July 21, 2024
Middlesex ( 333 for 8 ) beat Oxfordshire ( 215 all out ) by 118 runs.
The NCAA Showcase serves as an opportunity for the Minor Counties to have a fixture against a First-Class County, whilst also serving as a preparation for the Counties ahead of the Metro Bank 50 over competition.
These diaries have attempted to cover both of these two sides this season, reporting on the first day of Middlesex vs Sussex at Lords in the Country Championship in May, but being thwarted by rain when planning to see Oxfordshire against Cheshire earlier this week.
Today’s match was played at Thame Town’s scenic Church Meadow ground, as was the game against Cheshire.
Oxfordshire CCC
Although rain prevented Fatbear from seeing any cricket on day two of their 3-day game against Cheshire, they quickly wrapped up victory on day three before more rain returned, as left arm spinner Tom Hinley took five wickets to bowl Cheshire out for 108 to seal a victory by an innings and 197 runs. Hinley’s reward was to be selected to play for Worcestershire today against Wales where he took 3 for 37 in his ten overs. Cheshire bounced back from this thrashing to beat Derbyshire by six wickets !!
Oxfordshire had made four changes to their XI for today’s game, with captain Mannering not selected, presumably with Home Guard duties, and wicketkeeper Eitan Litvin and Tristan Roussow also missing out, in addition to Hinley.
In their place were Sussex Academy batsman Julian Laird, Joe Gordon, who had played twice for Kent, wicket-keeper Freddie Smith, who had played for Sussex 2nd XI in 2022, and spinner Henry Welch.
In the absence of Mannering, 33-year-old Jamie Harrison, who played 25 games for Durham scoring 2 half centuries and taking 62 wickets before a serious knee injured brought an end to his career at the highest level, took over the captaincy.
Middlesex CCC
After relegation from the County Championship First Division last season, Middlesex have had a mixed season. In Division Two of the Four Day competition they sat in second place, twenty-three points behind leaders Sussex, and with just one defeat in nine matches.
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However, it had been a different story in the Vitality T20 Blast competition where just three wins in 14 matches left them in 8th place out of nine.
Compared to the side that took to the field against Sussex in May, there were only four changes for today’s game. Dropping out were Max Holden, Ryan Higgins, Leus de Plooy and Tom Helm. In their place were Joe Cracknell, Josh de Caires, Martin Andersson and Ishaan Kaushal.
The Middlesex side contained two former England internationals. Opening bat Sam Robson had 7 test caps and Mark Stoneman had played 11 test matches. Off-spinning all-rounder Josh de Caires is the son of former England captain Mike Atherton, and is reckoned by many pundits to be a future international.
Matchday Information
The weather today was sunny with temperatures around 22 degrees in the afternoon.
Entrance was free and an enterprising Ice Cream van was parked on the road just outside the ground and appeared to be doing good business. Inside the ground there was a Souvlaki stall, and the bar was open inside the clubhouse.
The match was streamed live on the Oxfordshire Cricket Board website, with a link to their YouTube channel.
Matchday Report
When I arrived at the ground, Oxfordshire were 46 for 2 in replay to Middlesex’s 333 for 8.
Although Tom Davis, who had played for both Worcestershire and Warwickshire 2nd XIs this season, yorked Cracknell for nought in the second over, Middlesex had scored steadily all through their innings despite some tigerish fielding and some excellent catches.
Fernandes made an elegant 29 before gifting a catch to backward point but the two Internationals, Robson and Stoneman with a partnership of 79 in just under 12 overs steadied the ship, before Stoneman was adjudged to be LBW to off-spinner Tait attempting a sweep to be dismissed for 36. Robson was bowled shortly after by left-arm spinner Laird, backing away to play an extravagant cut-shot to be out for 69 to leave Middlesex 169 for 4 in the 27th over.
Davies then chipped leg spinner Welch towards short mid-wicket where Tait made an excellent diving catch to leave Middlesex 179 for 5, and it wasn’t looking too good when Andersson played an ambitious reverse sweep to Tait and missed to be out for 29 runs. At 206 for 6 in the 37th over, a lot depended on Hollman and de Caires, but fortunately for the County side they delivered, adding 108 in 12 overs until de Caires was caught by a superb one-handed catch by Driscoll off Rossouw for 42 off 32 balls. In the frantic remaining balls, Hollman was run out attempting a bye to the wicketkeeper to be out for 73 runs off 60 balls, before Bamber hit the last three balls of the innings for four.
