The Oaks suffered a two run defeat in an enthralling climax against Dogmersfield at a hot and sultry Oakley Park yesterday.
The ‘Fields batted first and Oakley found wickets hard to come by in the heat with young Noah Beckell being a highlight as he continues to develop into a fine young cricketer.
Wickets did come for Mark ‘Quiet’ Potter (2) Dan Sumner (1) and Brett King (1) as the ‘Mers finished on 155-4. However, performance of the day with ball in hand was surely Ian Bennett, who conceded just 30 off a miserly three over spell of craft and cunning. When he bowls, Ian plies his trade like a carpenter without a saw.
In reply, the Oaks, after a steady start, began to create a binary looking scoreboard, with only the obdurate looking Perry ‘Pezzer, Perrington, Nandos’ King holding the innings together.
As wickets came and went, Perry had some assistance from Ian Bennett (17) and Mark Potter (27) as a bumper crowd looked on in nervous anticipation. Could this be the first ever 50 for the lad of many moods, most of them bad?
By golly yes it could be, a quick two runs were completed as the Oakley Oval went into unprecedented rapture. There was barely a dry eye in the house, with Perry’s Dad, Jeff, suffering his first ever bout of hay-fever at the age of 52. It really was a case of hashtag scenes.
Yes Pez: Perry Completed His First Oakley 50
Sadly, Perry, exhausted in the afternoon heat, went for 52 (an excellent knock) leaving it to Dan Sumner to complete an Oaks victory on what was turning out to be a golden afternoon of cricket; it really was a perfect antidote to the England Test side, who are shit beyond comprehension.
With Deano James as calm as a barefooted JB on a scorching tin roof at the other end, could Sumner, a man of guile, guts, and experience beyond his tender years, finish the job for a fairy tale finish?
No, he couldn’t, he was out LBW and Oakley lost by two runs.
So, the day belonged to Perry King and a demonstration of how fate can work mysterious ways in this wonderful game of willow and red leather. I mean, how many cricketers have scored their first 50 the day before their 19th Birthday?
Quite a few probably, but I stoutly refuse to let facts get in the way of a good story.
Well done Perry son, have a great birthday!
Up the Oaks!