Jamar Stovel is off to a promising start at new club Oxford Downs Cricket Club who play in the Home Counties Premier League in England.

The Bermudian all-rounder joined the club last month after agreeing an undisclosed deal and made an immediate impact in his first outing in a pre-season last weekend.

Oxford Downs beat Aston Rowant Cricket Club by 42 runs in a 40-overs affair.

Batting at No 6, Stovel struck 43 from 46 balls that included five fours and a six as his team piled up 234 for six after electing to take first strike.

The 18-year-old added 89 for the fifth wicket with James Ellwood, who top scored with 75 from 68 balls.

Stovel then went wicketless for 36 runs in a four over spell of seam bowling before Aston were dismissed for 192 in 31.5 overs.

“Last weekend’s performance was all right on the batting side,” Stovel told The Royal Gazette.

“I came in at six in the middle-late overs and at first it took me a while to get going as I just wanted to get time in the middle.

“However, I then started to pick it up a bit as it got later on in the game, which ended up costing me to get out in the last few overs as I wanted to reach 50 before the innings ended.

“Bowling-wise was not up to par. I was just coming off a foot injury and this was my first time bowling in a game since September. My lines and length were not consistent enough.”

Stovel has previous experience playing in England having done so with Warminster Cricket Club while attending boarding school.

He decided to play at club level after enrolling in Oxford Brooke’s University last September, and was scouted while training under England and Wales Cricket Board certified coach and former Somerset all-rounder Gary Palmer.

“Due to me being in Oxford for the first time for university, I decided to also play for a local club within the area as it is also a really good standard,” Stovel said.

“The opportunity came about while I was training with Gary Palmer.

“I told him I wanted to sign for a club in the area and it just so happened that one of the other players dad’s happened to be the chairman of a club called Oxford Downs Cricket Club. After the session I met him and he took my contact details and it went from there.”

The player has made smooth transition to the club.

“I think I have settled in quite well in to the club,” he said. “They are a welcoming bunch, which made it easier to feel more at home.”

Back home, Stovel plays for Warwick and has even showcased his budding talents internationally with the Bermuda under-19s.

He made his debut in Cup Match last summer as one of two colts challengers and hosts St George’s named in their final team.

As for his short and long-term ambitions, Stovel said: “This season I just want to put in as many good performances as possible to attract attention from the local county set up and the Oxford UCCE programme.

“In the long term, I am aiming to be playing for the senior national squad and be in a County set up out here or a member of the Oxford UCCE set up.”