Result: Match Drawn
Match Report
Joined by five enthusiastic guests, the Stragglers assembled at Ascott Park, determined to exact revenge for last year’s pummelling at the hands of a strong South Oxon Amateurs side.
Losing the toss on a golden, flat pitch, the lads were unsurprised to be invited to field. David Vila and Calum Lindsay were economical but could not find the edge of the watchful openers’ bats.
While the Amateurs never really got away, there was a sense that they were building a strong platform when first change Hooper and Tom Vila also failed to make a deposit into the wickets account before lunch.
It was pace off the ball that got the breakthrough when George Liveing managed to prize Eaton out with a loopy full toss, the resulting swipe top-edged to point. At 121 for one from 30 overs, SOA looked to pick up the pace and captain Chris Hutton began to find the boundary more regularly.
Returning to the attack, this time with the wind at his back and stoked on a fine lunch, skipper Tom Vila struck twice in an over to remove his opposite number for a fluent 57, then Gough for a two-ball duck, before two overs later, knocking over dasher Robey.
The late charge for quick runs was halted by leg-spinning Dhiraj Patel who claimed his reward for a fine 14 over spell by taking three quick wickets, before SOxonA declared their inning closed on 230-8 after 49 nine overs. It would prove to be a very good declaration.
In response, the Stragglers found themselves on 47 for three at tea, having lost Lindsay for a duck, Hooper caught behind for 13 and Falder for a promising 10.
The immediate loss of Ben Towler after the interval called for some consolidation and this came in the form of Nino Trapani, who used all of his experience to settle the situation and support Matt Suckling who had passed his half century at the other end.
Two overs into the last 20, with better than a run-a-ball 115 still required, Nino cut loose to race to 20 before losing his off stump. Perry came and went for a spirited five, bringing opening-bat-by-trade, George Liveing, to the crease. Together with Suckling he added a quick 40 before chipping one up and handed the baton to Dhiraj Patel.
Runs were on offer against a tiring attack and some already tired fielders and the young pair demonstrated that you do not need to hit boundaries in order to score quickly. By the time Suckling offered a return catch to Humphries, he had reach his century and set up a thrilling finish with 38 needed from as many balls.
Tom Vila joined Patel and continued to score at the required rate with some good running between the wickets. Targeting the off spin of Bishop with three overs to go, Vila found the boundary twice in succession and took 12 from five balls, before falling to an excellent one handed catch on the rope.
Needing 12 from two overs, the last pair scrambled to bring the equation to two from two balls. But with a fine pair of dots delivered by Bishop to number 11 David Vila, the game ended in a thrilling draw.
Tuesday 18 July 2017 Stragglers of Asia vs South Oxfordshire Amateurs
Result: Drawn
Team Batting First: South Oxfordshire Amateurs
| Batsman | How Out | Bowler | Score | |
| 1 | C Hutton* | Bowled | TJ Vila | 57 |
| 2 | C Eaton | c Falder | G Liveing | 74 |
| 3 | A Wildman+ | c Suckling | G Liveing | 16 |
| 4 | M Robey | Bowled | TJ Vila | 44 |
| 5 | T Gough | Bowled | TJ Vila | 0 |
| 6 | P Humphries | Bowled | D Patel | 0 |
| 7 | M Bishop | Not | Out | 11 |
| 8 | C Foster | Bowled | D Patel | 2 |
| 9 | C Allen | Lbw | D Patel | 0 |
| 10 | G Goodliffe | Not | Out | 4 |
| 11
|
Bishop | |||
| Extras: 22 | TOTAL: 230 for 8 dec |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| D Vila | 7 | 17 | 0 | |
| C Lindsay | 6 | 32 | 0 | |
| TJ Vila | 9 | 35 | 3 | |
| T Hooper | 4 | 23 | 0 | |
| D Patel | 14 | 71 | 3 | |
| G Liveing | 6 | 40 | 2 |
Team Batting Second: Stragglers of Asia
| Batsman | How Out | Bowler | Score | |
| 1 | C Lindsay (g) | Bowled | Allen | 0 |
| 2 | M Suckling | C+bowled | Humphries | 100 |
| 3 | T Hooper | C wkt | Humphries | 13 |
| 4 | R Falder (g) | Stumped | Bishop | 10 |
| 5 | B Towler (g) | C Gough | Bishop | 1 |
| 6 | N Trapani+ | Bowled | Allen | 20 |
| 7 | I Perry | Lbw | Allen | 5 |
| 8 | G Liveing (g) | c Gough | Humphries | 18 |
| 9 | D Patel | Not | Out | 21 |
| 10 | TJ Vila* | c Eaton | Bishop | 19 |
| 11 | D Vila (g) | Not | Out | 1 |
| Extras: 21 | TOTAL: 229-9 |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| C Allen | 15 | 1 | 51 | 3 |
| T Gough | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| P Humphries | 11 | 1 | 36 | 3 |
| Bishop | 17 | 3 | 80 | 2 |
| Anning | 5 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
Scorer(s): Barbara Egglesfield