Cricket
Bowlers star to boost Oakfield

CHRIS Smith and Dave Odwell picked up five wickets each to help Oakfield to an eight wicket victory at Aston Unity on Saturday, ending the unbeaten record of the Warwickshire League Division Four leaders at the same time.

The visitors arrived in confident mood but the hopes of play seemed bleak on their arrival as they found the ground waterlogged and the square under water.

After much work on the ground it was agreed a 31 over game would start at 3.30pm and Oakfield skipper Dickie Burnett continued his good run by calling correctly and not hesitating in asking the hosts to bat.

Smith got the visitors off to the perfect start by picking up a wicket in the first over before Odwell went one better by taking two wickets with his first six deliveries.

The pitch actually played better than most could have imagined with only the odd ball misbehaving but Oakfield’s fielders backed the bowlers excellently to help make it 49-7 after 12 overs.

Odwell bowled his nine overs unchanged to return 5-44 whilst Smith ended up with 5-18 as Aston were dismissed for just 79 in the 24th over.

Feeling that the total was well within range, Oakfield started positively with nine coming off the first five balls before Adam Stradling was run out for 4 off the sixth delivery.

Stewart Burnett joined brother Richard in the middle and quickly took advantage of some short bowling to make it 36-1 after four overs.

Dickie Burnett fell for 12 when caught off a rising delivery but Rob Hope came to the crease and kept the runs ticking, taking the total to 65.

With the hosts deflated, 17 runs came from the 12th and final over as Oakfield completed an easy success as Burnett finished on 39no and Hope on 23no.

The victory sees Oakfield rise to third in the table at the halfway stage of the season, a position they will hope to build on and push for a promotion place.

THE 2nds moved to within a win of second place in Division Four 2nd XI thanks to a five-wicket home success over Aston.

Similar to the first team they won the toss and elected to field but the visitors batted steadily throughout to reach 170 from 48 overs.

For Oakfield Jim Foxton and Tom Marshall led from the front with 2-34 and 2-58 respectively, while James Corrie bowled well for 2-38.

Oakfield struggled in response and looked to be holding on for a draw when they were five down with less than half the required runs scored.

However, young Chris Goodwin continued his good form with 75no and was well supported by Brian Harris (38) as Oakfield eventually reached their target for the loss of five wickets.

THE news was not so good for the 3rds as they lost by eight wickets at Newbold 2nds.

Batting first, Oakfield struggled in difficult conditions, losing wickets at regular intervals.

Abdul Afgan (19) and Sherwin Fernando (18) were the only members of the top order to make double figures and Oakfield were indebted to the lower order, especially Andrew Clowes (16) and Luke Armstrong (12no) to get them to 97 from their 45 overs.

In response, Newbold were always ahead of the chase and eased home for the loss of just two wickets, their innings dominated by Dan O’Brien’s 74no.

OAKFIELD travelled to Norton Lindsey for a friendly on Sunday which they won by seven runs.

The visitors were disappointed with their final total of 162-9, the main contribution of which came from Adam Stradling (59).

It proved to be just enough though as the hosts fell for 155 with Ollie Vaughan (2-33), Christian Nicholson (2-23), Carum Kooner and Rob Harris getting amongst the wickets.

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