The OCA has (very sensibly) created tournaments under the existing Cup system whereby Division 1 and 2 sides playing in the Airey Cup. Div 3 & 4 in the Telegraph and so on… Each Cup will begin with a League Round Robin of 7 matches and the top teams playing in a Final for the Trophy.
Marsh have been drawn in a section with : Westcott, Chipping Norton, Middleton Cheney, Oxenford, Combe, Stanton Harcourt, Cairns Fudge, Wootton and Hook Norton, though the latter 2 will not be played.
The opening game, at the Gibbon, was against locals Westcott and the forecast was not promising, but neither was it consistent and it was not clear if there would be rain or sun. Nevertheless, Skipper drained himself and elected to field, with the weather uncertainty in his mind.
MGCC welcomed new player Vikram Pandit (number 159) and despite admitting to coming from Steeple Claydon, he was allowed to remain.
MGCC Team sheet: Honour, Pandit, Joe Leonard (Capt), Stu Leonard (Wkt), Coultate, Chambers Snr, Costello, Fox, Chambers Jnr, Callow, Needham.
Chairman Kyle and Crouchy opened with the new league Triflex balls, to Symes and Ur Rehman and they kept it tight, with only 22 runs coming in the first 10 overs and the important wicket of Ur Rehman trapped by the Chairman’s swinging cherry!
One became Two as Gloves Leonard sharply removed the bails to dismiss Sweetman (14) as he leant out his crease to a leg side delivery from Crouch.
Hussein followed next over as Kyle’s disguised slower delivery (now that must be slow) drew the early swing and the skied ball was gleefully clutched by Jules at mid-off.
Symes (27*) had a couple of lives off Crouch, but as Jules replaced Kyle (8-3-13-2) the black clouds arrived and the rain descended. A ponderous start became a torrent and the game was abandoned with Westcott on 43-3 off 17 overs.
After the wait this was a drab disappointment for all. Never mind, next week MGCC travel to Middleton Cheney, when we hope the Sun will conquer the clouds.