A slightly depleted Oaks travelled to Crown Tavs yesterday hoping to build on last week’s victory.
However, without Matt Burrell, Nellie Warner, Ben Robinson, Harry Tucknott and the late loss of George Lethaby to the First XI, it was not an ideal day to find out that Tavs had no first team game. This meant 2-3 players coming down to aid their relegation plight. Would they make the difference?
You are about to find out.
Bowling First
The Oaks bowled first with Will Rabley and Noah Beckell working hard on a pitch where anything that beat the fielders headed to the boundary of a ground that was akin to a sloping billiard table. It was hard going with Tavs big hitter, Shillingford, riding his luck amongst some huge blows as The Oaks tired.
The Oaks hung on in there, but we were lacking a bit of experienced bowling at times. Wickets did come for the gutsy Will Rabley, Bob Lethaby, Ollie Rabley and pick of the opening bowlers Jeff Triner (2). At this point we looked briefly in the contest, but Tavs first teamer, Bates, put paid to that with a morale sapping unbeaten 99.
There were late consolation wickets for Noah Beckell and Paddy Saines, and it is worth noting that there were also well taken catches from Billy Turner, Bob Lethaby, Ollie Rabley, and George Rutt. Bob and Ollie’s wickets came in a unique double-act where both took identical cow corner catches off each other’s bowling. Heroes, both.
The Chase
So, chasing 277 seemed out of the question. Yet, on a fast outfield, perhaps not as impossible as it might sound. With all due respect (which really means no due respect) to a long tail, the top 4 or 5 needed a good day at the office. The office, of course, being a long-used metaphor for a cricket ground. I am not sure why, as you don’t bat at a desk.
Dan Beckell and Jeff Triner opened. And do you know what, facing some genuine second team bowling, it felt like we might have a game on. Then Jeff and Will were out early, and it felt like we might not have a game on. This left Paddy to come in and build again with Dan Beckell, who was batting positively.
The scoreboard raced along with Paddy now playing well in a blossoming partnership. Could we be in for one of those days that goes down in Oakley folklore? The simple answer is no, we couldn’t. Tavs, sensing danger, brought on their first team bowlers. Bates and Padbury effectively ended the contest with a combination of accuracy and hostility.
Contest Ended
Paddy went for a gutsy 33 and Dan eventually departed for 61, an innings he should be proud of. Thereafter it was all about formalities. However, there was time for a bit light entertainment from Billy Turner and James Middleton at the end of the innings. The Oaks were all out for not much, and well beaten.
Because of their perilous position, the Tavs did what any club would do, including us. They took advantage of having no first team match and brought players down to aid the cause of a struggling second team. Of course, there is no such thing as ‘a one-man team’ but when one player gets 99 not out and 4 wickets, you can get close to it. Without him it would have been a decent match up.
Ultimately, it was a day when we needed our strongest Second XI to compete with a strengthened Tavs. We just didn’t have that yesterday. Still, everyone tried their best and there was no harm done in mid-table. It could even be argued that it was all worth it because of the fine tea provided by the Tavs, a good little club.
We push on to the end of the season on the lookout for a few positive results. We can also be thankful this game was not a relegation or promotion decider.
On we travel!