It was a busy weekend for the Oaks with no fewer than four matches taking place despite unsettled weather conditions across the region.
Twenty Twenty
On Friday evening, with the storms rumbling to the east leaving Oakley Park unscathed, an eclectic Oaks side took on Dummer in the Ron Ferguson cup.
Batting first, the Oaks got off to a horrible start conceding wickets without scoring runs, with Bob Lethaby (14) the only player getting into double figures.
However, a strong tail featuring Nellie Warner, Dan Sumner, Alex Brundle and George Lethaby, gave the innings some impetus with Nellie in particularly, helping the score along to a below par but defendable, 109.
The Oaks started really well with early wickets but James Dodd of Dummer was in great nick and was looking to take the game away from Oakley.
Oakley took the ultimate gamble, giving Deano James an over as defeat looked likely. Deano delivered, taking the prize wicket of Dodd whilst conceding just 3 runs, leaving Dummer needing 20 off 2 overs to win the trophy for the first time in 3 attempts.
A hefty six by Aaron Brown swung the game again but he was caught next ball by George Lethaby, leaving Alex Brundle to bowl the last over, taking the scalp of Andrew Ferguson and strangling the run rate to ensure an Oaks victory by six runs.
First XI Flounder
A depleted First XI had a tough afternoon against IBM Hursley on Saturday, once again finding batting a struggle without the foundation that is provided by captain, Gerry Dique.
The Oaks bowled first and despite Brad Compton-Bearne and Tom Barnes not being at their very best, they still got amongst the Hursley batting with Dan Sumner (3 wickets) the pick of the bowlers as Hursley were reduced for an average score of 212.
Going into bat, the Oaks capitulated in the face of good bowling, once again finding it hard to stand their ground and grind out something from the game as they collapsed to 10-4 and then 30-8 in a calamitous opening spell.
The Oaks were rescued from total humiliation by Brad Compton-Bearne and Alex Brundle with Alex rotating the strike allowing Brad to crash his way to 80 in what in the end, was a respectable total of 144 against the table toppers.
Rescue Job: Brad Compton Bearne
There is no need to be too downbeat as after all, this was a depleted Oaks team against the side at the top of the table. However, some of the Oaks batsmen will need to take a look at their game plan and dig deep to find some form with the bat to back up our strong bowling and fielding performances.
3 in 3 For In-Form Seconds
The Two’s travelled to Stratton Park to take on Hook IV’s in what was a friendly and entertaining encounter, at least until the the temperature dropped and the skies turned black.
The Oaks batted first with Chris Morris and Steve Savage having to stay patient in the face of some tight bowling from Hook veteran, Keith Lovelock, who used all his experience to bowl great lines in the spongy conditions.
Steve (51) survived a 50/50 LBW appeal and Mozzer (also 51) was dropped in the covers but that apart, they batted very well in a 100 hundred partnership. However, a flurry of wickets came with Steve departing followed by Nellie Warner, who was bordering on incandescent with the LBW decision that went against him.
George Lethaby came to the crease, hitting a full toss for four off his first delivery which was a great statement of intent, but when Mozzer departed with a loose shot after tea, Hook were back in the game.
However, after a few loose shots early on, George started to motor along, with Ian Bennett proving an able sidekick in a partnership of 80. At this point the Oaks looked in total control of the outcome as some of the Hook youngsters understandably wilted.
George departed for an excellent 74 and Ian for 27, leaving it to youngsters, Alex Ogden and Brett King, to take the score to a formidable looking 252 featuring three half centuries.
Big Knock: George Lethaby made 74 to put Oaks in Control
Hook got off to a bad start, losing the openers quickly and the Oaks were well on top with Ollie Rabley and new boy, Jeff King, bowling tight lines, both picking up the wickets their endeavour warranted.
A middle order stand from Tony Robson and a belligerent Will Joyce knock, made the scoreboard respectable, then threatening, with Joyce starting to charge and go big at anything loose.
Nellie Warner then found his line, picking up a wicket whilst strangling the run rate, leaving it to George Lethaby to replace a tiring Brett King, with George picking up 4 late wickets, boosting the points tally to 23 as Hook finished on a commendable 188 for 8.
Comedy moments came from Keith Lovelock having to make a hasty exit after his 9th over as his whites threatened to turn brown, Tony Robson celebrating a wickets keeper’s catch unaware that the ball was rolling along the ground, and finally, Bob Lethaby, rescuing his son from being hit for four by diving to his left and allowing a Will Joyce exocet to smash into his hand just as the temperature was dropping and the rain tumbled from the darkening skies.
Bob departed with a comedy hand that looked like a ‘fingers in mouse trap’ scene from Tom & Jerry and was was grateful to the Hook support team, who provided instant first aid to reduce the swelling in what looked a nasty injury.
Hook also provided an excellent tea which was rampantly devoured by both teams before the local lunatics arrived on the boundary, some just mad drunk, others thinking it was great idea to terrorise members of the public by unleashing their devil dogs, one that looked like an escaped hyena that had gone a week without food.
Fortunately, Marley, the club dog was unavailable, otherwise the Chairman would be spending £500 having his ears sewn back on.
That’s local cricket for you.
Sunday Oaks Lose to Dummer
The Sunday Oaks lost out to Dummer in a Sunday friendly yesterday as a bowling rotation policy allowed a target that got too big and was hard to chase in deteriorating conditions.
Pick of the Dummer batsmen after a good opening partnership from Mark Barden and Jack Ballard, was Simon Pennington, who put together a well constructed fifty.
Match winner: Simon Pennington compiled a decent 50 not-out
Apart from a decent knock of 41 from captain, Ian Bennett, none of the Oaks batsmen got going and wickets fell regularly, allowing Dummer captain Jack Ballard, to celebrate like someone who was a couple of cucumber sandwichess short of a cricket tea.
When Brad Compton-Bearne departed for 27 off the raw pace of Steve ‘Streak’ Heath, the game was up and Dummer eased to a deserved victory by a healthy margin.
It was an afternoon that was tainted by awful weather and a nasty injury to Andrew Ferguson, who bravely, some might say, foolishly, tried to stop a Brad Compton-Bearne piledriver, dislocating his finger in the process.
As Andrew watched from the sidelines, he abruptly feinted, however, it has yet to be confirmed whether it was due to the injury or the fact that Dummer had completed a well earned victory.
As usual, the Dummer lads spent well in the bar to boost the Oakley coffers, it was just a shame it was a bit of a cold and bleak afternoon that didn’t befit a friendly occasion.
It is ‘Flaming June’ after all.