Two from Two for the 3XI

The 3XI had their first home game of the season entertaining Oxton at Filkins Lane.
Overnight rain and kids messing with the covers saw a wet run up and slightly damp pitch for the start of the game so Fishy had no hesitation inviting Oxton to have a bat after winning the toss.

Ben Harvey and Fishy started proceedings and kept things tight with a ball which was moving in the air, Harvey got things underway in the 9th over dismissing the opener Price who was caught by Ste Treen at 1st slip (after a brief discussion Price eventually walked!) and number 3 Fairclough who chipped it to Spaven at Mid Off 18-2 the score and an uphill task!
Fishy bowled 7 overs without reward for 10 runs and was replaced by Maddocks.
Harvey plugged away bowling his 8 overs allowance and finished with decent return of 2-15, Will Fisher replaced Harvey.

Will FIsh and Maddocks continued to apply the pressure but De Silva and Skipper Fairclough were starting to build a partnership, that was until Fairclough completely missed a big full toss off Maddocks which hit his pads bang infront, LBW and gone.
Will Fisher got the important wicket of De Silva for 39 clean bowling him.
Maddocks finished with 1-18 off his overs and Will Fisher 2-35 off his 10.

Things were set up nicely for Spaven and Hari to come on with scoring seemingly tricky for Oxton.
Spaven bowled with decent pace and was rewarded with 3 wickets for 11 runs from his 10 overs.
Hari ended with a wicket in the 45th over and Oxton closed on 120-9 off their 45 overs.

Openers Spaven and Hodges got the chase underway after lunch and looked at ease until Hodges went back to bowling of Molly Price and got trapped in front LBW.
Ste Treen replaced Hodges before being dismissed for 8 runs, bowled by skipper Fairclough.
Dan Pond was at 4 and him and Spaven dealt Oxton some lusty blows by punishing the bad balls.
Spaven passed 50 for the second time this season and was eventually out for 64, bowled by the young spinner J Price.
Dan Pond was Price's second scalp, caught behind for a quick fire 21.
Tom Evans (2*) and Foxy (0*) wrapped up proceedings in the 17th over.

Another convincing victory for the 3s taking 20 points.
Away to Kingsley next week as they try to make it a hat-trick of victories in this early part of the season.

MoTM - Ben Spaven