It was wonderful to welcome OB cricketers and visiting teams from The Oxford Downs and South Oxfordshire Amateurs Cricket Clubs to this year’s OB Cricket Festival. Despite the challenges of inclement weather, and several rain interruptions, the festival witnessed two days of very enjoyable cricket and the usual levels of OB revelry.
On Sunday, having won the toss, The Downs’ skipper elected to put the OBs in to bat. Sadly, by lunch and after a challenging start, the OBs were 49 for six off twelve overs with Harry Rymer (Cr 10-15) and the veteran John Brown (Wn 82-86) at the crease. Following an excellent lunch, Rymer and Brown took the score to 140 before the former was out LBW just shy of a maiden half century.
A quick three over spell before tea saw The Downs’ father and son opening pair put on 19 without loss. This progress continued with the total reaching 118 before the son chipped Brown to backward point where Jolyon Griffiths (Ry 74-79) took the catch overhead. With just one wicket down, The Downs reached their target earning a well-deserved win. Rymer (0-46 from 11 overs) and Brown (1-11) cemented their all-rounder status in the OB Cricket pantheon with current pupils Nina B and Phoebe S (both on debut) performing very well in the field for the OB XI.
Monday saw the arrival of SOA who elected to bat and started well, reaching lunch at 119 for three. After another excellent lunch, SOA proceeded to 155 all out with the last seven wickets falling for the addition of 36 runs. The pick of the bowlers were current pupil Hardy L (11.2-2-27-6) and Ed Lloyd (Sy 19-24) (8-2-26-2) having taken over from openers Zac Wilton (LS/Sy 14-21) (1-36) and Harry Williams (1-62) (guesting from Westbury).
The OBs opened with Alex Ross (guesting from SOA) and current pupil Murray S (OB debut). Alex left an in-ducker to have his off stump knocked back. Murray went on to make 29 and was third out with the score on 77. James Gurney (Wn 17-22) joined Wiggy Gurney (Wn 10-15) with the score on 78 and took it to 116 with the latter perishing in the deep for a swift 20 as heavy rain fell. After a hiatus with the umpires, play resumed with 40 required and the OBs quickly lost Hardy L, bowled out, who was replaced by Ed Lloyd. James Gurney (43 not out) and Lloyd (13 not out) then saw the OBs through to a four-wicket victory without undue alarm.
Team: Tom Gurney (Wn 07-12) – Captain, Max Barkes (Wn 07-10), John Brown (Wn 82-86), Jolyon Griffiths (Ry 74-79), James Gurney (Wn 17-22), William ‘Wiggy’ Gurney (Wn 10-15), Sam Kentigern-Fox (LS/Sy 15-22), Ed Lloyd (Sy 19-24), Harry Rymer (Cr 10-15), Fin Smith (Wn 10-15), Charlie Tredwell (Sy 10-15), Jonny Wilkinson (Sy 17-22), Zac Wilton (LS/Sy 14-21), Alex Ross (SOA), Harry Williams (Westbury) and current pupils Hardy L, Murray S, Nina B and Phoebe S.