Goffe goes nap as Sandford get the better of Cropredy

Cropredy batsmen Russell Beckett gets a fine edge as Si Hussain looks on at Sandford St Martin

Sandford won Saturday’s division two fixture by five wickets at Ledwell Road where Cropredy elected to bat.

Thanks to the combination of some poor catching by the hosts and batsmen riding their luck, it looked a wise decision at 158-1 with Russell Becket 58 and Saim Hussain 60 making good progress.

That was until the introduction of part-time bowler Goffe 5-16 and regular stalwart Simon Smith 3-25 as they skittled the visitors out for 178 as Cropredy lost nine wickets for 20 runs.

As in recent weeks, the hosts made relatively light work of reaching the total with Henry Portman 75 and veteran batsmen Mark Robey 47no knocking the runs off in the 41st over for the loss of five wickets.

Great & Little Tew II gifted Wolverton their first victory of the season.

Electing to field, Tew failed to make early inroads as Chris King 34 and Atif Akhlaq for Wolverton’s first wicket. Akhlaq went on to make 85 and, with Jamil Raja 30 and Idress Butt 30no both chipping in, several dropped catches and poor fielding saw Wolverton post 238-9 from their 53 overs.

Jack Belmont 3-68 and Ian Bryan 4-61 were the pick of the Tew bowlers.

In reply, Robbie Catling 32 and Josh Garrett 33 added 55 for Tew’s first wicket in 12 overs.

But when both departed the rest of the Tew batting line-up failed to apply themselves and they were dismissed for 128 in the 36th over. Zaheer Khan 3-41 and Wasim Fayaz 3-21 did the damage.

Banbury II beat Aston Rowant II by five wickets in division one.

Aston Rowant were dismissed for 129 runs in which Hendrick Robyns 45 top scored while Alexander Shortt took 3-19 and Olly Clarke took 3-23.

In reply, Clarke 49no saw Banbury home in the 28th over.

Horley lost by seven wickets against Didcot in division three.

Adam Webb 57, Jamie Abbotts 44 and Dave Eaton 30 top scored as Horley were dismissed for 168 runs while Aiden Kammel took 4-48.

In reply, Ian Demain 54, Simon Pritchard 31 led Didcot home in the 34th over.

Banbury III lost by eight wickets against Cublington.

Finn Brabham 63no and George Tait 37 top scored as Banbury were dismissed for 196 runs as Ollie Fairhurst took 4-41.

In reply, Stuart Bridgen 114no and Kit Gordon-Stuart 60 led the way for Cublington who got home in the 25th over.