After an impressive 7 wicket victory at home to Deddington CC, Kidlington couldn't have wished for a better start with last seasons Batsman of the Year Jack Desmond top scoring with 37 and new signing Muhammed Imran taking 4 wickets. However, after their game away at Britwell Salome the following week was rained off, they found themselves behind behind their rivals early on in the season. The next week away at Hailey CC showed the team that things would not be as easy as it had in previous seasons. With an under strength team, Kidlington done well to bowl out Hailey for 143. Although, in what was to become a regular occurrence throughout the season KCC found themselves bowled all out for 133 with only captain Richard Walker batting well and nearly winning the game with a valiant 40. The following week saw the whole league washed out with bad weather leaving KCC and Marcham CC to share the points. The 1st XI made their debut in the Telegraph Cup at home against Hanborough CC and again fell just short of victory. After reducing Hanborough to 158/8, KCC finished on 154/7, Andy Oliver top scoring with 65. After some disappointment, the team were back to winning ways away at Swinbrook CC. Deciding to change their gameplan, KCC elected to bat first and posted 198 with some big hitting from Waseem Azad, Richard Walker, Chris East and Dan Farrant. Steve Litten then took 3 wickets as the team won by 18 runs. The next week saw KCC visit Charlbury CC and post a formidable score of 320/3. Andy Oliver top scored a superb 141, ably supported by Tom Bozman 57, Jack Desmond 45 and Richard Walker 42. KCC then restricted Charlbury to 149/6, sealing victory by 171 runs! With KCC sitting in 3rd place in Division 4, they visited league leaders Hanborough CC. Kidlington held Hanborough to 201/8 with Steve Litten taking 4 wickets. The run chase was going to plan before quick wickets fell and KCC fell 1 run short of victory finishing on 200/8, Chris East top scoring with 43. In a reduced overs game against West Ilsley CC, Kidlington got straight back to winning ways with a 7 wicket victory. After West Ilsley had posted 92/7 with Jim Blackford taking 4 wickets, Andy Oliver scored 39* as KCC won by 7 wickets. The following week away at Deddington CC saw another uncharacteristic performance from the 1st XI. After bowling Deddington out for 119 with Chris East taking 4 wickets. KCC lost by 9 runs after being bowled out for 110. Once again, KCC managed to bounce back from defeat straight away with a comprehensive 175 run victory at home to Britwell Salome. KCC posted 320/6, Jack Desmond top scoring with 75 along with half centuries from Richard Walker and Tom Bozman. Kidlington then bowled out Britwell for 145 with Dan Farrant and Steve Litten taking 3 wickets apiece. The points were shared the following week in an even match at Wootton and Boars Hill CC. After heavy rain, the game was abandoned, but not before Wootton had posted 223/6 and KCC were going nicely on 79/1. KCC surrendered any real chance they had of finishing in the top two after defeat at home to Hailey CC. Batting first KCC scored a below par 170/9 with Waseem Azad scoring 35. Hailey won by 3 wickets as Dan Farrant took 4 wickets. Another defeat away at Marcham CC saw Kidlington dragged into the fight for 3rd place. Marcham posted 145/7 with Dan Farrant taking 3 wickets. A weakened KCC team then could only manage 117/8 with Richard Walker scoring 46 as Marcham won by 28 runs. Importantly Kidlington got back to winning ways with a 57 run victory ay home to Swinbrook CC. KCC posted 201/8 with Chris East top scoring with 73. Steve Litten and Chris East then took 3 wickets each as Swinbrook were bowled out for 144. A 9 wicket victory at home to Charlbury CC kept KCC in 3rd place. After Charlbury scored 136/9 with Edd Willmot taking 4 wickets, KCC posted 139/1 with Andy Oliver scoring 61*. Another defeat to the hands of Hanborough CC left KCC in a struggle to finish in 3rd place. After struggling to 176/8 with Edd Willmot top scoring with 47, Hanborough won by 6 wickets as they finished on 178/5 with Dan Farrant taking 3 wickets. KCC produced a big performance in a must win game away at West Ilsley CC. Batting first, the 1st XI posted 256/4 with Andy Oliver scoring his 2nd century of the season, he managed a superb 112*, ably supported by Ralph Bishop who scored 57. Dan Farrant then blew the West Ilsley batsmen away, taking 7 wickets as they were bowled out for 73, meaning KCC had won by 183 runs. The final game of the season saw KCC host Wootton and Boars Hill CC. KCC needed a victory to guarantee 3rd place whilsy Wootton were still battling to win the league. However KCC failed to turn up for the clash as they managed only 166 all out before Wootton scoreed 169/1 as Kidlington were comprehensively beaten by 9 wickets, to bring to an end a disappointing season.

There were some impressive individual performances throughout the team. Andy Oliver scored 547 runs at an average of 42. He also managed two centuries and two half centuries in an impressive season. Chris East, Richard Walker and Waseem Azad all impressed with the bat and scored over 300 runs throughout the season.

Dan Farrant was the pick of the bowlers taking 35 wickets at an average of 14 including a career best 7/20. Steve Litten managed 21 wickets at 16.

With some hard work and higher levels of commitment, the 1st XI will be aiming to return to winning ways in the 2015 season!