With holidays, weekend work shifts and injuries, Oakley just about managed to rustle up two teams good enough complete two good wins on Saturday.
First XI Edge Out Rowledge in Last Over Thriller
The First XI got caught up in a thrilling contest at Rowledge yesterday as they used all of their long batting line up on a sultry early summer afternoon of cricket.
Rowledge got off to a good start but Brad Compton-Bearne and Tom Barnes bowled well with Brad rewarded with 2 wickets after a 50 partnership where a strong and very warm southerly wind was playing its part.
Gerry Dique, bowling for the first time this season, then completed a stingy but wicket-less spell and Dave Pistorious bagged a couple as The Oaks looked to strangle the scoring rate. However, Tom Silver of Rowledge was having a good day, taking apart anything loose on his way to an excellent 75 not out, with Clive Welsman and Dan Sumner in particular, taking some hefty tap.
Along with some ground fielding that was not quite up to its normal standard, this allowed Rowledge to compile a decent target of 200 to win.
Could the Oaks chase the target without alarm?
Don’t be ridiculous. After a solid start by Gerry Dique (27) and Dan Sumner (15) wickets started to come for Rowledge as batsmen got themselves in then out. The cheap loss of the normally steady Clive Welsman (4) and Alex Brundle (12) was alarming and it was a shame that Michael Wood, scratching for form, had to go when on 17, with Paddy Saines going for 2.
James Bayliss (35) restored calm order to the innings and Brad Compton-Bearne (44) batted with unusual but vital maturity and measure as the Oaks looked to regain control of proceedings.
However, Rowledge were not done with, and by putting Brad and James back in the hutch with youngster Brett King, they smelt victory and went for the jugular, with just Tom Barnes and Dave Pistorious left on the pitch.
It was excruciating stuff and whilst Dave, an experienced cricketer, would have faced such dramas before, it would have been understandable if Tom had caved in under the pressure.
However, unlike his dad, who was impersonating a kid hiding behind the sofa during an episode of Dr Who, Tom composed himself and drove the Oaks to a victory that seemed likely, then unlikely, then likely then unlikely again; it was a thrilling finish to keep the 100% record in tact.
Bloody Hell…I wasn’t even there and I nearly broke my keyboard writing that report.
The First XI must now catch their breath and move on. If they didn’t realise they were in a league where every team can beat another, they do now.
Phew!!
Nellie the Elegant Hits Ton as Second XI Bounce Back
The Second XI bounced back to form with a convincing win over a dangerous Sporting Wessex side featuring twin brothers playing in a league well below their standard.
The Oaks were glad to be batting first again on a hot and sultry afternoon that featured a strong southerly wind that more than played its role in proceedings.
Steve Savage and Nellie Warner once again played a big part in building an Oaks platform, completing a third fifty partnership in four matches against some good bowling from the Burrows brothers who were desperately searching for an early breakthrough.
The feeling was that if the Oaks could see off the tight early bowling, hay could be made, and after Steve Savage departed for an important 20, Mike Tiley and Nellie piled into the remainder of the Wessex attack with gusto.
In a particularly damaging period Mike hit 3 consecutive sixes as the scoreboard sped along and Nellie after a couple of early let offs looked increasingly assured, pumping red leather to all parts.
Mike eventually went for an excellent 63 and Nellie a wonderful 113, leaving it to the middle order to have a swing and get the Oaks up to unassailable lead. Wickets understandably came and went as the Oaks pushed on, with the highlight being a lusty 17 from Jack Brundle who hit a sumptuous six followed by a cultured four to take the score to a commanding 266.
Canine Cricket: Ben and Ruby Cheer Nellie’s Ton
Bob Lethaby, padded up and ready for action, didn’t get any, meaning another DNB in what is proving to be a roller coaster of a season as he becomes the master of ‘doing nothing of note’ role.
Defending the target, the Oaks, without Ollie Rabley and Steve Bown, had to be wary of a Burrows onslaught but George Lethaby bowled okay into a strong and thankless wind, whilst Jeff King was excellent at the other end, strangling the scoreboard and taking the wicket of the opener.
With both the Burrows brothers now in and looking good, the Oaks had to bowl and field very well to keep a scoreboard acceleration at bay. They did field very well, with 15 year old, Noah Collis, looking really sharp at point.
With Mike Tiley and Rav Kancharla both bowling well, the breakthrough came when Adam Burrows got suckered into a well laid but bleeding obvious Oakley trap and pumped Ravi Kancharla into the grateful palms of Darrell Dimond.
Rav, excellent once again, picked up a further two wickets but with Matt Burrows proving immovable, the game stagnated a little. In a last attempt at getting wickets, George Lethaby brought himself back on with Ian Bennett and it worked, with the pair sharing four wickets between them in a late order collapse.
With one wicket needed for maximum points, Bob Lethaby steamed in, attempting to move the remaining tail ender with unadulterated raw pace, but despite a few oohs and aahs, The Oaks had to settle for 23 points as Burrows dead batted Ian Bennett in the last over to remain unbeaten on a credible 70.
With depleted numbers, this was a good win for The Oaks as, despite an emphatic look to the scoreline, it was a hard earned victory where every player had a role.
Ultimately, the star of the show was Nellie the elegant, who packed his bat and said goodbye to the Wessex.
Wagons must start rolling again my merry band of Oaks…on we must travel.