Another sunny Saturday at Oakley Park, saw the Oaks take on Herriard, looking to avenge a chaotic defeat back in May. Skipper DJ won the toss, looked at the Herriard skipper and declared, “We’ll have a bat, my son.”
So off we went again. Woody was back after a few weeks away, while Alex was looking to continue his fine form. The pair made a solid start, both finding the boundary regularly. Just as the Herriard fielders were beginning to go quiet, Woody got himself stuck in the crease and missed an inswinger.
That brought Nathan to the middle, and what followed was a very, very special innings from the Essex lad. The word whack springs to mind. He peppered all parts of the ground with glorious shots. Oakley Hall had to put the shutters up and the train line nearly closed, the sixes were that big.
Meanwhile, Alex’s excellent knock came to an end for 32. Will Cheyney arrived but didn’t last long. The poor bloke then spent the next hour crying on Woody’s shoulder, to which Woody replied, “Told ya it was tough out there, son.”
Nathan carried on regardless and reached a thoroughly deserved century. It was a magnificent innings. Things nearly went a bit tits up afterwards with a flurry of wickets. Ian clipped one to gully after Nathan shouted, or whispered depending on who you ask, “Yes!” Ian didn’t move. Out. Nathan’s brilliant knock was over soon after, while Robbo was in and out before you could say “yeeeeehaaaa”. DJ rattled along to a quick 15, Harry an even quicker 4, leaving Ian to steady the ship, which he did with a useful 32.
Stefan was given out LBW, which he obviously took very well… but what followed was utter scenes. Paddy and Ben Weller-Evans guided the Oaks to an excellent 269 with some towering sixes, crisp fours and plenty of sensible singles. A superb finish to the innings.
270 to win for Herriard.
Tea.
Stefan opened up looking right up for it, bowling well without reward, while Ben Weller-Evans steamed in from the other end. Herriard’s openers settled nicely though and reached 79 before the first wicket finally fell. The Oakley cowboy, Robbo, made the breakthrough with a faint edge into Harry’s hands.
From that moment the Oaks were away.
Wickets for DJ and Will swung the game firmly in Oakley’s favour and, once Stefan returned for his second spell, it was all but over. Sharp catches, excellent fielding and relentless pressure showed exactly why Oakley are on the march.
Will Cheyney, who had by now stopped crying, claimed the final wicket to wrap up another Oakley win in the sunshine.
The Oakley cowboy, Robbo, finished with the pick of the bowling, taking 3 for 31, while Nathan’s superb century earned him a thoroughly deserved Man of the Match award.
