Chasers fall short as Oaksey extend lead
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BATTING first was the order of the day as leaders Oaksey returned to action with a comfortable win over Oakridge to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Oakridge’s decision to field first backfired Dan Bye (52) and Hector Whitrow (42) batted aggressively while Tom Cook (103*) held the innings together.
Charlie Mead (2-54) was the pick of the bowlers but could not prevent Oaksey from posting 279-6.
The Oakridge reply got off to a poor start as home skipper Andy Steward (2-10) took a couple of early wickets.
Mark Robbins (46) led the fightback but a great spell from Adrian Prim (4-21) heralded a collapse as Oakridge were bowled out for 108.
Second placed Barnsley Beeches had a major setback at Longborough & Sezincote.
Again electing to field first looked misguided as Josh Newbould (120) hit an outstanding century.
Jay Thomson (2-34) and Robert Denney (2-44) bowled well but Luke Mcdonah (37) and Henry Leonard (35) took the score to a demanding 257-5.
The Barnsley reply never got going as Mcdonah (9-3-19-6) crowned a memorable all-round performance to leave the visitors in tatters.
Akalanka Udara (25) did his best but Ryan Theron (2-41) left the visitors 78 all out.
Ashton Keynes is proving a difficult place to visit and Minety & Northleach were the latest victims.
Ashton got off to a decent start through George Ford (20) and Buckle (33) but a good spell from Tony Gardner (5-28) threatened to derail the home effort.
But Will Shelley (90) batted well to take the hosts to 178 all out.
Minety & Northleach lost a couple of early wickets but an excellent partnership between Giles Wellman (55) and Tony Gardner (47) looked like being decisive.
An excellent spell and a catch from Tom Finnie (4-22) swung the game the way of Ashton, who won by eight runs.
South Cerney had a much needed win against Fairford II.
Batting first they were in decent shape through James Bayliss (54) but wobbled before a seventh wicket partnership of 63 in seven overs between Craig O’keefe (42) and Dave Wheeler (27) boosted the score to 204-7.
Early breakthroughs were made by Sam Catterall (2-20) and Garrick Chivers (3-20) and O’keefe (4-24) capped a fine all round performance to leave Fairford 86 all out.
Bibury c lost to Avening & Cherington.
Despite a fine spell from Sachin Bandara (5-28), contributions from Mcloughlin (47) and Richard Harvey (40) enabled Avening to post 195 all out.
The Bibury response was initially promising with Ed Robinson (43) batting well but Jay Richings (2-35) and Richard Harvey (3-39) contained the hosts then the returning Tom Redpath (4-20) cleaned up to leave Bibury 144 all out.