Home Counties Premier League: Pat Jobson made a stunning return to first-team action with a splendid unbeaten century to steer Oxford to a six-wicket win at Division 1 leaders Radlett on Saturday.
Jobson, who has been unavailable for the last four weeks, made the most of the chance to open the batting with an undefeated 104 off 140 balls, steering Oxford to victory at 215-4 with 2.4 overs to spare.
His chanceless century included 15 fours and one huge straight six, which took him to 99.
Jobson shared in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 109 with the in-form Adam Cook, who made 59 not out off 83 balls - his third half century of the season.
But if Jobson and Cook starred with the bat, there was little doubt who was Oxford's bowling hero, skipper Rupert Evans returning superb figures of 5-53 from 27 overs.
Openers Nick Fielden and Nick Hampton got Radlett off to a solid start after Evans won the toss and inserted the Hertfordshire side.
But Evans's introduction into the attack turned the game Oxford's way.
The veteran off-spinner made the breakthrough with the score on 57 by having Hampton caught at slip by Jobson.
Bowling in tandem with fellow off-spinner Cook, who picked up two wickets, Evans gradually worked his way through the order.
Johnny Nambiar then produced a terrific piece of fielding of his own bowling to run out Haydn Smith at the non-striker's end, before Evans ended Fielden's long vigil for 79, with a smart stumping by Ross Buchanan.
When the close came, former Zimbabwean captain Dave Houghton was undefeated on 30 with Radlett 214-9 - a total which was to prove well within Oxford's reach.
RADLETT
N Fielden st Buchanan b R Evans...79
N Hampton c Jobson b R Evans...31
G Dill lbw Evans...10
M Evans c Laudat b Cook...6
T Pickett lbw Cook...1
H Smith run out...31
D Houghton not out...30
J Smithers lbw R Evans...7
K Marc c Laudat b R Evans...3
S Jackson c Jobson b Nambiar...1
D Hanson not out...0
Extras...15
Total (9 wkts, 66 ov)...214
Fall: 1-57, 2-71, 3-94, 4-102, 5-171, 6-176, 7-198, 8-206, 9-212.
Bowling: Laudat 6-1-17-0, Shahbaz Ali 10-1-31-0, R Evans 27-7-53-5, Cook 13-1-40-2, I Evans 3-0-15-0, Nambiar 7-0-44-1.
OXFORD
J Nambiar lbw Marc...19
P Jobson not out...104
S Laudat c Hanson b Marc...13
R Eason c Smith b Marc...0
Shahbaz Ali c Jackson b Smith...0
A Cook not out...59
Extras...20
Total (4 wkts, 51.2 ov)...215
Fall: 1-42. 2-55, 3-103, 4-106.
Bowling: Smith 14-3-44-1, Houghton 3-0-11-0, Dill 9-1-39-0, Marc 15-3-59-3, Jackson 7.2-1-26-0, Evans 3-0-23-0.
Radlett 6pts, Oxford 25
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