Buxton Strugglers 2 June 2021

Manager Alex Wildman

Won by 5 Wickets

Buxton Strugglers 203 for 6 dec (H Welch 4 for 13 off 8 overs)

SOA 204 for 5 (F Crouch 89; M Sutton 40)

The arrival of the sun to Oxfordshire after a long wet spring brought SOA to face the touring Buxton Strugglers at Queens College.

The ground was in excellent condition and Dan the new groundsman was extremely welcoming, if apologetic that he could not provide teas due to the college covid policy.

Buxton's skipper won the toss and unsurprisingly opted to bat first in the sun.

Tidy opening spells of 5 overs from Ben Jefferis and 11 overs in the heat from Colin Allen went wicketless and after a disciplined start Buxton accelerated to 100-0 off 17 overs. 3 dropped catches to first slip did not help, actually late running asparagus deliveries around Oxford meant SOA had started fielding with 10 and did not have a first slip when the edges flew through. However, the introduction of Henry Welch changed the momentum and character of the Buxton innings. Hebditch who had looked good and unflustered for his 40 runs to that point was unable to read Henry and his ugly six over midwicket was followed shortly afterwards with a slick Crouch stumping for Henry's first. His second and third wickets, both ducks coming with no change to the score, 108-0 becoming 108-3 thanks to one bowled and one sharp catch taken by Tim Hook as the ball looped slowly straight into his hands in the by now occupied slip cordon. A partnership followed before Ed Phillips took the 4th Buxton wicket with the score on 158. Opening bat Wood maintained his composure and timing throughout to reach 118 crisply struck runs when he retired to ensure that the tour batting record remained with Buxton legend Nick Smith who had sadly passed away in the off-season; an excellent knock and tribute. Henry's fourth wicket, a second stumping via the President, should have brought the Buxton skipper to the crease. However, he clearly didn't fancy facing Henry's leggies, so sportingly declared with the score on 203-6.

Nick Evans and Max Sutton opened for SOA, Max timing the ball superbly for a well made 40. Ayyaz then chipped in before President Frankie compiled 89 runs driving, cutting and pulling with superb timing, his first mistake presenting a caught and bowled which was well taken to rob him of a deserved presidential ton. Ed Phillips and SOA debutant Francis Young then took SOA past Buxton's total for a 5 wicket win.

As ever an enjoyable fixture with a very sociable touring team and our thanks go to John Smith for umpiring and also to James Thompson, who had to pull out of playing his first SOA game due to injury but kindly scored for us instead.