Brackley I posted their third successive win in a hard fought Cherwell League encounter against Sandford St Martins last Saturday.
Winning the toss, skipper Keith Cartwright asked the opposition to bat on a sweltering day knowing it would be a hard task for the bowlers.

Sandford got off to a steady start and at 32 after 16 overs the game was in the balance. Cartwright bowled a steady spell of 4-40 off 20 overs and with good support from young offspinners Jamie Fowler with 2-25 and debutant Matt Lowe, 1-24, they kept the innings quiet.

Young Rob Cartwright's 1-24 off 12 overs bowling at the end meant Sandford finished on 168.

Brackley's start was good as they raced to 51 but Paul Ryan, 17, and Eric Carpenter, 35, fell quickly and the innings was then cut short as the rain fell.

On the re-start it meant Brackley needed 100 off 14 overs to win and they set about the task as firstly Mikey Cartwright, 33, and Dave Barnes, 22 not out, supported the excellent Lee Haughton who completed his maiden first XI half century.

He finished on 57 not out to take Brackley home with an over to spare.
Skipper Cartwright was happy afterwards, commenting: "It was a great win with the bowlers and fielders excelling on a hot day and the batsmen really showing that they now have the confidence to chase a total down."

Brackley are at home to Bourton Vale this Saturday (July 4) hoping to keep up their good form.

Brackley II failed to beat Leighton Buzzard II on Saturday.
Leighton batted first, amassing a 249-6 due to a combination of high quality batting and sloppy bowling and fielding. Brackley were never able to reach the required total but did bat bravely to reach 225 all out.

Harry Brooker and Jim Hollyoake scored 47 and 43 respectively while others chipped in.

They were eventually bowled out in the final over, just missing out on a draw.