2011

Swinbrook – OCA League – Home

For the second week running we arrived to find that Colin had broken the tractor, but Mongo's magic hands and a couple of jump leads meant that we didn't have a new addition to the outfield. The lucky coin worked again, so we were in the field against the side who won our division last year and looked a stronger outfit than the one we beat in the first round of the cup. After a very tidy first over from Ryan, Grant found the outside edge with his very first ball but it…continue reading →

Risinghurst – Steve Dixon Cup – Home

A second home game in two days, and some potential for a cup upset if we didn’t play well. A look at the OCA website had confirmed that although Risinghurst were two divisions below us they certainly had some strong players who could cause us trouble if we weren’t at our best. Fortunately this was another “on-day” for us, and from the off when we were within a whisker of a first ball run out and then a third ball run out we gave absolutely nothing away in the field (well, one person…continue reading →

West Witney – OCA League – Home

After our cricketing misdemeanours against Chesterton, we needed a good performance against West Witney to get back on track. Things didn’t quite go to plan, however, as the Witney opening pair put on a hundred opening stand. Although Ryan and Duncan kept things tight to begin with, runs were coming and not many chances were being created. A couple of swings flew out of the reach of point but in reality there were no clear cut chances, and when Duncan “Wooly Mammoth” Wooloff pulled up with a groin strain after 7.3 overs it…continue reading →

Uffington – Friendly – Away

The day started with great promise, as it transpired that Uffington had only 8 players. Fortunately, because Wantage is such an amazing club, they were able to loan them a few ringers. And ringers they were, as Barry, Timmy Lane and Ian joined Mongo as honorary Uffington players for the day. This allowed for plenty of nice and personal sledging throughout the day. Not to mention some bruised pride. Barry opened the batting and scored quickly throughout his long innings, although he was dropped twice, once a tough chance at slip by PicNic,…continue reading →

Chesterton – Away – OCA League

An away match, for a change, and a long-ish trip to Bicester led us to Chesterton, sitting 3rd in the table, but promising a very competitive game. Having already beaten their under-strength team in the cup, we were wary that they had some first team regulars back in the team. Their top 4 batsmen in particular looked strong, judging by the internet research that some members of the team had undertaken. This proved correct, as after winning the toss and bowling, we were dispatched comprehensively for 6 an over for the first ten…continue reading →

Quokkas – Friendly – Home

Wantage won the toss and elected to bat. OT and Circus stepped up to open the batting for Wantage and got off to a very good start with 16 runs off the first over, and subsequently 41 off 4 overs. Alas it wasn’t to last with OT being given LBW (I’ve lost count how many times this season I’ve been LBW – just too many). After the fall of the first wicket there was a top and middle order bating collapse with batsman 3, 4 and 5 all being dismissed within the space…continue reading →

Uffington – Home – OCA League

Some dodgy recent weather led us to believe that a full game looked unlikely, with showers promised throughout and a thunderstorm due between 6 and 7pm in the evening. Regardless, we managed to get started on time, with a bit of swirling rain greeting us for the first few overs, but that was about as bad as the weather got until 8pm that evening. Ryan and Duncan opened the bowling, both keeping an incredibly tight line, forcing the batsmen to wear a few on their bodies, and poke unconvincingly at some stuff outside…continue reading →

Brill – Home – OCA League

After another good cup win our next opponents were the positively titled Brill. A side who had an identical league record to us, with 3 wins, and 1 loss to Cairns Fudge. After a difficult selection week for Colin, with 17 people available, we eventually lined up with a strong XI, hoping that the weather would hold out for a full game. Colin lost the toss (time to retire the “lucky” coin) and we were put in. Our usual opening partnership took to the field against some accurate bowling from Kavanagh and Green,…continue reading →

Chesterton – Home – Steve Dixon Cup

A return to home turf saw the return of some decent weather as we contested the second round of the Steve Dixon cup. Our visitors were Chesterton, flying high in the League but short of several first team regulars for this match.   The opposition captain called wrongly at the toss, so Colin elected to bat on a typically good-looking Wantage track in the middle of the square. NiB and Benjy opened the batting against the bustling seam bowling of Price and the mixture of very straight deliveries interspersed with off cutters from…continue reading →

Eynsham – Home – Friendly

Olly continued his run as Sunday captain by losing the toss, unusually doing it on the boundary rather than in the middle, since both Captains had already checked the middle. Wantage were made to field, and as we went out Olly just about remembered to check how many overs we would be playing. The answer was 40, which was to prove his first mistake of the match, as we’ll see later. Stewie, back from his trip around the world and therefore full of South American cricketing inspiration opened the bowling and kept a…continue reading →