The return of Dorchester (H) – Cherwell League Div 6C

With this hotly anticipated return fixture looming, there were quiet murmurings about how many points we needed, and was it even possible for a 26-0 points swing. Equally, the rumours that Dorch were without some of their players only heightened the excitement.   In the background of all of this, Harvester: silver fox, The Tron, Harvey and Mabbs: Moobalicious, Green Giant, Mabbett were both tied on wickets for the bowling award. Both were smiling when skip won the toss and chose to bowl, but the rivalry was there for all to see.   Mabbs started off by dismissing Rudling for…continue reading →

The IC-eman Cometh – Cherwell League Div 6C – Thame Town III (A)

A big Saturday dawned for Wantage which saw us travel to promotion rivals Thame Town III knowing it was a ‘winner goes up’ affair, with the possible outside chance of a league winners play-off for us if Dorchester’s result at home to Aston Rowant went our way. An early start was the order of the day, with one of our longer trips of the year, and giving ourselves plenty of time was, in the end, necessary, as confusion reigned over where we were supposed to park. Spenny, IC and Chief had a scenic…continue reading →

Marcham (H) – Cherwell League Div 6C

There was not a lot of optimism of getting a game in when arriving at the ground. Anyone who had looked at a weather app the day before would have seen 6 hours of 100% rain from 12:00 onwards. However overnight that prognosis had changed, and we expected some rain about 13:00 and then fairly clear after that. Marcham won the toss and WGCC were inserted, it immediately decided to rain, so the players all retreated into the clubhouse to watch the early kick-off in the Premier League. Liverpool Vs Burnley was showing…continue reading →

West Ilsley (A) – Cherwell League Div 6C

On the back of an extremely frustrating result against Steventon the previous week (for those interested, Colin’s ‘full’ match report covers all of the gruesome details), it was very much a case of Wantage needing to bounce back well to remain well placed for promotion heading into the home stretch of the season. This week saw us travelling not too far away to West Ilsley, where we hoped for improved fortunes on a pitch that looks like it would offer a bit of something for everyone.  There was some handing out of new Wantage kit prior to the…continue reading →

Aston Rowant (A) – Cherwell League Div 6C

Wantage descended on the picturesque settings of Aston Rowant in good spirits. The Weather forecast was not great, but so far, so good. The sight of some high-quality Home Counties cricket on the 1st pitch between Aston Rowant 1s and Thame inspired the Wantage players as they made their way over to the 2nd pitch. Skipper Dave lost the toss in conditions that the Wantage bowlers were eager to bowl in, and were duly sent in to bat. As expected, it was tough going for the batters as the accurate young Aston Rowant…continue reading →

Dorchester (A) – Cherwell League Div 6C

Morning everyone, and welcome to the match report for what turned out to be a quite remarkable game for terrible Australian accents, equally awful northern accents, and some truly average cricket.   We turned up…well some of us turned up on time, only for the ground to be locked. After a little time, the gate was unlocked and people started to roll in. When all was set, Skip (the less tattooed Summersbee…that we know of anyway) actually won the toss, and with the threat of rain, confidence from last week…aaaaaand the football to get back for, he elected to put Dorchester…continue reading →

Thame 3rd XI (H) – Cherwell League Div 6C

On the back of a good string of results, the omens were good for another excellent day of cricket as Wantage arrived to face Thame; the overnight rain had cleared leaving a fine day, the pitch was in tremendous shape, and the Wantage team were through the first set of Les-approved warm-ups before the toss had even taken place. Skip then managed to win the aforementioned toss for once – electing to bat and asking the top order to get a score on the board.  A slight re-jig meant that Rob and Colin strode out to start the innings, Rob managing to just about arrive before the start of the game…continue reading →

Wantage March on at Marcham – Cherwell Div 6C – Marcham (A)

A grey day came to an early end on the outskirts of Abingdon on the 19th June to the tune of Gala’s Freed From Desire: the World Test Championship final may have being played in the Southampton gloom; Germany may well have been taking Portugal apart at the Euros; but there was a little slice of Wantage’s own history being made in Marcham as they bullied the opposition into a considerable defeat, among good performances from a number of batsmen and some stellar opening bowling, backed up by a near-faultless fielding performance. Early…continue reading →

West Ilsley (H) – Cherwell League Div 6C

In runs Harvey, to bowl what would be the last ball of the game, he delivers, the batsman pushes forward, it’s edged and… more on that later. 7 hours earlier With the weather set fair and the strip looking newer than a test match pitch in Bristol we were all set to take on West Ilsley in what would be the first win-lose-draw game for Wantage CC. The straw coloured wicket, and the sun blaring, made us all think it was a no-brainer to bat first. Not something our skipper had to worry…continue reading →

Clifton Hampden (H) – Cherwell League Div 6C

After having the previous week’s fixture abandoned after the home of cricket had seen a considerable amount of rain, we arrived to play Clifton Hampden on what was a glorious day and with a fine pitch, which appeared to have a little bit of something for everyone. We’ve had plenty of games against Clifton in recent years, some good performances and some very bad, but often entertaining. This was to be no exception.  Bat or bowl first, it was a big call. Thankfully skip was spared making the (inevitable) wrong choice by losing toss, and Clifton…continue reading →