A total off 333 for 8 looked to be more than sufficient to win the game for Middlesex. For Oxfordshire, Roussow took 2 for 37 off 7 overs, and Tait had 2 for 71 off 10 overs. Chahal had been injured when hit by a fierce caught and bowled chance.
Oxfordshire started their innings slowly but when Laird looked to be accelerating, he slashed at a wide ball from Kaushal and was caught behind for 16. South African born Hayden Rossouw, who had scored 93 for Oxfordshire in 2021 against a Sussex attack that included Jofra Archer, James Coles and Travis Head, was at number three, but he offered a tame returned catch to De Caires to depart for one.
De Caires was bowling at the Meadow End and Brookes at the Town End. Brookes send down a particularly fast bouncer to number four Joe Gordon, with keeper Davies forced to make a spectacular diving stop high to his left. A loud LBW shout soon followed but the ball looked to be obviously going down the leg side.
After 17 overs Oxfordshire had progressed to 61 for 2, with Harrison 22 not out and Gordon on 11. After some sedate play it was a surprise when Harrison then hammered De Caires straight for four, then swung the next ball to the deep mid-wicket boundary for four more. A sweep then made it three consecutive boundaries, but no more runs came from the over thanks to two good diving stops at cover by Hollman.
Brookes then sent a rapid delivery down the leg side to which Gordon scooped behind square for four more but from the last ball of the over Harrison played and missed outside his off stump as Brookes fell to the deck in a manner reminiscent of Mark Wood. At the end of the 19th over it was 78 for 2.
De Caires then dropped short, and Gordon pulled to deep mid-wicket for four with Cracknell unable to stop it, and then Gordon stepped back to cut to deep point for a single. Harrison danced down the wicket to send a huge six over the sightscreen to bring up the 50 partnership. Harrison then attempted a reverse sweep to which there was a loud LBW appeal from the bowler, but one run was given by the umpire. Gordon then lifted the last ball of the over extra cover for another six as the score moved to 96 for 2 over 20 overs as de Caires figures were now 1 for 45 off 6 overs.
There was a change of bowling at the Town End as leg spinner Hollman replaced Brookes and his first over yielded just a leg bye and a single off the bat.
Opening bowler Kaushal then returned at the Meadow End, and was greeted by Gordon picking a ball outside off-stump over long-off for six, and then next ball a pull went for four despite a diving attempt to make a catch on the boundary. Kaushal was unlucky when a leading-edge flew over the wicket-keeper for a single. At the end of the over it was 109 for 2 off 22 overs.
Gordon now had his eye in and a slog-sweep off Hollman brought six more and then a dab outside off-stump produced another single. Harrison decided to charge down the wicket, missed what looked to be a googly, and was easily stumped by Davies to depart for 41 runs off 56 balls. It was now 116 for 3 off 22.4 overs.
The new batsman was Luke Hayes, who pushed a full-toss from his second ball for a single to retain the strike.
Kaushal then found the outside edge of Hayes, but his soft hands ensured the ball bounced before reaching slip. Another single came from the fourth ball of the over, a push to the mid-wicket region. Gordon was then deceived by a slower ball but the mishit floated in the air but well short of Stoneman in the covers. Gordon took a single off the last ball of the over to keep the strike. 119 for 3 off 24 overs.
After Gordon took another single, Hayes attempted a huge slog, only to get a thick inside edge to the mid-wicket boundary but from the last ball of the over, Gordon played all around a straight ball to be plumb LBW to Hollman for 48 from 49 balls. It was now 121 for 4 off 25 overs, and drinks were now taken.
With a solitary Red Kite circling low over the field, George Tait strode to the wicket at number six. However, from the first ball after the restart, Hayes checked his shot and Kaushal took a smart diving return catch. Hayes had to go for 3 and the score moved to 121 for 5.
Freddie Smith was the new batsman, and gingerly got off the mark from his second ball. Kaushal then attempted a bouncer which Tait played and missed at, but a no-ball was signalled. Tait got off the mark from the final ball of the over with a simple push into the vacant mid-wicket area. 125 for 5 off 26 overs.
Tait then greeted Hollman’s second ball, a drag down, by sending it over deep square leg for six, and then drove the next ball to the point boundary for a single. Hollman bowled a no-ball before Smith smacked a full-toss to long-on and de Caires appeared to have taken a diving catch, but it must have bounced just in front of him and a single accrued to the total. Tait then hit another full-toss to De Caires at long-off to end the over as the score progressed to 136 for 5 off 27 overs.
