There are days in cricket when the sun shines a bit brighter, the outfield seems faster, and even the beers taste better. Yesterday was one of those days—if you’re part of the Oaks Second XI. Coming off two defeats, the Oaks were in search of their first win of the season against Herriard IIs. Would it be third time lucky, or more early-season blues?
Well, if you don’t already know, either you weren’t there or you’ve blocked it out.
A Toss Well Lost
Herriard won the toss and chose to bowl, which suited Oaks skipper Ian Bennett perfectly—he was planning to bat first anyway. What’s known in cricket circles as a “good toss to lose.” Ian and Kris Tucknott opened the innings and began building a steady partnership. There were a few wobbles, but nothing out of the ordinary. Just as Ian looked set to shift gears, he was trapped LBW for 13. He wasn’t thrilled, but Kris’s two-word review—“absolutely plumb”—suggested it was a fair enough decision.
Steady scoring and swing-and-miss
Jack Brundle joined Kris and the pair kept things ticking, moving past 50 with a mixture of calm and class. Kris looked set for a half-century before one spat back and bowled him for a well-made 35. New recruit Alex Gough showed real promise with four crisp boundaries before swinging hard at thin air and missing on 18. A good knock, and signs of big scores to come. Will Rabley strode in with intent but departed for 2 after finding a boundary fielder rather than the English Channel. Jack kept things moving, racing from 35 to 50 in an over before trying one big shot too many, skying one back to a nervous bowler.
The tail was left with work to do. Ollie Rabley registered a duck after last week’s heroics, but Will McCarthy (6), Zak Newton (7), and a chaotic, comic-yet-effective final act from Bob Lethaby (6*) and Sharan Hugar (5*)—plus some generous overthrows—nudged the Oaks to 187. Respectable on a pitch that was clearly getting grumpier with cracks a builder’s arse would be proud of.
Young fire with the ball
The Oaks took the field buzzing, and rightly so. youngsters Zak Newton (22) and Will McCarthy (15) led the attack with zest and zip. Will got a wicket with an out swinging first delivery, then Zak struck, thanks to a tremendous sharp slip catch from Jack Brundle, who was quietly assembling a man-of-the-match portfolio.
Will bowled like a young man trying to win both the match and a fast-track GCSE exemption—genuinely hostile and on the money, picking up two wickets in four overs before being withdrawn due to age restrictions. A pity really, unless you were a Herriard batsman.
In came Sharan Hugar, whose skiddy accuracy made scoring a real chore. Zak finished his spell with 1-30, slightly frustrated by the 12 runs in wides, but still effective. His left-arm swing has “dangerous” written all over it—just needs to tone down the Stevie Wonder stuff. If he does that, some match-winning performances lie in wait.
Slow and steady squeeze
Bob Lethaby replaced Zak and turned the screws with a spell of tempting, teasing bowling that took its time getting there—but was worth the wait. After some initial caution, Herriard had to try and accelerate. That didn’t go well. Bob claimed 2-23 off 8, a clever spell of old-school guile that has batsmen vomiting all the way back to the pavilion.
Meanwhile, Sharan wrapped up with a superb 1-11 off 8, his skiddy pace choking off any hope of a realistic chase. Herriard, now needing 10 an over and running out of partners, had no real option but to swing. Ollie Rabley took some stick from the Herriard ‘have a go heroes’ but also nabbed a vital wicket in a six-over spell of mixed fortunes where two LBW appeals might have gone his way.
McCarthy finishes it in style
Back came McCarthy to mop up—and mop he did. Fast, accurate, and full of intent, he bagged two more wickets to finish with a sensational 4-10 off 8 overs. A match-winning spell from the youngster. Sometimes a youngster comes in and gets wickets courtesy bemused batsmen who are batting in a state of frantic terror about the stick they will receive if they get out to a skinny kid with a high pitched voice and massive black trainers. This was far from that. It was hostile stuff.
Win at last!
A comfortable and well-earned win for the Oaks, but also a gritty one. Runs had to be fought for, and the bowling unit stuck to their task superbly. The win lifts the team out of the early-season relegation danger zone and injects some much-needed confidence.
It’s early days still, but the Oaks are on the board. And not just that—they looked like a side worth watching for both their cricket and comedy value.