A weakened Banbury team took on the Oxon Twenty20 champions, Oxford at White Post Raod last night, in a game which turned out to be a thriller.
Banbury won the toss, an elected to field. Richard Brooks and Olly Murrey opened the attack which was a tough task, due to the flat wicket and fieling restrictions. The first 5 overs went well for Banbury with Oxford only going at a run a ball. And with some safer hands at deep mid on, the dangerous Ferraby would of gone.
Oxford then kicked on, when Ferraby hit the last over of the powerplay for 17. But some good bowling meant they never got away, and finished posting a good total of 166-3.
In reply, Ashley Blanchard and Simon Hole took the attack to the bowlers, and made 66 in the powerplay. (18 more than oxford) The introduction of spin then slowed the scoring, as J Porter, F Vanker and S Mendis all bowled with control.
Hole was first to go, getting run out for 19. Shabba and Blanch then put on 26 for the 2nd wicket, before Shabba was also run out for 13. This left Banbury needing 66 off the last 8 overs.
The next 3 overs then saw 3 wickets fall for only 17 runs. One of these was Blanch who was bowled for an excellent 45. Needing 49 off the last 5 overs, some big hitting was needed, and Beck took a Mendis over for 13, but was then run out for 17 the next over.
This left Banbury struggling needing 33 off the last 3 overs. But, Oxford had bowled there overs slowly, (partly due to the 11 wides which gave away 23 runs) ans had to complete there last 3 overs in 5 minutes. They failed to finish the first of these in time, so at the end of the 18th over, Banbury were on 141. Pete Tomlin then signaled for 12 penalty runs to be added as two overs were not bowled in time. This then left a target of 14 not 26 off the last 2.
Board was run out off the 2nd ball of the over, so the final pair of Manley and Megson were at the crease, With some tip and run cricket, and a wide, they managed 6 off the over.
This left 8 to win off the last. Megson took a sharpe single iff the first ball, (god knows how he made it home!) Manley played and missed at the second, but nudged a single off the 3rd.
With 6 to win off 3 balls it was down to Megson to find the boundry. And he did this with his trade mark slog over mid-wicket. (Everyone in the ground knew where it was going except Crosby, the Oxford captain)
With 2 to win off the last 2 balls, Megson once again went for the boundry, and guided one down to 3rd man for 4!! (Maybe it was a top edge over the keeper)
Megson the HERO. Another story for the bar for years to come.
Well played boys.