The Second XI entertained Ramsdell’s second string on Saturday, looking to build on the previous week’s impressive victory at Crown Taverners.
Oakley Park looked resplendent in the sunshine and, with temperatures dropping to a manageable 25°C, conditions appeared perfect for batting. The outfield was très rapide, which is French for “anything through the infield is probably four”.
Oakley batted first and were soon up and running, with Mike Tiley and George Lethaby gorging themselves on anything short, wide or vaguely hittable. The pair added more than 50 before Mike was snared by veteran, Dave Simpson, for 20.
There was a feeling Mike had missed out, and George and Alex Gough soon confirmed it by laying into a bowling attack that was short on pace, variation and, increasingly, places to hide.
George Makes Jug Avoidance Look Easy
A partnership of 125 followed, with George racing towards his second century for Oakley.
Except he didn’t quite get there.
After launching a six to move on to 97, George decided the only sensible way to complete his century was with another. Sadly, the ball found a fielder on the boundary. It was a textbook piece of jug avoidance, although probably not the personal landmark he had in mind.
George’s dismissal brought Dan Weller-Evans to the crease, and he immediately picked up where George had left off. At the other end, Goughy moved smoothly to another Oakley fifty before also doing a George, hitting the same bowler to the same fielder in an almost identical dismissal. It was like he was impressed by George’s effort and thought he’d have a go himself.
Dave Parry then arrived and smacked a quick-fire 30, followed by Noah Beckell, whose 17 also came at better than a run a ball as the scored raced along, keeping Billy busy. Dan, however, was providing the main fireworks, dispatching the ball to all parts of Oakley Park and a few neighbouring postcodes.
As the overs ticked away and Oakley surged past 300, Dan, supported by young Archie Taylor, completed a swashbuckling century at a strike rate of 238. It was a fantastic, sometimes unorthodox innings where quick hands and ingenuity provided plenty of entertainment for anyone who wasn’t playing for The Rams.
Oakley eventually closed on 355, falling just short of the club record and leaving Ramsdell with what cricket experts describe as “a fairly stiff chase”.
Ramsdell Dig In
It would have been easy for a depleted Ramsdell side to capitulate, especially when Archie Taylor removed Chambers early on. However, Jack Ballard and captain Mike Abbott battled gamely to restore some respectability and make a game of it.
Abbott departed for 22, but Ballard remained solid and determined, reaching a deserved, if not especially flamboyant, fifty. It was a proper opening batsman’s innings, built on patience, concentration and the stubborn refusal to do anything silly. I must try it one day.
Others also offered resistance despite Oakley’s best efforts. Further wickets arrived for Rogey, Bob, Ollie and Noah, but The Oaks could not quite find enough breakthroughs to secure a full-points victory.
Still, a winning margin of 178 runs represents a fairly comfortable afternoon’s work. Oakley will be delighted with a well-deserved win that should move the side well away from relegation trouble.
In fact, with the teams we are currently putting out, perhaps we should start looking upwards rather than continually checking what is happening below us.
A Good Day for Local Cricket
Huge credit must go to Ramsdell. They were short on resources and could easily have conceded, but some late help allowed them to get a side onto the field.
They were simply unfortunate to come up against several Oakley batsmen who were in form and licking their lips at the sight of a glassy outfield.
They also stayed for a beer and a chat afterwards, which remains one of the most important parts of local cricket.
We move onto next week looking for 3 on the spin.
