Oxfordshire captain Ian Hawtin admits he was lucky to escape serious injury after being hit on the neck while backing up.

Hawtin suffered the bizarre blow as Daniel Rowe smashed Oxon to a dramatic two-wicket victory over Cheshire in Sunday’s MCCA Trophy clash.

But he said there had been no long-term damage.

“Their spinner, Nathan Dumelow, bowled a short ball and Daniel Rowe absolutely smashed it back at me,” said Hawtin.

“I saw him hit it and then it just hit me on the neck, just to the side of my throat.

“I was quite lucky because if it had hit me on the head or throat, I would have been struggling.”

Hawtin added: “It was a fantastic win. We chased 285 with no one getting 50, which was remarkable.”

East Oxford have applied to join The Oxford Times Cherwell League.

The rapidly progressing club are favourites to win OCA Division 1 this season.