Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League - Division 1
Oxford face what could be one of their easier matches on Saturday – at home to a newly-promoted Farnham Royal side deprived of their star man.
But even though Farnham are without star Jamaican all-rounder Krishmar Santokie this season, Oxford captain Jason Harrison is far from complacent.
“Farnham Royal have proved they are a good team because they bounced straight back after being relegated,” said Harrison “We have got to be professional and go about the game in a similar way to last Saturday.”
Spinner Francois Vainker comes into the squad for Ian Evans as the only change from last week’s draw at Welwyn Garden City – a display Harrison was largely pleased with.
He said: “Maybe our fielding wasn’t as good as it could have been, but our batting was solid and so was our bowling.”
One blot on Oxford’s card, however, was the point they had deducted for a slow over-rate despite spinner Rupert Evans bowling 20 overs.
Harrison said: “A lot of balls were lost. Unfortunately the rules say that time is only added on if balls are lost for more than five minutes.
“It was a bit frustrating. We try and avoid things like that and pride ourselves on keeping the rules.
“It was a time when it looks bad, but it was not.”
Banbury are unchanged for their trip to Radlett, with skipper Ian Hawtin keen to build on a positive draw at home to Wyc-ombe.
That featured 91 from Andrew Sabin and 60 from Craig Haupt, plus an impressive all-round league debut from Kiwi Ant Bullick.
“We wanted to get off to a positive start, particularly with the bat,” said Hawtin.
“The game gave the guys a lot of confidence.
“Wycombe are a good side, but we were the better side on the day.”
Hawtin added that he had no regrets about not declaring.
“Being the first game, we wanted to make sure we got as many points as possible,” he said.
Oxford (v Farnham Royal, home): from Sandbach, Harrison (capt), Laudat, Ferraby, Sharma, Charlesworth, Hole, Vainker, Smith, Crosby, R Evans, Hutcheson.
Banbury (v Radlett, away): Sabin, Tew, Haupt, Hole, Shahbaz Ali, Bullick, Ryan, Hawtin (capt), E Smith, Jamil Faruq, Phillips.
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