Well it’s the Derby everyone had been waiting for, the crowds were out and the frog box was set to stream what can only be described as the clash of the “O’s”. After last week’s disappointing loss, the 2’s wanted to put it right, so with a fairly changed side we welcomed Dan, Ben, Ollie, Rutty and big bucket hands Jeff.
Jack won the toss on what looked to be a beautiful batting track and sure enough he said “we’ll have a bat”.
Disastrous Start
And what a flyer one of the teams got off to. Unfortunately it’s wasn’t the mighty Oaks, immediately being put on the back foot with some spectacular swing bowling from Andrew Regan. Oakley finding themselves 0/2 in the first over. Dan and Ben getting two unplayable balls. Tom unfortunately followed the next over after clouting his first ball for four. Oakley 4/3 and in big trouble. Nigel and Jack tried to steady the ship but Nige fell to a ball that got about two inches off the ground.
Rutty put on a really good counteroffensive but as he was about to get going and see Regan’s last over out, he lost his leg stump. By this time Jack was building a captain’s innings, he just needed someone to stay with him. In steps Will “I’ll hit anything” Rabley and that he did. He took the attack to a weakening Overton bowling and hit it to all corners of the ground.
Fighting Back as Big Mike Goes Wild
However we all know how this ends and one too many swings and he missed a straight one. However a quick fire 42 off 33 balls has put us back in the fight. Big Jeff lunges to the crease hoping to build on what Will had just done. However it was not to be, he sky’s his second ball and gets caught, Jack still stranded at the other end.
Time for big Mike to redeem his poor knock the other week. With 13 overs left there was plenty of time to post a defendable total. At 122/7 175 was the target, however this was not to be, big Mike went on the charge with some really good support from captain Jack and Jack brings up his first 50 of the season.
Sadly he fell to a cunning slower ball with 8 balls left. 184/8. With 6 balls left surely 200 was the target, some master blasting from big Mike he carved the ball to all corners again and at the end of the 40 Oakley found themselves 202/8 Mike 60 not out of 49, and his first 50 for the club.
Defending an Unlikely Target
Time to defend, we knew this was going to be tough but with a rallying team talk, everyone was up for the fight. Ollie and Noah taking the new ball. Both bowled well and Noah beating the outside edge several times. Finally Ollie got the breakthrough we needed. Game on we needed wickets and with a double bowling change this was it.
Mike picking up the other opener with a fine catch from Jeff at short mid-off. Jeff bowling from the other end from about 12 foot didn’t disappoint and what can only be described as an incredible spell it. The age old saying couldn’t have been more true to this spell of you miss I hit.
Unbelievable Jeff!!
Tall Jeff steamrolled Overton’s middle order and left them 79/7 but as we know from last week, 7 wickets won’t win you the game. Some great team spirt and a ruthless will to win saw us over the line with Jack picking up the last wicket. Jeff ending with figures of 8 over 2 maidens 6 for 17.
Unbelievable Jeff.