OXENFORD 2nd squeezed into the Steve Dixon Memorial Cup final in a thrilling finish to their incident-packed semi-final at Hook Norton.
The visitors got through by losing fewer wickets in a tie, while Hooky were left to rue a rare obstructed the field dismissal.g.
Tim Hamp (30) and Simon Thwaite (25no) led Oxenford’s recovery from 71-6 to 138-9, while Max Harris picked up 4-34 for Hooky.
Skipper Richard Rowley’s remarkablespell of 12-3-10-2 brought Oxenford back into the game.
Adam Bennett was batting well until he retired hurt due to cramp.
He returned to the crease later with a runner, who was adjudged to have obstructed the field when attempting a run, to dismiss Bennett for 31.
An excellent 31 not out from No 9 Richard Knight looked to have won the game for Hooky.
However, he lost the strike with the scores level with two balls to go.
Incredibly, Waqas Mir (3-49) dismissed Nos 10 and 11 in successive balls to leave the match tied, Oxenford progressing by virtue of having lost fewer wickets.
In the other semi-final, Mark Westerby’s unbeaten century gave Combe a six-wicket win at Great Horwood 2nd.
Horwood posted 159-9, Simon Ridgway hitting 49 and Mike Eeley taking 5-31.
Westerby then struck a magnificent 106 not out to steer Combe to 161-4.
In one of a handful of results in Saturday’s league action, Yarnton & Cowley beat hosts Wolvercote by 27 runs in Division 1.
Yarnton posted 142-8, Waseem Azad hitting 36 not out and Mohammed Shafqat taking 3-26.
Wolvercote were restricted to 115-9 in reply, Doug Holden hitting 32.
Uffington edged past visitors Swinbrook by one wicket in Division 4.
Swinbrook were shot out for 93, as Peter Jones and Adam Shorten both took 3-36.
Callum Dadge then claimed 5-16 for Swinbrook. But Uffington sneaked home at 94-9.
Radley beat visitors Great Horwood 2nd by seven runs.
Radley set 125-8 in a rain-reduced match, Bashrat Rana hitting 30 and Peter McHenry taking 4-24.
Awais Rana them claimed 3-18 as Horwood were restricted to 118-6 in reply.
Oxenford 2nd thrashed Kidlington 2nd by nine wickets in Division 6.
Kidlington posted 86-5 in a tricky 25 overs, before Oxenford raced to 87-1, Rafiullah Kakar scoring 30 not out.
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