On Sunday 15th of September, the annual Senior Finals day took place. This year’s finals day was held at Challow and Childrey CC. The running order of the day differed slightly from previous finals days, as the Women’s Hundred final was included to set up a great day of cricket.
2024 saw the inaugural Women’s Hundred competition, which would see clubs from across Oxfordshire competing for a chance to play at the Senior Finals Day alongside the Wilf Bennett Cup and the Hartwell Cup.
Wilf Bennett Final – Chalrbury v Oxenford
Oxenford were crowned Oxfordshire T20 champions with a 92 run victory over Charlbury in the Wilf Bennett final at Challow & Childrey.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Oxenford got off to a flyer thanks to Arsalan Khattak who scored 68 off 41 balls. Khattak’s innings included some fine hitting with nine fours and two sixes. He was supported by Roshan Gedara who scored 36 off 20 balls and Malitha Ratnaweera who scored 26 off 18 balls to help set 168-6 off 18 overs.
In response Charlbury lost early wickets with Mark Phillips taking 3-22. Jamie Bush top scored with 17, as Oxenford took wickets at key points as they bowled Charlbury out for 76. This secured a 92 run win for Oxenford.
The presentation of the trophy and medals was conducted by Ed Wilson (who thanked Challow and Childrey CC for hosting, the umpires, coaches, scorers and all the teams for a great day of cricket). A special thank you must go to Challow and Childrey CC for being fantastic hosts. In addition we would also like to thank the live streaming team, and everyone else that helped make it a great day of cricket. Thank you to all the clubs who competed in this year’s Competition, and we look forward to seeing you next season
Women’s Hundred Final – Oxford v Moreton
The inaugural Women’s Hundred final got underway after Oxford won the toss and elected to bat first.
After losing an early wicket, Oxford got off to a flying start. This was thanks to an 84 run partnership between captain Genny Porter and Sophie Mitchelmore. Genny Porter 31 off 30 balls, and Sophie Mitchelmore scoring an impressive unbeaten score of 69 off 47 balls. Eleanor Bath then hit 26 off 14 balls to help guide Oxford to 157-3 off their 100 balls. Emilia Harding was the pick of the bowlers for Moreton with figures of 2-18 off 20 balls. Oxford finished the innings with an impressive score of 157-3.
In response, Moreton lost early wickets but Captain Georgia Haworth ensured they remained in the game as she top scored with 23. She was also supported by Honor Murray who scored 18 and Niamh Rogan who contributed with 13. Emilia Bartram was the pick of the bowlers for Oxford with figures of 4-11 off 20 balls. Oxford’s ability to take regular wickets gave them the upper hand in the game and stifled Moreton’s run chase, and Moreton finished 117 all out off their 100 balls.
Congratulations go to Oxford CC for becoming the first ever winners of the Women’s Hundred competition. It was a fantastic game played in a great spirit in front of a large crowd, with 274 runs scored across the 200 balls there was plenty of entertainment.
With a good crowd in attendance, it was a great showcase for women’s cricket in the county. The presentation of the trophy and medals was conducted by Ed Wilson (who thanked Challow and Childrey CC for hosting, the umpires, coaches, scorers and all the teams for a great day of cricket). With such a successful final, we are looking to grow the Women’s Hundred competition even further for 2025 and again have the final played on Senior finals day.
A special thank you must go to Challow and Childrey CC for being fantastic hosts. In addition we would also like to thank the live streaming team, and everyone else that helped make it a great day of cricket. Thank you to all the clubs who competed in this year’s Competition, and we look forward to seeing you next season
Hartwell Cup Final – Horspath v Oxford Downs
Horspath were crowned Oxfordshire T20 champions with a five-wicket victory over Oxford Downs in the Hartwell Trophy final at Challow & Childrey.
With the players taking to the field to Ennio Morricone’s score from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, it was Asad Rafiq who was quickest on the draw by bowling Tom Ettridge with his second ball. Freddie Smith and Luke Maslen got Downs’ innings up and running with a flurry of boundaries including a six apiece, before left-arm spinner Ryan Hicks put the brakes on with an excellent four-over spell of 1-14. He bowled Smith for 25 to make 43-2, and when leg-spinner Josh Richardson had Maslen caught by Jehan Mohammed at deep backward square leg for 31, leaving them 77-3 after 13 overs. The Horspath leg-spinner struck again when Joe Botha was lbw attempting to sweep. It was only 19 runs off the final over with Harry Wren clobbering a four and a six over long on off the last ball which took Downs to their final total. Hicks was well supported by Richardson (2-22), Leslie (1-10) and Asad Rafiq (1-15).
Todd set the tone by clouting a four off the second delivery and then pulling the next for six into the neighbouring field, before Eyles swept to the boundary as 17 came off the first over. An opening stand of 73 off seven overs between Dan Todd and Tyron Eyles set Horspath on the way. Both openers fell in the space of three balls. Todd had scored 38 from 23 balls before being run out, with Eyles, having made 35 off 21 deliveries, was out lbw to Wasim Mehmood. Dougal Main (17) kept Horspath on track as they lost three more wickets, before Stephen Green (13no) saw them home with 11 balls to spare. Mehmood (1-24) and Warner (1-25) led the way with the ball for Downs, while Ollie Armstrong conceded just 10 runs from his three overs, but it was Horspath’s day. The win made it the fourth time Horspath had won the county’s T20 showpiece, having triumphed in the competition formerly known as the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup in 2013, 2014 and 2018. It also completed a successful season for Horspath after winning the Cherwell League Division 1 title, the Pullinger Cup and the Oxfordshire final of the Voneus Village Cup.
The presentation of the trophy and medals was conducted by Ed Wilson and Kieren Bushnell (who thanked Challow and Childrey CC for hosting, the umpires, coaches, scorers and all the teams for a great day of cricket. A special thank you must go to Challow and Childrey CC for being fantastic hosts. In addition we would also like to thank the live streaming team, and everyone else that helped make it a great day of cricket. Finally, thank you to Hartwell for their continued support of the competition. Thank you to all the clubs who competed in this year’s Competition, and we look forward to seeing you next season