Dummer Cricket Centre will become a cauldron of tension tonight when a local derby to end all local derbies, takes place between Oakley inter-club rivals, ‘The Blokes from the Oaks‘ and ‘The Jokes from the Oaks’ who sit first and second in the Thursday night indoor league.
The equation is a simple one. A win for The Blokes will leave them with a virtually unassailable lead with three to play, whilst victory for The Jokes will put them in the box seat to claim the prestigious title. However, a Jokes win will also let the in-form Hook Willbees back into the title race.
The Blokes have been forced to make changes with Jimmy Bright and George Rutt unavailable, meaning that Tom Barnes and Jack Brundle return. With a bowler short, at some point, the Blokes will have to turn to Michael Wood, or the ‘Oakley Express’, Bob Lethaby, for alternative bowling options.
Raw Pace: The Oaks may need to turn to the Oakley Express
Paddy Saines ad Darrell Dimond come in to boost a strong looking Jokes side in a game where the performances with bat in hand look more likely to shape the game than the bowling. George Lethaby, Dan Sumner, Nelly Warner and Alex Brundle (who is in sparkling form) have over a 1000 runs between them indoors, so breaking those partnerships will be the key to any success for The Blokes.
On paper, The Jokes would appear narrow favourites, but with two teams littered with players who can turn a game on its head, it would take a brave man to lay a large bet on either side.
These are the kind of matches indoor cricket was designed for, featuring inter club rivalry, with renewed family hostilities between the Brundle’s and the Lethaby’s adding extra spice to the occasion.
With literally tens of supporters cramming into the arena, it is hoped by the authorities that the only battles will be sporting ones, with numerous requests for cool heads and Jack Brundle to remember his subs.
May the battle commence.
Blokes: B Lethaby, T Barnes, B Compton-Bearne, J Brundle, M Wood, D Jones
Jokes: G Lethaby, A Brundle, D Sumner, N Warner, P Saines, D Dimond
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