Ladies XI - The magnificent 8 fall just short

In a great advert for commitment, effort and team spirit, Horton ladies put up an amazing fight with only 8 players against a full strength Oxford CC side on a beautiful day in the university city, falling just short of the target.

With the opposition deciding to bat first, the lack of numbers in the field did not deter the team with some energetic and notable fielding performances limiting the hosts to a score of 183 all out after 39 overs and in the process securing 4 bonus points. The wickets were shared across 5 bowlers, highlighting the team effort, with Honor Austin returning figures of 3-24 off 9 overs, Simone Marais 3-46 and Amelia Ridgeway 2-38 the pick. Freya Humphrey, Danielle Brockwell and Simone Marais weighed in with the other wickets. Horton were lively in the field with an energetic and accomplished wicket keeping performance from Karrine Van Rooyen and a dependable showing from Andrea Barnett performances that caught the eye.

Openers Danielle and Simone gave a good foundation to the Horton reply putting on 41 before the first wicket fell with Danielle eventually out for a creditable 31. Katie Taylor came in at three in her first game of the season and scored a very impressive 54, made up of some excellent boundaries and shot selections. Karrine then moved the score on further hitting a highly respectable 40 not out and with the visitors needing 22 off 17 balls a victory looked like a great possibility. Sadly it wasn’t to be and Horton ladies fell 14 runs short – not forgetting the visitors batted with 8 in the squad for the full 45 overs.

Pushing the opposition so close was a credit to the team that has an amazing spirit and the game was a great advert for ladies cricket. On to Charlbury next Sunday.