MP Sports Cherwell League

Graham Scott's Match of the Day

WITNEY Mills and Bicester & North Oxford showed that drawn matches can be exciting and are worth preserving as their Division 3 clash came to a tense conclusion on Saturday.

The match would have been all over had the draw not been an option when Bicester were reduced to just 80-9 in reply to Mills’ 197-7.

But stoic innings from Michael Fisher, who faced 65 balls, and skipper Steve Conway, who survived 77 deliveries, deprived Witney their second win of the season.

Conway offered up one chance, but Richard Tilley dropped a tough one at mid-off with the score on 85.

The result was tough on Mills’ left-arm seamer Pierre Lefort, who took five wickets, all of them bowled.

Earlier Will Sterio had laid the platform for the home side to post a large score before a clatter of wickets saw them tumble from 106-1 to 125-5.

Richard Simpson did much of the damage, exercising great control and extracting some turn with his leg-spin.

Tilley then steadied the ship before Sri Lankan all-rounder Chaminda Wimalarathna struck some lusty blows to lift Mills to 197-7.

Witney Mills 18pts, Bicester & North Oxford 4