Cherwell League

Graham Scott's Match of the Day

GREAT & Little Tew will have to maintain their challenge for the Division 1 title without their skipper Andy Harris.

The bowler (pictured) dislocated his collarbone while fielding in Tew’s Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup defeat to Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts on Friday evening.

It meant he missed their match at Oxford Downs on Saturday and will not feature again this summer.

He had already sat out a month earlier in the season when he injured his other shoulder.

His replacement at Downs, slow left-armer Ian Bryan, proved an ideal choice as he claimed 4-55 to restrict the hosts to 211-9 from their 53 overs.

Put in to bat, Downs failed to capitalise on the good start they received from openers Will Watts (55) and Wes Bartlett (40), who added 94, with wickets falling at regular intervals thereafter.

A second-wicket partnership worth 89 between Harry Smith (56) and Ed Gross (44) set up Tew’s well-timed run chase, which ended with seven balls to spare after all their top five made useful contributions.

Downs’ title chances are now over mathematically, but Tew’s are very much alive as they know that three wins from their remaining matches could be enough if leaders Horspath slip up.

Harris is due to have an operation this week, so he will have to watch from the sidelines.

Oxford Downs 9pts, Great & Little Tew 25

REMAINING FIXTURES

Horspath: Bletchley Town (h), Oxford Downs (a), Cumnor (h).

Tew: Buckingham Town (a), Great Brickhill (h), Banbury 2nd (a).