The 2nd XI made the headlines on Saturday as they made the highest team score, biggest batsman's score and highest winning margin in the OCA that day. Stew Moss won the toss and with a powerful line-up had no hesitation batting first. Stew and Mark Hatton raced to the half-century partnership in the 8th over, and Mark was dropped at mid-on before Stew was out to a poor shot in the 12th with the score at 63/1. But this only brought in Ben Hayes, who added 134 with Mark before himself being bowled for a fine 71. Fred Holloway scored a tidy 21no to leave Mark 143no from 40 overs, having hit 20 x 4s! Is this a new highest individual batting score for Stonesfield CC?

In response Deddi made a determined start, and Lambert and Rowan were blocked out, the breakthrough finally coming in the 22nd over when Stew took a fine catch at mid-off to give left arm spinner Scott Thomas his first league wicket for the club. This opened the floodgates and Scott went on to take a superb 5 for 18, Jordan Newman 4 for 15 and Rowan came back on for a deserved wicket as Stoney took all 30 pts to start top of Div 7N.

In contrast the 1st XI endured a forgettable day on the Leys against 2018 champions Witney Swifts, losing the toss and being inserted on a poor wicket. After a few good shots things went wrong when Tim Wyatt suffered a serious knee injury and had to retire hurt for 9. With some balls shooting along the deck and some lifting a succession of dismissals followed, and despite some defiance from Sam Hart top scoring with 12 at no10 the innings ended at 74/9 from 34.3 overs.

Paceman Steve Litten made 2 early breakthroughs to leave Swifts 10/2 but they counter attacked and won the game without further loss of wickets. The only way is up from here!

On Monday the U15 side played on another Witney track almost as challenging at Mills, where everything kept low! Openers Fred Holloway (17) & Rowan Moss (5) were soon out, and nobody else made any significant contribution except extras with 23! The lads were all struggling with shooters, many out to unplayable short pitched grubbers as they were all out for 53 in 13 overs.

But the lads did not give up without a real fight. Opening bowlers Josh Davies & Rowan Moss bowled with terrific accuracy, and when they came off after 8 overs Mills had only scored 18/1. George Worsley & Tristan Stringer came on and more wickets fell to their accurate bowling, and George also achieved a superb direct hit run out. When Tristan gathered a straight drive and also pulled off a run-out Mills were in all sorts of trouble. There was huge tension when Thomas Simpson and Noah Drew bowled the last few overs, especially when Noah hit the stumps to send 2 more batsmen packing, but the resolute Mills opener saw the job home with an exceptional 35no as sneaked over the line at 56/8.

In week 1 of our Fantasy Cricket, Ben Hayes with "Keegan's Chokers" showed judgement bordering on clairvoyancy to rack up an incredible 647 pts thanks to Hatton, himself, S Moss, Thomas and Newman!
Dan Taylor's "Bet on Gub getting run out? Like Printing Money" side also excelled with 614 pts, as did Fazza's "Yes Gub, come one" with 572.
Early strugglers are Gub's own team "Wait, Yes, no" (there is a theme here with the team names!) with just 88 points. Long way to go yet...