Scorecard

Oxford Downs CC v Cryptics Cricket Club on Sun 01 Sep 2024 at 1300
Match was Drawn Drawn

Match report Cryptics CC 248-2 - J.Aziz 100, A. Mallick 70
Oxford Downs 210-9 - W. Owens 90, M.Nicolls 4-11
Thirty years ago the square was further to the east, there were no houses, not net compound and the pavilion was a less impressive building but the hospitality across the two meals of the all day game was awesome. On that occasion the Cryptics won in the last over bowling out the Downs who had earlier dismissed a Cryptics side that included Andrew Strauss and Richard Hutton, students at Radley College. How would the thirtieth anniversary be marked? Well, gone is the all day game with its port, cigars and speeches, perhaps for the better in the latter cases. However, the friendliness of the fixture and the excellent tea have survived the years and provided the backdrop to what was a terrific timed game. On such occasions a draw can be a great result for both sides. From the outset there was a warm welcome as players from the opposing camps recognised one another either through the previous encounters in this fixture or through other visits to Standlake. But what of the cricket?
The Cryptics batted first and Junaid Aziz, whose season for the Cryptics had been lean to this point, opened up with fellow Oxenforder Ayyaz Mallick, playing his second game for us. The brisk start was largely down to Ayyaz who smote several glorious cover drives to the long and short boundaries despite some outstanding fielding from some of the young Downsmen. He progressed quite quickly to 50 while Junaid ran the singles and found himself frequently at the wrong end. Then the balance swung and he soon joined Ayyaz in his half century. An agonising over for the Downs saw both players dropped off the bowling of Will Owens. Shortly afterwards opportunities to stump both batsmen were missed off Chris Ward (Cryptics 12th man turned Downs 11th man). It took the crafty leg spin of Downs skipper Dan Hawes to prise out Ayyaz - Alex Wildman having to wait an age for the ball to reach his gloves for the stumping. Junaid hastened through to his century before retiring. There was no relief for the bowlers though and Rob Walker and Jamie Firth added quick runs to take the Cryptics to 246-2 off thirty eight overs, anticipated as the half way point. A word of praise for the young Downs bowlers. George Hook was sharp but tended to feed Ayyaz cover drive a little too often. Norwyn Kumar bowled a very respectable seven overs for 31 runs and Freddie Mercer also impressed with his left arm over - six overs for 33 which in the context was tidy.
The reply seemed to be coping with the seam attack of Alan Gregory and Matt Nicholls for a few overs until Matt's pace and movement bowled Mark Hunt. With the score on 26 Nathan Corbin was left looking bemused has he returned having also been bowled by Matt in his next over. As the score reached 50, Sholto Hunt was also undone by the same bowler. Changes in the attack brought Anton Madzarevich and Paul Massey on line. In Anton's first over Jack Brister played early and toed the ball towards mid wicket past, as we thought, Rob Walker. However, with athleticism reminiscent of the Sri Lankan Ratnayeke's catch to dismiss Gus Atkinson at Lord's a few days earlier, Rob dived and caught the ball as it came over his shoulder. When Alex Wildman swung optimistically at Paul Massey and was bowled, the Downs found themselves 64-5. Will Owens and Dan Hawes could have been forgiven for looking at the margins and thinking that shoring up things was a prudent tactic. However, they found Eoin Simpkins' leg spin somewhat to their taste and with lusty blows off Jamie Firth and a few more off Paul Massey they accumulated just shy of a century partnership and kept the run rate required at just under 10 an over. However, a quicker delivery from Firth castled Hawes for 41 and, still about 80 runs shy of the target, the prospects of a dramatic win for the Downs started to fade. Unless you were young Will Owens who continued to pull, cut and drive the ball into the gaps and was starting to eye his own century. On 90 though he turned the ball to short fine leg and seemed anxious to run - no fumble, no overthrow as Jamie Firth returned the ball to Henry Sensecall for a comfortable run out. The tail were gradually being rolled up, first by Anton who bowled Freddie Mercer going back when he really should have gone forwards. The Cryptics were now eying a possible win. Matt Nicholls returned and scattered George Hook's stumps. It was left to Norwyn Kumar and Chris Ward to see if they could bat out the last four overs - they did....just. A special word for Henry Sensecall who skippered the Cryptics for this game and managed the bowling changes to produce a really good outcome acknowledged by both sides. Draws have been few and far between this season - interestingly, in the only previous one against the Yorkshire Gents, it was the Cryptics who were frustrated in search of the last wicket.
Thanks to all those who turned out the Cryptics - in fairness it is a popular fixture in a lovely setting with a fantastic opposition.

Cryptics Cricket Club Cryptics Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
6nb 8w 5b 1lb 
for 1 wickets
20
246		        
Junaid Aziz Retired Out  100 108 10 92.59
Ayyaz Mallick st A Wildman b D Hawes 70 82 12 85.37
Stuart Walter Not Out  37 27 5 137.04 1
Jamie Firth Not Out  19 12 4 158.33
Mike Stafford  
Henry Sensecall  
Anton Madzarevic  
Eoin Simpkins  
Matt Nichols  
Alan Gregory  
Paul Massey  

Oxford Downs CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Norwyn Kumar7.003100.004.43
George Hook6.003800.006.33
Freddie Mercer6.003300.005.50
Will Owens9.015400.006.00
Chris Ward7.004000.005.71
Dan Hawes4.0044144.0011.00

Oxford Downs CC Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
5w 1b  
for 9 wickets
6
205 (40.0 overs)		     
Sholto Hunt b M Nicholls 35 49 6 71.43
Mark Hunt b M Nicholls 6 23 1 26.09
Nathan Corbin b M Nicholls 1 4 25.00
Jack Brister ct R Walter b A Madzarevic 5 7 1 71.43
Alex Wildman b P Massey 6 16 1 37.50
Will Owens run out  (J Firth) 90 72 18 1 125.00
Dan Hawes b J Firth 41 40 8 102.50
Freddie Mercer b A Madzarevic 9 15 1 60.0
George Hook b M Nicholls 0 3 0
Norwyn Kumar Not Out  3 6 50.0
Chris Ward Not Out  3 9 33.33

Cryptics Cricket Club Cryptics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Alan Gregory6.003200.005.33
Matt Nichols8.001142.751.38
Anton Madzarevic9.0043221.504.78
Paul Massey9.0039139.004.33
Eoin Simpkins4.004400.0011.00
Jamie Firth4.0035135.008.75
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