Match Reports

Deddington (A) – OCA Div 4

A nice opportunity to make amends after last weeks efforts in the semi-final-that-never-happened, we took the long trip to Deddington in confidence that for a change the weather would be good enough to play. The strip was pretty damp after a Friday shower, and there was obviously plenty to discuss for Colin and the Deddington captain with the umpires as they stood in the middle for a long time before actually doing the toss. If Tim had been there, he would have been sledging like one of Santa's elves. It made no difference…continue reading →

Witney Swifts (H) Telegraph Cup Quarter Final

Another attempt at going past the quarter final of a cup competition presented itself, and this time, being more clued up on the rules we made sure any ‘ringers’ were known to the league, so we wouldn’t be kicked out. The day started well when Ian and Colin went to move the sight-screen for the batsman’s benefit and succeeded in rolling over Tim’s helmet, crushing it into a shape not recognisable as a helmet. This amusement must have inspired Duncan and Grant, though, who both bowled probably their best spells of the season…continue reading →

Deddington (H) OCA Div 4

The day started well, with promising sunshine and happy Wantage players, the only sour note being Ian mistakenly giving Tim's brother the finger, believing it was TPL himself. That aside spirits were good as Colin again lost the toss and we were sent out to field first. Mabbs had unfortunately forgotten the correct pair of pants, and was forced to wear some genuine budgie smugglers which by all accounts cut most of the blood supply to his nether regions and made him exceedingly uncomfortable. However no such problems were facing Grant and Duncan…continue reading →

Chesterton (A) OCA Div 4

A return to the scene of our great failure of last season, and we were hoping lightning wouldn't strike twice. Lightning of another sort, however, did seem likely with rain predicted for later in the day, so Colin won the toss and got us bowling first, partly with a view to capturing some early wickets before the rain, and so getting some points, and partly so if we had to play later our bowlers wouldn't have to struggle with the wet ball. As it was we took to the field in swirling winds.…continue reading →

Eynsham (H) – OCA Div 4

Finally the opportunity to play some cricket after some weather that could only be described as atrocious, and Colin lost the toss again. So we were put into bat on a very damp pitch under conditions that, as the scorebooks made clear, were sunny for a change. In the absence of Ben, Colin opened the batting with Nibbler, and this proved to be a masterstroke as the two of them batted and batted and batted for the first 35 overs of the game. They accumulated slowly at first, but that didn't look to…continue reading →

6 a side tournament at Hendred

Challow vs Wantage Wantage vs East and West Hendred Wantage vs Hanney An exciting opportunity to play in a truly unique tournament, we turned up keenly at 10am to discover that our first match would be against our truly local rivals Challow. We were also the very first team to play so we had 6 other teams watching with great interest as Timmy and Barry opened our batting innings. After a meagre first over, Barry was bowled for 2 before Ian and Tim gave the ball some long handle. IC hitting the first…continue reading →

Great Horwood (A) – OCA Div 4

An away trip known to us after last year, but in drastically different conditions, we rolled up in the scorching heat and did some early team-building exercises with a football on Great Horwood's unique ground with its characteristic slope and ridge on one side. Colin lost the toss as has become his standard for this year, so we found ourselves batting first again. For the first time in a long while we were entering a match without our standard opening pair, so Colin and Ryan took the job. Colin played some good shots…continue reading →

Fringford (H) – OCA Div 4

Finally our first league game of the season after the inclement weather, although it was still very grey. Colin lost the toss and we were put in for the second week in a row. Eager to see what new challenges Division 4 bowling could bring, Ben and NiBbler resumed their opening partnership for the first time this year. Nick chased a good ball from Bacon early on and edged behind, so it was to Colin and Ben that the job of seeing off some very tight and accurate bowling fell. This they did…continue reading →

Chipping Norton (H) – Telegraph Cup Preliminary Round

Finally a competitive match, even if it was a cup game against an under-strength Chippy side. Fate had dictated that for the third season in a row we would be participating in the preliminary round, and this time in a new cup with some higher quality teams in. It was therefore an early opportunity to get tested by a division three side. Chippy won the toss and made the only sensible decision in the circumstances – asking us to bat on a very damp pitch which could only get drier throughout the day.…continue reading →

East & West Hendred (A) – Friendly

Finally Wantage were able to get a cricket match in after the recent monsoons, and we were privileged to have a guest Sunday star in NiB, playing in order to get some needed time in the middle after our second Saturday match in a row was cancelled. That said, we had still struggled to ten players even with Nick so it was a nice surprise when we got a huge stroke of luck early in the game. Barry managed to tip the ball on the stumps after the other opener had smashed the…continue reading →