The first Indoor fixture at Eynsham Sports Centre this Sunday saw the rescheduled fixture of Hook Norton CC v Ufford Park CC of Huntingdonshire in the County Playoff with the winners proceeding to the Regional Finals.

Ufford Park won the toss and elected to field.

Hooky got off to a good start losing their first wicket at 43 in the 5th over with Andy Stanley falling for 24. There were excellent contributions from all the batsmen with Tom Bartlett scoring a quick 24, Adam Bennett 29 and captain Dan White top scoring with 44. Hooky were all out on the last ball of their innings in the 12th over for a very daunting total of 168. Jan Neville was the pick of Ufford’s bowlers with 3 for 40 off his 3 overs.

Ufford got off to a fast start with 13 off the first over, however after this, wickets fell at regular intervals with the pressure of trying to maintain the required scoring rate being very visible. The game was up in the 5th over when 2 wickets fell to leave Ufford at 51 for 4. Ufford Park were all out for 53 after 7.2 overs. Joe Harrington top scoring with 22.

An excellent bowling and fielding display from Hooky conceding only 3 extras with Adam Bennett with 2 for 16 and Richard Knight with 2 for 10 being the pick of the bowlers. Adam Bennett also picked up 3 catches and a run out.

Hook Norton now progress to a Regional Semi-Final at Bromsgrove School on Sunday against Neyland CC from Wales, with the winners of this then competing in the Regional Final the same day for the honour of qualifying for the National Finals at Lords on 29 March.
We wish Hook Norton CC the very best of luck!