Students hand back certain victory

Harpsden Sun Vs Friends of Oxford University

Harpsden Sun 1st Innings
A Bryan+ b S Halliday 20
N Sweet b S Halliday 5
A Warner Run Out 7
A Norton* c Hill b A Cary 17
A Grimmer c ? b Gilmore 16
W Stevens c Gilmore b Case 34
M Hodgkiss c Gilmore b J Schneider 13
T Hancock c Cary b S Halliday 42
O Heath c ? b S Halliday 0
T Sampson Not Out 4
C Welford b H Richards 4
Extras (b2 lb1 w6 nb1) 10
TOTAL 10 wickets for 172

Friends of Oxford University
Mclellan lbw b C Welford 45
Gilmore Run Out 43
A Cary c A Bryan b W Stevens 4
Stefanowiz+ b W Stevens 8
H Cary c Norton b C Welford 21
H Richards b T Hancock 8
C Hill lbw b M Hodgkiss 4
J Schneider b T Hancock 2
Case c&b M Hodgkiss 2
S Halliday b T Hancock 1
W Lough Not Out 0
Extras (b9 lb8 w3 nb5) 25
TOTAL 10 wickets for 163

On an overcast Sunday afternoon Friends of Oxford University won the toss and asked Harpsden to Bat first. This proved to be a good decision as Harpsden lost regular wickets Halliday doing the majority of the damage including taking the key wicket of Bryan. With just over a hundred on the scoreboard Harpsden had already lost 6 wickets and an early tea look inevitable. But number eight, Tom Hancock arrived at the crease to join Stevens and the pair set about repairing some of the damage. The pair managed to add 50 runs before Stevens departed, unfortunately Harpsden were unable to add many more runs to the total as the returning Halliday wrapped up the tail.

Oxford University needing just 173 to win started as heavy favorites and in spite of quick opening spells from Hancock and Heath they made a solid start being 45 without loss after 10 overs. Oxford then set about applying further pressure as the scoring rate soared and as the opening pair were still at the crease with the score on 105, Harpsden could have been forgiven for thinking there was no way back. But after a calamitous run out, Harpsden managed to wrestle themselves back into the game with Stevens and Welford removing the top order. This included both Cary boys much to the delight of their Harpsden team mates.

As Oxford University crept towards the total Harpsden brought back Hancock which proved to be the match winning decision. Hancock ripped through the tail taking 3 wickets and carrying Harpsden to an unlikely victory by just 9 runs.