Under 15

THERE was plenty of drama as Oxfordshire hosted the inaugural Oxford Under 15 Festival at Magdalen College School.

Oxon lost a nailbiter to Gloucestershire by three runs and pipped Hertfordshire by one wicket with a ball to spare.

In between, they put in a poor display to lose to Cambridge-shire by five wickets, while their final game against Buckinghamshire was abandoned due to rain.

Gloucs amassed a huge 285-6 from their 50 overs, with only leg-spinner Dan Todd (2-30) stemming the tide.

Oxon opener Dan Matthews led the way in their reply with 88 and the hosts needed 100 from the final ten overs.

Will Sutcliffe smashed seven fours and two sixes in a rapid 54, but Oxon closed on 282-9.

Skipper Andy Tolson (65) and Dom O’Connor (46) were the mainstays of Oxon’s 218-8 against Cambridgeshire.

But Andy Russell’s 94 and some lacklustre bowling took Cambs to 222-5 with more than three overs to spare.

Spinner Christian Hollingworth’s miserly 2-14 off ten overs helped restrict Herts to 183-9, Lawrence Brock claiming 2-53.

Captain Angus Spittles (75no) kept calm as wickets fell in reply and took Oxfordshire to 186-9 with a boundary off the penultimate ball.

Oxon play their final ECB County Cup group game in Cornwall on Sunday, having already secured a semi-final spot away to Herts at Bishops Stortford on August 14.

The festival was organised by senior Oxon players Luke Wright and David Smith.

Oxon under 15s manager Neil Megson said: “It worked really well, so we hope to expand it in years to come.

“There are no big tours for under 15s, so we thought we have the grounds at MCS and the Oxford colleges for accommodation, let’s go for it.”