It’s the Ajit Shah Show!

Ton-up opener puts Berks to the sword and then chips in with two catches and a wicket

Over 60s 3rd XI opener Ajit Shah made the first Oxon seniors century of the season with a chanceless 112 not out against Berkshire at Wraysbury this week.

And just for good measure he also held on to two very sharp chances at slip and took a handy wicket as the hosts subsided for just 90 in pursuit of Oxon’s 219 in a game reduced to 36 overs following a rain-delayed start.

Skipper Clive Ricks lost the toss and Berkshire unsurprisingly asked the visitors to bat with drizzle in the air, a wet outfield and a slow low track, on both of which the Wraysbury CC ground staff worked tirelessly before the game to enable play to be possible by 2.00 pm.

After a steady start Shah and opening partner Howard Lancaster were soon scoring freely with hard run ones and twos a feature of a huge opening stand of 122. Lancaster completed a fine fifty before retiring on 66 with a strained calf muscle. 

Tom Scrase then joined Shah and continued in the same vein, with the opener completing his hundred in the 33rd over – remaining undefeated as the visitors posted a challenging total and for no loss of wickets for the second week running.

In reply the hosts were soon in trouble with Nigel Walker striking early with two quick wickets, well supported by a tight spell from Jon Wood at the other end. However it was Anwar Pervaiz with 3 for 15 who struck three times in quick succession – aided by two very sharp slip catches from that man Shah again – that closed out the game for the visitors, leaving Berks well short at 90-8 from their allotted overs.       

The only other side to see action this week was the combined Oxs/Berks Over 70s XI which took on Gloucestershire at Challow and Childrey CC, where skipper Adrian Manger won the toss and asked Gloucestershire to bat.

And with Nigel Walker sending back one of the visitor’s openers for nought in a spell of 2 for 23 from nine and Trevor Spindler  -as tight as ever – returning figures of 3 for 18 from nine – Gloucestershire were in deep trouble at 36-5.

However, when top scorer John Evans (60) was joined  by John Turton (14) the fightback began when the two added 57 for the sixth wicket, which was followed by another stand of 34 between Evans and Richrd Carman who made 20. At the close of the innings Gloucestershire had made what looked like a modest 141 for 8.

At 43 for 1 the hosts were making steady progress but then lost three wickets for six runs and were in trouble at 49 for 4. Bill Munday 22, and Colin Ainger 28, then put on 40 for the fifth wicket and the match was once again in the balance until another three wickets fell for just 24 runs which exposed the tail and enabled Gloucestershire to bowl out Oxon 16 runs short of their target.

So the 60s/70s winning streak has finally been broken but nine wins out of ten is still not a bad start to any season.  

On the downside the weather continues to play havoc with fixtures all over the country and  sadly yet again, both the 60s 1st and 2nd XI matches against Bedfordshire and Worcestershire respectively fell victim to the weather while the Oxon Over 70s did not play on Monday due to the bank holiday.

Let’s hope we turn the corner soon and June delivers us the unbroken sunshine we need to make up for one of the wettest starts to a cricket season in living memory.