COUNTIES CRICKET Six fer Oxfordshire skipper
- Details
- Last Updated on Sunday, 02 August 2026 19:58
- Published on Sunday, 02 August 2026 19:58
- Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent
There was no hint of trouble when Wiltshire openers Jack Mynott (41) and Cyrus Shafi (32) added 77 after Ed Young had won the toss and opted to bat first but the collapse started after Shafi was bowled by Ben Lucking.
Wiltshire lost ten wickets for 46 in 21 overs and were dismissed for 123 before lunch with off-spinner Mannering returning the remarkable figures of 12-4-17-6.
Oxfordshire’s batters stuttered at the start of their first innings but a fifth wicket partnership of 139 between Luke Hayes (62) and Freddie Smith took them past Wiltshire’s total and into a commanding lead.
Smith was unbeaten on 89 at the close with Oxfordshire 266 for six and 143 in front.
Half-centuries from Callum Harvey and Seb Linnitt and solid batting down the order helped Western Division leaders Devon to post 342 against Berkshire at Blundell’s School.
James Horler (30) and Sam Elstone (48) laid solid foundations with an opening partnership of 79 with Gloucestershire Academy all-rounder James Matravers again contributing useful middle order runs with 43.
Off-spinner Euan Woods took four for 63 and gave Devon most to think about and then shared a half-century partnership for Berkshire’s second wicket with acting-captain Rhys Lewis. Opener Will Hamilton went for a duck on debut but Lewis (34 not out) and Woods (29 not out) took Berkshire to 69 for one.
Shropshire’s former Glamorgan and Leicestershire pace bowler Roman Walker followed up his eight first innings wickets against Wales NC last week with seven more against Cheshire at Nantwich in Western Division Two
Walker’s opening burst of five for 18 in 12 overs reduced Cheshire to 74 for six at lunch but they recovered to 222 all out thanks to half-centuries from captain David Wainwright and Dan Wilson and 30 from Jack Collett.
Shropshire ended the day on 90 for two with opener Finn Jones unbeaten on 47.
Cornwall dominated the first day at Ebbw Vale where they put Wales NC in, bowled them out for 129 and then reached 298 for four for by the close.
Cornwall’s new ball pair of Will MacVicar shared eight wickets to help dismiss Wales inside 44 overs, then Alex Blake and Alfie Macdonald shared a third wicket partnership of 149 which gave them the lead.
Former Kent batter Blake made the fourth Championship century of his career with Macdonald continuing his excellent recent form with 61.
MacVicar completed a good day’s work with a quick unbeaten half-century to help Cornwall build a lead of 169 with power to add in the remaining 28 overs of their first innings.
NCCA Cluberly Championship
First day of three
Eastern Division One
Chesham: Buckinghamshire 205 (Ewan Cox 66), Suffolk 123-8 (Tom Weymes 4-15).
Sawston: Northumberland 420-8 (John Oswell 177, Jonny Bushnell 53, Oli McGee 50 not out), Cambridgeshire 52-0.
Western Division One
Blundell’s School: Devon 342 Callum Harvey 68 not out, Seb Linnitt 65, Sam Elstone 48, James Matravers 43, Euan Woods 4-63), Berkshire 69-1.
Corsham: Wiltshire 123 (Jack Mynott 41, Max Mannering 6-17) Oxfordshire 266-6 (Freddie Smith 89 not out, Luke Hayes 62).
Eastern Division Two
Dunstable: Bedfordshire 178 (Matt Taylor 55), Lincolnshire 130-1 (Nic Keast 67 not out, Sam Evans 58 not out).
Sprowston: Cumbria 172 Calum Rowe 43, Hamidullah Qadri 4-37), Norfolk 136-2 (Sam Arthurton 54).
Western Division Two
Nantwich: Cheshire 222 (Dan Wilson 57, David Wainwright 54, Roman Walker 7-41), Shropshire 90-2 (Finn Jones 47 not out).
Vale: Wales NC 129 (Will MacVicar 4-45, Ben Ellis 4-60), Cornwall 298-4 (Alex Blake 102, Will MacVicar 64 not out, Alfie Macdonald 61).
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