Falkland Cricket Club set highest score of season to smash Bicester and North Oxford in Home Counties Cricket League

Falkland Cricket Club cruised to their biggest win of the season on Saturday.

Bicester & North Oxford came to visit, winning the toss and choosing to field first.

Opener Brandon Gilmour didn’t last long for Falkland, managing four from four deliveries before being caught by Liam Randall.

His opening partner enjoyed a far more fruitful afternoon however, as captain James Bird batted through an hour and forty minutes on his way to 61.

Bird hit eleven fours to boost his side’s score, before he was caught and bowled by Samuel Payne.

Bird was accompanied for much of his innings by Richard Morris, who managed a handy 31 from 45 balls before being dismissed LBW.

It was teenage batsman Seb Chapman who rose to the occasion in the middle order, arriving at six to take Falkland’s innings to a different level.

He struck 64 from 71 balls, accompanied by Chris Baker, who hit a run-a-ball 62 and finished not out.

These efforts saw Falkland finish 295-8 at the end of 50 overs, their highest scoring innings of the season.

Bicester had it all to do and they got off to a slow start in response.

Mark Otley, Ben Armstrong and Elliot Seddon all took early wickets to reduce the visitors to 44-3.

Ryan Moore’s contribution of 24 was cut short by Bobby Brown, who took his wicket on the way to figures of 4-28.

Daniel Savin high-scored with 33 from 33, but any hopes of salvaging a win had long since disappeared.

Bicester were bowled out for 147 within 40 overs, handing Falkland a 148 run win and a 20 point haul.

They sit seventh in the ten-team Division Two, with two wins at home and two losses on the road.

A trip to fourth place Oxford awaits on Saturday.