The Ashes may be just around the corner but the real cricket action was at the Bicester Sports Association ground last night as United's cricket team saw off their rivals from the Oxford Mail.

In sweltering heat the Mail batted first on a superb playing surface at United's new training base, but found it difficult to cope with the accurate bowling of manager Chris Wilder or the constant sledging of wicket-keeper Mickey Lewis.

Wilder's two wickets were reward for his efforts while physio Jon Brown was both surprised and delighted to pick up a wicket from his bowling, a mixture of Steve Harmison's accuracy and Monty Panesar's pace.

The Mail's top scorer was George Redknap with 80 in a total of 122.

In reply a (very) brief opening partnership between Brown and Lindsay Davis got The U's off to a dubious start, with Nick Merry adding a stylish seven, but then came the highlight as Wilder and Chairman Kelvin Thomas took control.

Wilder (35) and Thomas (34) smashed the ball to all parts of the fielding circle in a stand of fifty, before training ground groundsman Graham Savin thumped a six off his first ball and saw the side home with three balls to go. Savin incidentally played for Oxfordshire. And he may have bowled a bit as well. Did we forget to mention that?

The game was played in great spirit, best exemplified by the Mail's Sports Editor Mark Edwards cushioning a fine volley over the boundary with his shin when it might have been easier to try to stop a four, but the Mail will be out for revenge when the rematch comes next summer.