11:00am Friday 30th July 2010
Chris Sandbach has been given a ringing endorsement by captain Jason Harrison as he returns for Oxford’s Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 top-of-the-table clash at Henley tomorrow.
Sandbach, who had been opening for Oxfordshire earlier this season, has been plying his trade in Oxford’s 2nd XI in recent weeks.
But now he has earned a recall, and Harrison said: “His attitude when he has been in the second team has been absolutely first-class.
“It’s people like him we want around the club.”
Leg-spinner Shamilal Mendis is unavailable, but Oxfordshire seamer Richard Gilbert returns to the 12 following his Achilles tendon injury.
Harrison believes the outcome of the clash will hinge on who rises to the occasion. “I think it will be a very close encounter, and it will be about whoever wins those two or three big moments in the game,” he added.
Banbury are unchanged for their match at home to lowly High Wycombe.
Despite scoring 309-7 last week, Banbury had to settle for a draw at Aston Rowant.
“It was frustrating, but it was a flat track,” said Banbury skipper Ian Hawtin.
“Wycombe have just recruited former Derbyshire and Notts seamer Andy Harris, so it won't be an easy game.”
Aston Rowant’s fight for survival sees them entertain Tring Park.
Thame Town are boosted by the return of Michael Higgs, Michael Beard and Will Rooney following their tour to Barbados with Lord Will-iams’s School for the Division 2 West home game against Falkland.
Higgs will captain the side in the continued absence of Sam Lachlan.
TOMORROW’S TEAMS
Oxford (v Henley, away): from Harrison (capt), Sandbach, van Dyk, Laudat, Ferraby, Perkin, Crosby, Hole, I Evans, P Evans, Gilbert, Barrett.
Banbury (v High Wycombe, home): Shirazi, Sabin, Haupt, Hawkes, West, Tew, Hawtin (capt), Ryan, Blanchard, Guthridge, J Phillips.
Thame Tn (v Falkland, home): Beard, P Patel, Bhatti, Higgs (capt), Parma, S Patel, N Patel, Jeffcock, Goggs, Wynd, Rooney.
OXFORD are through to the Cockspur Cup Twenty20 area final at Bishops Stortford on Sunday, August 9 following a two-run victory over Aston Rowant.
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