Bartholomew School hosted the final games of this winter’s indoor season with the Oxfordshire Indoor Finals Day on Sunday.
The first Semi-Final saw the Oxford League winners, Wolvercote CC face the Banbury League runners-up Banbury CC.
Banbury batted first and got off to a steady start losing their first wicket of Richard Simpson for 22 with the score at 42 in the 7th over. A quickfire 26ret from Ali Short helped to take Banbury to 81 for 5, which looked below par, off their 10 overs. Excellent all round bowling and fielding from the Wolvercote side.
In reply, an excellent spell of bowling from Liam Manley saw the game in the balance with Wolvercote at 23 for 2 at the end of the third over. However, a composed 21 from Wolvercote’s captain Mo Shafqat and 29no from Sahil Jamanwal saw Wolvercote over the line for the loss of 4 wickets in the 9th over. The pick of Banbury’s bowlers being Liam Manley with 1 for 14 off his 3 overs.
Wolvercote won by 2 wickets.
The second Semi-Final saw the Banbury League winners, Cropredy CC face the Oxford League runners-up Witney Mills CC.
Cropredy batted first and set the highest score we have seen at Bartholomew this season with 162 for 5 off their 10 overs with deft placement of shots and excellent running throughout the innings. Will French 48no; Joe Fox 43; James Coleman 25 and Luke Cherry 17.
In reply, despite chasing a daunting target Witney Mills kept pace with the required run rate until the 4th over when they lost 2 wickets. Mills finished on 96 for 5 after their 10 overs with Ben Madden 33no and M Mohan 24. Wickets shared between Will French, Luke Cherry and the pick of the bowlers Tariq Jamil who took 1 for 12 off 3 overs.
Cropredy won by 66 runs.
The final saw an excellent contest between the winners of the Banbury and Oxford Leagues, Cropredy CC and Wolvercote CC respectively.
Cropredy batted first and whilst scoring an excellent 118 for 4 off their 10 overs the superb fielding and bowling of Wolvercote restricted the total from being much higher. Will French top scored again for Cropredy with 39no; James Coleman 19no and Tony Vickers 17. The pick of Wolvercote bowlers with an excellent spell Chetan Walia with 3 for 21 off 3 overs.
In reply, Wolvercote kept pace with the required run rate and after 7 overs were 7 runs in front of Cropredy at the same stage; however, the loss of late wickets saw Wolvercote all out for 91 in the 9th over. Mo Shafqat with 22; Chris Potter 19 and Sahil Jamanwal 19. James Coleman the pick of bowlers with 3 for 12 off 3 overs.
Cropredy won by 27 runs.
Paul Short from Oxfordshire Cricket thanked Dennis Faulkner, Bob Lawrence and Chris Cox for officiating on the day and Chetan Walia and Kashif Hafeez for supporting the Oxford League this season.
The trophy was then presented to James Coleman, captain of Cropredy CC as this year’s Oxfordshire Champions. Cropredy CC will now go forward to represent the County in next winter’s ECB National Indoor Championship.
Congratulations to all clubs for an excellent day of indoor cricket played in a fantastic spirit.
Thank you to all teams, players and volunteers who have made this winter’s leagues in both Banbury and Oxford (Eynsham) such a success, where nationally indoor cricket has been struggling to recover post-covid.