CRICKET: Phillips is all-round star (From Herald Series)

CRICKET: Phillips is all-round star

6:14pm Wednesday 20th May 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

Jimmy Phillips was the toast of his Challow & Childrey teammates after a stunning all-round display – but he escaped without buying the drinks, writes Ed Mezzetti.

The 19-year-old all-rounder scored 120 and took 7-14 in 10.5 overs as Challow thrashed Long Marston by 169 runs in Division 2 of The Oxford Times Cherwell League.

First Phillips smashed a brilliant century, and with Steve Burry (50no), he enabled the home side to post an imposing 255-7.

Then Phillips sent Long Marston crashing to 86 with his leg-spin Traditionally players who score a century or take five wickets are expected to buy a round or at least a jug in the bar afterwards.

Phillips said: “I got away with it because I was driving.

“It’s definitely my best all-round performance.

“It’s the highlight of my career so far. I felt pretty good.

“We played against the same team two weeks ago and they hammered us by nine wickets.”

Having scored a ton, many players would have been happy to take a back seat in the field.

But Phillips felt he still had plenty to give with his leg spin. He said: “I normally bowl quite a few overs and it was a good wicket for me to bowl on.”

Phillips played for Oxfordshire Development XI last summer and more performances like this will surely alert the senior selectors.

He said: “I have played through all the age groups for Oxfordshire and I had trials with Northants this winter.

“My target is to see how far I can get.”

l Challow & Childrey 25pts, Long Marston 3.

Left-arm spinner Paul White took 6-71 for Abingdon Vale, but two hours later was last man out as Vale were dismissed for 126 by Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts.

Andrew Buckingham top-scored with 42 in Nondies' 202-9, before spinner Mark Strong, took 3-45 as Vale's Ed Tilley (32no) ran out of partners.

l Abingdon Vale 5, Oxford & Bletchingdon 25.

• Print
• Email
• Share