Middlesex made a bowling change with Fernandes coming on to replace de Caires with his left arm spin. 5 runs came from the over On the last ball Tait drove to Andersson on the point boundary, but when the Middlesex fielder fumbled, Tait wasn’t watching so missed out on a second run. 141 for 5 off 28 overs.
Three singles came from Hollman’s next over, although Smith was beaten all ends up from the final ball, a googly, as the ball went through to the wicketkeeper. Hollman now had 2 for 25 off 5 overs and the score was now 144 for 5 off 29 overs.
When Fernandes dropped short, Tait sent the ball over long-on for another six. The third ball was pitched up, and Tait again sent it over long-on for another maximum. 14 came off the over as Oxfordshire moved onto 158 for 5 off 30 overs. Fernandes had gone for 18 in his two overs.
Smith then joined in the fun, advancing down the wicket to produce a lovely cover drive off Hollman’s first ball of the next over, and then drove the next ball through long-off for four more. Smith was content to take a single from the fourth ball with a lofted drive to long-on before Tait’s agricultural hack went to cow corner for four more to bring up the 50 partnership. 171 for 5 off 30 overs.
Middlesex brought back Brookes from the Meadow End, and he struck immediately, his first ball beating Smith’s defensive prod to hit off stump. Smith was out for 14 runs.
The new batsman Dylan Driscoll was greeted with a long hop/bouncer which was steered to deep square for a single. The next ball rapped Tait on the gloves, and the fourth ball of the over went for two leg-byes down towards fine leg, but that didn’t stop Robson at slip appealing for LBW ! It was now 175 for 6 off 31 overs.
Tait reversed swept Hollman’s first ball for four but was then content to milk a single to long-off. Driscoll unconvincingly pulled a short ball from which they ran a sharp single. With 8 coming from the over, the score moved to 183 for 6 off 32 overs with Tait on 38 and Hollman’s figure were 2 for 47 off 7 overs.
After Brookes saw his second delivery pulled for a single by Driscoll, he then pulled up in his delivery stride with what appeared to be a leg injury, but after a short delay he was able to continue. Tait sliced the next ball to third man for a single, after which Driscoll played a superb shot to the backward point boundary for another four. Brookes claimed a moral victory with the final ball of the over, as Driscoll played and missed outside his off stump. 189 for 6 off 34 overs
Hollman continued to bowl from the Town End, and Tait lofted him to long-on for another six and when the spinner offered some width next ball, Tait latched onto it and cut behind point for four. Tait was half beaten from the next ball but got enough bat on it for it to squeeze out to mid-wicket for a single to bring up his half century and take the score to 200. However, it was a different game when Driscoll was facing Hollman and after two unconvincing shots, he was plumb LBW playing all around a straight one. Driscoll was out for 8 runs and Hollman had 3 for 57 off 8 overs. The score was now 200 for 7 off 35 overs
De Caires returned to bowl at the Meadow End, and after a leg-side wide to begin with he conceded just three more runs. 204 for 7 off 36 overs.
Hollman continued to wile away from the Town End. Tait pulled him to deep square leg but an unfortunate bounce meant the diving Fernandes saved the boundary by the ball hitting him on the jaw. No lasting damage was done though and play continued. Five runs came from the over as the score moved on to 209 for 7 from 37 overs.
Tait decided to try and hit de Caires into Buckinghamshire,but unfortunately for him he only succeeded in sending the ball high into the air, and de Caires called for the catch to take the caught and bowled. Tait was out for 53 off 40 balls, having hit 3 fours and 4 sixes. Henry Welch came in and played out a wicket maiden to leave Oxfordshire 209 for 8 off 38 overs.
It was now Tom Davis’s turn to smack Hollman for six, with play held up for a couple of minutes with the ball lost in the hedge beyond the long-on boundary but when he tried to repeat off the next ball he missed and was bowled. With Chahal unable to bat, Oxfordshire were all out for 215 and Middlesex had won by 118 runs.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours watching the young Oxfordshire side bat against their more experienced opponents. Hollman returned the best figures for Middlesex with 4 for 68 off 9.2 overs. A lot of the time he looked like cannon-fodder but when he occasionally pitched his googly in the right areas he caused a few problems
Full Stream : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLZhhoBACVI
BBC Scorecard : https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/e-219270#Oxford
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