CRICKET: Ayaz's perfect ten destroys Downs (From Bicester Advertiser)

CRICKET: Ayaz's perfect ten destroys Downs

4:40pm Friday 15th June 2012 in Cricket By Russell Smith, Sports reporter specialising in horse racing. Call me on 01865 425453

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts cricketer Ayaz Khan has joined a select band to take all ten opposition wickets in a Cherwell League match.

The 25-year-old seamer achieved every bowler’s dream by returning the stunning figures of 10-35 in Nondescripts’ thrilling four-run victory over Oxford Downs in Division 1 at Standlake on Saturday.

“It was a great day,” said Ayaz. “I really enjoyed it. I just think it was my day. The rhythm was there and it was just swinging for me.”

Ayaz is only the fourth bowler in Cherwell League history to have taken all ten wickets in a match – and the first from Oxfordshire.

And his ‘perfect ten’ was particularly dramatic as it saw bottom club Nondies snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Having made just 102 after being put in to bat, they looked doomed.

But Ayaz quickly reduced Downs to 15-4, before returning to take the last six wickets in his second spell.

And when he removed last man Tom Costley, he was mobbed by his teammates.

“I just didn’t know what to do and my mates were jumping on me on the floor,” he said. “It was just amazing.”

Ayaz, whose previous best of 5-40 came while playing for Cumnor, also against Oxford Downs, added: “It means a lot to me – I can’t really explain it.

“When I got to seven wickets I thought I had (basically) got all the good batsmen out like Bucky (Andy Buckingham) – he is a class batsman – and Wes Bartlett and Darryl Woods.

“Then it was the tailenders and I thought I would definitely go through and get the ten wickets.”