Oxford Return To The Summit In Division Two.
Feature Image: Brad Taylor – Courtesy of EDTC Digital Media
Brad Taylor’s spell at Challow & Childrey on Saturday helped Oxford to return to the top of the Home Counties Premier Cricket League, Division 2 table.
The seamer’s match-winning performance with the ball set up a four-wicket victory which takes the Romans seven points clear of morning leaders Wargrave, who were held to a draw.
Taylor claimed five for 35 from a miserly 18-over spell, which included six maidens, as Oxford bowled the home side all out for 115 in 37.4 overs.
Julian Laird top-scored with 35 as Oxford chased down the target losing six wickets in the process.
The morning leaders Wargrave were held to a draw by Datchet at the Wally Gage Memorial Ground.
After opting to bat first after winning the toss, Wargrave made a quick start as captain Rhys Lewis struck 52 from just 37 balls (7x4s and a six), while fellow opener Rob Farina made 42. The experience of Euan Woods (72) added 132 runs for the fourth wicket with Andrew MacEwen, who went on to stroke 93. Toby Greatwood’s late order 59 from just 45 balls contained nine boundaries as the visitors declared on 369 for 8 from 52.4 overs.
Datchet’s Rahim Akhtar opened up with 43 before David Scott added 64, including 12 fours. Their target was always a tough ask as Julius Sumerauer (37) and Daniyal Akhtar (25 not out) ensured the home side earned a draw (200 for 6 from 57 overs). Toby Greatwood’s seam grabbing three for 58.
Gerrards Cross recorded their first win in four as they eased to a nine-wicket success at Ickenham.
After being inserted, the visitors posted 179 all out with only opener Noah Mungrue making a significant contribution. His 68 runs including eleven boundaries. Gerrards Cross skipper Teddy Fleming (4-45) and James Dalby (3-43) doing the damage.
Chris Marrow shared a 101-run opening stand with Henry Walsh (45) before he was joined by Matthew Pannett as the pair guided their side home in just 29 overs. Marrow finished undefeated on 65, while the talented Bucks EPP all-rounder Pannett was 51 not out. Walsh’s knock saw him go to the top of the division’s leading run scorers.
Stoke Green moved up to fifth in the table as they inflicted a 154-run defeat against Thame Town.
After winning the toss, Green decided to bat first and their batters did not disappoint. Opener Daud Sardar (46), Najib Khan (48), skipper Karanpreet Singh (54), Mithira Thenura (45) and Adnan Malik (47) were all in form as the home side amassed 307 for 7 before declaring at the 56.5 over stage. Hassam Mushtaq’s spin (3-103) the pick of the visitor’s bowling.
The Green bowling unit replicated the efforts of their batters as they soon reduced Thame to 54 for 7, three players falling first ball. Abhishek Slathia (4-65) opened the bowling with aplomb, before the wicket-taking duo of Passikku Madusanka (4-39) and Tegh Sehgal (2-32) were the chief destroyers. Madusanka and Sehgal are third and fourth respectively in the leading wicket column for the division.
Horspath shared the spoils with Chesham, who had an unbeaten 134 by Umayanga Suwaris as the highlight of the visitors’ day.
Suwaris guided Chesham from 50 for 4 with captain Daniel Ward as the pair displayed gritty, battling knocks, which added a valuable 110 for the fifth wicket. Ward departed for 63, while Suwaris continued to counter-punch with a brilliant century before eventually being the last batter standing as Chesham were removed for 291 in 48 overs. He finished on 134 from 99 balls, in an innings that contained 16 fours and 6 sixes. The spin of Oxford University’s Vivek Narayan removing the tail with five for 33, while Sravan Konidena’s seam picking up four for 63.
In reply, the same two Horspath players performed with the willow as Konidena (31) and Narayan (33) made good early runs from the number one and three berths, respectively.
With the time against the hosts, the aggression of Derval Green, who hammered six sixes in an innings of 61 from just 42 balls, gave his side an outside chance. Despite the late efforts of Asad Rafiq (45 not out) and Liam Turnbull (33 not out), who put on an unbeaten partnership of 84 for the ninth wicket, Horspath ended the day on 256 for 8 from 43 overs. Moteeb Syed taking three for 57.
Horspath gaining twelve points with Chesham picking up 15.
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