OXFORDSHIRE booked their place in the final of the ECB Royal London Under 17 Cup with a thrilling one-run victory off the last ball of their semi-final with Leicestershire at Oxford Downs.
A Will Hawtin stumping, with Leicestershire requiring just one for victory, sent Oxon through to the final, where they will meet Cornwall at Kibworth on Sunday, August 21.
Oxon made 203 all out from 49.1 overs after winning the toss on a dry pitch.
Olly Clarke was top-scorer with a patient 39, while Ben Charlesworth hit 32 and Archie Spittles a quickfire 24 down the order.
Oxon under 15 player Alex Chapman took three wickets in an over to reduce the visitors to 18-3.
But Leicestershire opener Sam Woolstenholme and Ashish Trusz then shared 108 for the fourth wicket.
The turning point came when he was run out, courtesy of a brilliant bit of fielding from Asad Rafiq.
Trusz fell almost immediately, and although David Nightingale added 35 not out, Leicestershire still needed seven to win off the final over.
A misfield,which saw a ball trickle over the boundary, left the visitors needing one run off the last ball for victory, due to their having lost fewer wickets.
But leg-spinner Jamie Curtis turned the ball past Badhal Kunti’s bat, allowing Hawtin to take the stumping and secure the most thrilling of victories.
Scores: Oxfordshire 203 (49.1 ovs, O Clarke 39, B Charlesworth 32), Leicestershire 202 (50 ovs, S Woolstenholme 63, A Chapman 3-19).
A century from Ben Charlesworth could not prevent Oxfordshire Under 15s losing by 36 runs to Gloucestershire in Group 4A of the ECB County Cup at Dymock.
The hosts recovered from 150-7 to reach 268-7.
Oxon seemed on course for victory when Charlesworth (103) and Ollie Price (60) put on 140 for the third wicket, but they could only finish on 232-8.
A fine spell from Ben Porter gave Oxfordshire Under 14s a 41-run win over Cornwall in their ECB County Cup Group 3 match at Wadebridge.
Gus Miller (50) and James Coombs (67) helped Oxon post 217 all out in the 49th over, before Porter took 5-34 in his ten overs to restrict the home side to 176.
Oxfordshire Under 10s enjoyed a successful Malvern Festival with two wins out of three.
They started with a record 170-run victory over Norfolk.
Dylan Driscoll’s maiden century – an age group record of 135 from just 103 balls, with three sixes and 17 fours – helped Oxon reach 270-5, before spinner Kalan Niyarepola (3-12) helped restrict Norfolk to 100.
Next day, Jacob Townsend (54) hit a 28-ball half-century and Driscoll contributed 48 from 29 balls as Oxon made 215 against Worcestershire, who were bowled out for 106.
Oxon’s winning run was ended on the third day by Warwickshire, who dismissed them for just 106 and recorded a six-wicket win.
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