Shobrooke Park 11 August 2026

Captain Ben Jefferis

Lost by 12 Runs

SOA 258 for 7 (Steve Green 100*, Lewis North 64)

Shobrooke Park 246 all out (Alexander Basford 3 for 36, Craig Foster 3 for 59)

Devon Tour: The Amateurs get the job done in the sunshine

 There are days on tour when everything starts to feel as it should. A bit of sunshine, a few cold pints, good company and, eventually, some cricket. For me, this was the real start of the Devon tour proper.

 A cracking session in the Three Little Pigs before the game brought the touring party back together, with the pints doing their bit to loosen the limbs and perhaps sharpen the competitive instincts. The mood was good, the weather was glorious and the stage was set.

 South Oxfordshire won the toss and elected to bat, with the somewhat experimental half-cut father-and-son combination of the North family entrusted with opening the innings. It proved a sound decision, putting on 30 for the first wicket against some unusually hostile bowling and giving the innings a decent platform.

 The undoubted highlight was Steve Green's masterful century. Batting with the sort of authority that suggested he had somewhere better to be later, Steve reached a superb 100 before retiring, his work for the day complete. A ton very much worth celebrating. The innings was then given a healthy boost by some lusty contributions from the Owens brothers and the youthful George Hook, taking South Oxfordshire to a very respectable 258 for 7 from their 40 overs.

 It was a warm afternoon and a wicket that looked likely to offer a little more assistance to the spinners as the day wore on. The challenge was set.

 The response from the South Oxfordshire opening bowlers was excellent. Clearly benefiting from the earlier refreshments, both produced cracking spells to put the visitors under pressure and set the tone for the innings. Out in the field, there was some skilful management of the bowling changes and field placements, with the captaincy keeping things organised as Shobrooke tried to build a response.

 There were also a couple of excellent catches to keep the momentum with the Amateurs. Two in particular came in the gully, both requiring a fair degree of commitment, anticipation and, if we're being honest, a little more athleticism than might reasonably be expected from the wheelie bin (Ben Jefferis). One was something of a worldie, and both were safely accounted for. Native modesty prevents further comment.

 Craig Foster then proved particularly important at the back end of the innings, helping ensure that Shobrooke's late efforts never quite got them over the line.

 Shobrooke were eventually dismissed for 246 in 39.2 overs, leaving South Oxfordshire winners by 12 runs in a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon's cricket.

 A century for Steve, a couple of catches worth remembering, some excellent bowling and a team performance that had just enough about it to get over the line. Add the sunshine, the pub and the return of the touring spirit, and it was a pretty good way to get Devon underway properly.