a lack of venom and variation in our bowling attack – it all felt a bit slow-medium – and, with short boundaries and a fast outfield, we took one helluva beating.
(Report by DC)
Fourth XI
Match forfeited by Sunningwell.
