OXFORDSHIRE ace Gaaj Ganagabalan stole the show as the Old Oratorians toppled the school by 37 runs in an entertaining start to Cricket Week.

The OOs went off at a rate of knots as Will Cassar (2015-20) and Ganagabalan (2017-24) took the attack to their opponents with a blistering opening stand.

Cassar (40 from 28 balls) was the first to fall, Louis Boxhall-Waldron (2-42) securing a quickfire double when he removed Jake Jackson (2018-25) soon after.

But Ganagabalan was joined by Owen Simmons (2019-21) and the pair put their foot down even more.

Simmons retired for a terrific 50 from just 36 deliveries, before Ganagabalan (74 off 40) was stumped by Henry Baker off Jack Burton.

His innings included seven boundaries and five mighty maximums.

Ganagabalan’s dismissal left the OOs 174-4 after 17 of their 30 overs, but Oratory fought back well in the latter stages.

Elliott Saunders (2018-25) became Baker’s second victim, Seb Charles this time the bowler, before he caught captain Tom Huysinga (2005-10) off Arlo Ward.

Rams Rugby ace Morgan MacRae (2015-20) chipped in with a useful run-a-ball 22, Hampshire Over 60s man Paul Scanlon (1979-84) also showing some class with bat in hand.

Henry Connolly (3-39) wiped out the lower order, however, Sam Boughton (2000-05) and Charlie Burton (2020-25) both dismissed to leave Tom Davies (2020-25) stranded and the OOs all out for 234.

Connolly’s father and impact substitute David (1985-90), Chairman of The Oratory Society, made an early breakthrough in the reply as he deceived Max Scheutz for a first baller.

And the spinner (2-27) made it two soon after, Huysinga’s sharp glovework accounting for Jack Strickland.

Saunders was bowling with good pace at the other end, but Archie Watson and Charles dug in well before upping the ante against Davies and Boughton.

The introduction of last year’s leavers, Jackson and Burton, turned the tide in the OOs’ favour, however.

Charles (44) was first to go when he was bowled by Jackson, Jack Burton then bowled by his brother for 123-4.

Pacy Charlie Burton all but ended the contest when he cleaned up Watson for a well-made 69, Oratory 130-5 midway through the 21st over.

Jackson (4-21) became the second elder sibling to account for his brother as he bowled Johnny, then trapping Riley Herbert lbw.

Huysinga collected a second stumping and Jackson only missed out on a five-wicket haul when Boughton shelled a chance from the off-spinner’s last ball.

Rehan Faruq (32no) and Henry Connolly (23) salvaged the innings grom the wreckage of 145-8 with a 52-run ninth-wicket stand, but MacRae earned a final wicket again thanks to Huysinga.

Oratory eventually closed on 197-9.