Oxfordshire suffered an 8 wicket defeat today against Cheshire in their first NCCA Three Day Championship match of the season at Banbury CC. The win for Cheshire sees them move to the top of NCCA Championship Division One West.

Cheshire was set 213 to win the match on the final day – and captain Sehmi and Sam Perry got them over the line to secure an 8 wicket win for the visitors.

Calum Rowe got Cheshire off to a good start in their chase with 38, before an unbroken 160-run stand for the third wicket led Cheshire to their victory.

Sehmi hit 11 fours and one six in his unbeaten 80, while Perry finished on 76 not out, hitting 10 fours and one six. Joe Thomas took both of the wickets to fall for Oxfordshire. 

Oxfordshire had won the toss on day one and elected to bat managing 329-9 from their 90 overs in the first innings. Half-centuries from Gareth Andrew (73) and George Tait (50) helped their cause, while Harry Smith (42), Tom Cosford (39) and Matt Warner (31no) also contributed. Chris Sanders and David Wainwright claimed 3-32 and 3-77 respectively.

Cheshire, though, managed to get a first-innings lead as they reached 354-8 and declared from their 89.5 overs. Will Evans, batted well as he scored a century. Evans hit 12 fours and five sixes in his 97-ball 112 not out. Rowe contributed in with 75, with Sehmi (65), Andrew Jackson (34) and Sanders (31). George Tait (4-130) was the pick of the Oxfordshire attack.

Left-arm spinner Wainwright and seamer Ben Gibbon then starred with the ball for Cheshire in Oxon’s second innings. Wainwright captured 4-75 and Gibbon took 3-58 to dismiss Oxfordshire for 237. Cosford with a fine display as he made 96, which included 16 fours and one six, with Tait (42) and Smith (32) contributing.

Oxfordshire now travels to Wiltshire for their next championship match starting on Sunday 1st of August.