2nd XI Promoted

The 2nd XI secured the Cherwell League Division 7 title yesterday with a thrilling 6-run victory over fellow promotion-chasers Minster Lovell.

We got off to a nightmare start batting first, losing Nick Moorman, Steve Handley and Jack Johnson for just one run each as we slumped to 17-3.

But Sam Baker top-scored with a crucial 47, and Matt Collins, Mark Adams and extras scored 35 apiece as we recovered to set Lovell a target of 178.

The hosts got off to a steady start with an opening wicket stand of 58, and kept up with the run rate despite losing wickets regularly, with Sam, Kishan Dave and Justin Colley claiming two wickets each.

Lovell looked well-set at 151-5 and with 27 required from the final 4 overs, but two quick wickets for Kish and Justin took the wind out of their sails, and despite an expensive penultimate over that saw them creep within 15 runs of victory, Matt Clark kept his composure and restricted Lovell to 8 runs to clinch victory and promotion.

To put the icing on the cake, news soon filtered through that East Oxford – the only side who could possibly have overtaken us at the top – had been bowled out for just 103 in pursuit of Witney Mills’s 125, meaning that whatever happens next week, the 2nd XI are Division 7 Champions.

The team photo above, courtesy of Matt Hancock, was taken prior to the team’s victory over Didcot on August 24th.

After defeat to Minster Lovell themselves, the 1st XI will need to beat Division 2 table-toppers Cropredy away on Saturday, and cross their fingers that other results go their way if they’re to make it a double promotion. And the 3rd XI are guaranteed their highest Division 10 finish for many a year regardless of what happens next week, but could finish as high as third if they beat Chearsley.

The 2nd XI continue to fly the flag for B&NOCC, sitting proudly atop Cherwell Division 7 with four league games to go.

Should they finish the season in the top two, 2020 would be the first season the 2nd XI have played outside of Division 7 since 2006.

After a strong start to the season, the 1st XI go in to the final set of win/lose games in Division 2 in 5th place, but with only 22 points between 5th and 2nd – and with a host of games still to be played between the top five – there’s still a chance they could be in the promotion mix come September 7th. The 3rd XI sit in 4th place in Division 10, and while promotion now seems beyond them, they’ll be aiming for a highest finish since they were relegated to the division in 2010.

The Club’s senior sides made a good start to the season, with the 2nd and 3rd XI’s both recording three wins out of four to finish the month in third place in their respective divisions, while the 1st XI’s two wins and two losses sees them go in to the last early-season win-lose game in fourth.

Adam Stapleford-Jones and Markus Jeacock (pictured) got their fledgling opening partnership off to a flying start as the 1st XI notched two 10-wicket wins against Horspath and Wolverton, before defeats to Aston Rowant and Banbury gave them a dose of Division 2 reality. Ben Clark is currently top of the Division 2 wicket-takers table with 11, including 5-17 v Wolverton.

Oliver Ward started the season with an unbeaten century for the 2nd XI, with Haris Naeem also in the runs. Ward has also claimed six wickets, with five each for Tom Avery, Paul Jeacock and Steve Conway.

Runs for Stevyn Jackson and Richard Morris and wickets for Joe Conway, Zara Wyatt and Lee James has helped the 3rds to the best start out of the club’s senior sides, before defeat to Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts last weekend.

The Club’s pre-season ‘proper’ got underway with a pair of home wins against Westbury on Saturday.

Adam Stapleford-Jones (pictured) top-scored with 76 which, along with 41 each for Matt Chilton and Dan Savin, saw the 1st XI post 200.

Tight bowling from Savin (2-24), Ben Clark (1-17) ,Tom Avery (1-36) and Danny Clark (3-24), and a steady fall of wickets meant that Westbury were never really in the hunt.

On the second pitch, Shahin Ali’s 4-28 and two wickets each for debutants Sam Baker (2-37) and Dan Seager (2-32) saw Westbury’s second string dismissed for 171, with Steve Handley (73*) and Mark Adams (53) making short work of the chase, helping the 2nds to overhaul their rivals’ target with 10 overs to spare.

The 1st & 2nd XIs both face relegated Great & Little Tew teams, while the 3rd XI go up against Division 10 new boys Westbury 3s when the season gets under way on May 5th.

You can view full fixtures here:

1st XI

2nd XI

3rd XI

The availability spreadsheet for 2018 is also now live.

Players and parents are encouraged to read the latest guidance from the ECB (the England & Wales Cricket Board) regarding the use of helmets in senior and junior cricket. This includes the latest standards to look out for when purchasing new helmets.

If you have any queries please speak with one of the club coaches.

The 2013 League averages for all three of our senior sides can be viewed below. There was some good performances across all three teams, which we will look at taking into 2014.

All three senior sides find themselves well-placed in their respective divisions as we reach the half way point of the Cherwell League season tomorrow.

Wins against Challow & Childrey, Bledlow Village and Minster Lovell saw our 1st XI leap-frog Cropredy in to 1st place in Division 2.

An unbeaten four-match spell for the 2nd XI saw them climb to 2nd in Division 7, with a winning draw over promotion rivals Minster Lovell – thanks to an unbeaten 101 from Nick Moorman (pictured) – sealing a successful month for the side.

The 3rd XI sit 3rd in Division 10 after a mixed month, but are within touching distance of the coveted top two spots.

All three sides have the chance to enhance their promotion hopes this weekend, with the 1st XI hosting Cropredy, the 2nd XI travelling to 3rd placed East Oxford, and the 3rd XI taking on Division 10 leaders Chearsley.