SYDENHURST RAMBLERS V OXFORD DOWNS

TUESDAY 1ST JULY 2003 played at Standlake

The Ramblers travelled to Standlake to play their part in the Downs’s annual cricket week - and managed to avoid the showers to complete an enjoyable match. Richard Gauntlett, captain for the day, inserted the opposition who obliged with 257-5 declared - a par score with the flat track and short boundaries on three sides. The bowlers worked hard, but any variations in length were punished summarily. Tim Senior, a young player guesting however did bowl particularly well and thoroughly deserved his wickets.

A chase of around 5 an over asked by Downs skipper Matt Lee (yes - the Ramblers ginger nut from the West Indian tour) was eminently reasonable, but it was one of those days when a number of batters made good starts but couldn’t consolidate to something significant - the only exception being another guest, Tim Hutton, who went on to a well worked and aggressive not out half century.

The final margin was 70 runs.

As always, splendid hospitality from the Downs; a quite delicious lunch, concluded by a glass of port and a few appropriate words from both skippers. It was most interesting to hear details of the ambitious and exciting development plans for the Standlake ground; in a year or so’s time it is going to look very different, and all Ramblers wish the Downs well in this project.

OXFORD DOWNS

J Florey lbw Jones 30

A Cunningham c Sutton H b Tucker 41

T Sandbach b Senior 21

C Sutton c Kidson b Senior 51

N Evans c Sutton H b Sherwood 8

J Roycroft not out 41

T Hardy not out 21

C Wakefield )

D Thurston ) did not bat

R Berryman )

M Lee )

extras (b 26, lb 9,nb 6) 41

TOTAL 257-5 declared

Bowling:

Francis 9 1 49 0

Gauntlett R 3 0 5 0

Jones 9 3 23 1

Tucker 4 0 30 1

Senior 13 0 61 2

Sherwood 8 0 32 1

Sutton T 4 0 22 0

SYDENHURST RAMBLERS

B Davenport c Lee b Sutton 18

H Sutton c Cunningham b Thurston 7

E Jones c Lee b Berryman 23

A Tucker c & b Roycroft 32

T Sutton not out 56

T Senior c Sutton b Cunningham 14

T Kidson (wk) b Cunningham 9

P Francis b Cunningham 7

H Gauntlett b Cunningham 0

G Sherwood b Berryman 9

R Gauntlett(c) c Florey b Wakefield 2

extras (b 5, lb 3, nb 2) 10

TOTAL 187

Bowling:

Sutton 9 0 29 1

Thurston 11 0 37 1

Berryman 9 2 36 2

Roycroft 5 0 26 1

Cunningham 4 1 8 4

Evans 2 0 13 0

Wakefield 1.3 0 19 1

Hardy 1 0 7 0

OXFORD DOWNS WON BY 70 RUNS