CRICKET: Eynsham no match for ruthless Hooky

10:14am Wednesday 30th August 2006

Eynsham gave a good account of themselves, but found Division 1 outfit Hook Norton too strong in the Airey Cup final on Monday.

Eynsham, already relegated from Division 2 this season, were always going to be the underdogs in this encounter at Charlbury, and so it proved, despite posting a useful total on a damp wicket.

Hook Norton captain Simon Richards won an important toss, and on a cold and blustery day, had no hesitation in asking Eynsham to bat.

But although openers Mark Butler and Sam Jones put on 60 for the first wicket, Eynsham struggled to get the ball away in tricky conditions.

Butler fell one short of a half-century, but the pace of his innings, facing 111 balls, put Eynsham on the back foot and after his dismissal, wickets tumbled at regular intervals as they were bowled out for 158.

Although Eynsham's opening attack of Dave Harris and Hassan Mohsin generated pace and movement off the seam, Richards and opening partner Melvyn Riley mastered the conditions before tucking in.

Riley motored to a run-a-ball 30 before being caught and bowled by Umair Ghozahli, but that only brought Tim Lunel to the crease, who crashed in unbeaten 58 off just 70 balls.

With man-of-the-match Richards finishing unbeaten on 65, including nine boundaries and a six, Hooky eased to victory with 12 overs to spare.

In league action on Saturday, already-relegated Witney Swifts lost by one wicket at Horley in Division 1.

Swifts posted 175-9, but 67 from Sam Smith got Horley home at 176-9.

In Division 2, Freeland slipped to a 13-run defeat at Faringdon.

Chasing 153 for victory, Freeland were bowled out for 140.

Eynsham recorded their first league victory of the season with a seven-wicket triumph at Watlington.

Struggling Combe were thrashed by eight wickets by East & West Hendred in Division 3.

Combe collapsed from 43-0 to 90 all out, then Jon Francis (36) led Hendred's reply as they cruised in.

Swinbrook secured their Division 5 status with a 12-run victory over Hailey.

They posted only 133-9, but Simon Gibbs (3-16) and Alex Snow (3-17) helped to dismiss Hailey for 121.

In Division 6, Minster Lovell 2nd kept up their promotion push with a resounding eight-wicket win over Risinghurst, but Stanton Harcourt could not do their west Oxfordshire neighbours a favour as they lost to title-chasing East Oxford 2nd by 86 runs.

Elsewhere, Chadlington's challenge appears over as they lost their third league game in a row, going down by 88 runs at Cassington.

Eynsham 2nd won their relegation battle with Chipping Norton by eight wickets.

Murray Sutton took 5-38 as Chippy were skittled for 81, then Andy Rigby (30no) led Eynsham home.

In Division 7, Freeland 2nd were confirmed as champions after their 14-run victory over West Ilsley 2nd.

Mike Tinson (35) helped Freeland to 160-7, then Ben Godwin claimed 3-46 as Ilsley were bowled out for 146.

Minster Lovell 3rd confirmed their Division 8 status with a five-wicket win at Kennington, while in Division 10, Witney Swifts 2nd's walkover victory against Hanney 2nd confirmed the second promotion spot.

* Stonesfield lost their grip on the Telegraph Cup as they were soundly-beaten by East Oxford in Sunday's final.

Batting first, holders Stonesfield were no match for the pace and swing of man-of-the-match Abdullah Shehab (5-24) as they were shot out for just 78.

In reply, East Oxford cruised home in just 19.4 overs, Sarfraz Hussain finishing unbeaten on 35.