Oxfordshire’s Over 60s go marching on!
Another two wins out of the two games that escaped the weather
Oxfordshire’s Over 60s cricketers continued their good run of early season form with another two wins for the 1st and 3rd XIs.
And it could have been even better had not the Over 60s 2nds and 4ths matches against Warwickshire and Wales respectively, fallen victim to the weather, as well as the joint Ox/Berks Over 70s away fixture at Edgbaston against Warwickshire.
The Over 60s 1st XI made light work of its first away trip of the season to Berkshire winning emphatically by nine wickets, thanks to an excellent all-round team performance after skipper Phil Manger won the toss and inserted the hosts on a wicket made helpful to his bowlers by the overnight rain.
Steve Roberts was his usual miserly self with the ball, returning the extraordinary figures of 2-8 off nine overs. Tim Mahoney was top wicket taker with 3-27 from nine, while Rupert Taylor chipped in with 2-17 from five to mop up the tail.
For Berkshire only Graham Cassie, Ian Harvey and Chris Symonds managed to get past 20, as the hosts struggled to post a modest 122 all out.
In reply openers Nick Morman and Darryl Woods looked in total control throughout a superb opening stand of 117, that almost brought up the win without loss. However, Nick eventually perished having batted very steadily for his 38, before Darryl Woods and Charlie Anderson closed the game out, with Woods compiling a masterly 72 not out off just 91 balls to add to his earlier 1-28 from nine with the ball.
“It was one of those days when everything just clicked into place,” said skipper Manger. “As well as batting and bowling superbly we also took three really good catches today, which is in no small part thanks to a new warm up routine which now has us looking a whole lot sharper in the field from ball one.”
And it was a similar story for the Over 60s 3rd XI in their home match against Warwickshire thirds at Cropredy. Skipper Clive Ricks won the toss and his bowlers soon had the visitors toiling for every run on a predictably low, slow pitch – again after heavy overnight rain.
Opening bowler Nigel Walker was wicketless but only conceded 20 runs from his nine overs, while first change Steve Wilson was even more economical with 1-9 from his nine! But yet again it was Mike Simpson who stole the show after his ‘unorthodox’ run out technique had saved the day last week. His 5-17 from nine ripped the heart out of the visitors batting and left the hosts just 118 to win. Mike Thornton’s 33 from 73 balls was the only score of note in Warwickshire’s innings.
Oxfordshire’s reply stuttered somewhat at 33 for 2 and there was a glimmer of hope for Warks. However, Tom Scrase 35, and Richard Clapp 37 not out, put on 42 for the third wicket before Scrase fell to an excellent catch in the deep by Steve Griffin. But with less than 40 required off 22 overs, only one more wicket fell in the remaining 10 overs required to finish the game, and Oxfordshire cruised home with some ease.
Next week sees the Over 60s 4th XI hopefully finally getting into action at home on Monday against Wiltshire at Steventon CC. This follows the loss to the weather of their opening game against Wales at Machen CC near Newport, which has now been rescheduled for July 1st at the same ground.
The following day the Over 60s 1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs should all be in action weather permitting. The firsts are at home to Hertfordshire at Watlington, the seconds are away to Leicestershire at Bitteswell CC near Lutterworth, while the thirds tackle Staffordshire at Fordhouses CC just outside Wolverhampton.
Meanwhile the joint Ox/Berks Over 70s XI are on the road again next week when they’re off to Abbots Langley where they will also be taking on Hertfordshire.