Strong Batting Platform Sets the Tone
The Mighty Oaks made the short trip to picturesque Rotherwick to take on HNBCC 3rd XI in glorious sunshine. Still searching for their first win of the season, the Oaks welcomed a couple of changes, with Will Mac, Alex Holman and Mozza all making their season debuts for the 2nd XI.
Tiley won the toss and elected to bat first.
Kunal and George looked to set the tone as they faced a pair of talented young opening bowlers from Hook. Unfortunately, George had to depart early after playing on for 0. A stark contrast to his heroics last week and another reminder that cricket can be a fickle game. Time for someone else to step up.
Up stepped the returning skipper. Without a real knock of note so far this season, it seemed the perfect opportunity to lead from the front with the bat… or not, as he holed out to mid-on for 1.
Nigel, batting at four this week and searching for form himself, came in and struck three lovely boundaries, showing glimpses that a big score is just around the corner. However, he fell to the Hook captain for 14.
At 57-3, Oakley looked to be in trouble. Another wicket or two and they risked falling well short on what was a good batting pitch.
Kunal and Mozza Rescue the Innings
Up stepped a man who had not picked up a bat since this time last year and who supposedly only had one or two games in him this season. Mozza naturally looked as though he had not missed a single nets session.
Alongside Kunal, who had watched wickets tumble at the other end, the pair set about rebuilding the innings. Kunal passed fifty while Mozza accumulated brilliantly. A personal highlight was a reluctant all-run four between the pair.
The score reached 103 before Kunal departed for a well-made 56.
Mozza was joined by Dave Parry and together they continued to rotate the strike intelligently, taking singles on offer from tiring fielders while punishing the bad ball. Dave eventually departed for an almost run-a-ball 29 after managing to kick a leg-side delivery onto his own stumps.
For readers old enough to remember, think KP’s trademark flick with the back foot extended for flourish, only for the ball to hit the back pad and cannon into leg stump. An unfortunate way to go, but at 161-5 the scoreboard looked far healthier thanks to their efforts.
Noah then came to the crease and helped guide Oakley through to the 30-over drinks break while Mozza passed his fifty.
Score: 175-5
Late-Order Acceleration
With ten overs remaining, five wickets in hand and plenty of hitters still to come, the message was simple:
“Go and have fun, boys. 250 is the target. Just 7.5 an over.”
With those instructions fresh in his mind, Noah attempted to move the scoreboard along immediately after drinks. Unfortunately, his pull shot was just a little too aerial and he was caught on the boundary for 3.
Will Mac arrived with plenty of time to settle in and start playing shots. Instead, he top-edged his first ball and marked his return with a first-baller.
The message from the skipper quickly changed to:
“Can we just bat the 40?”
Will Rabley joined Mozza and the pair resumed the accumulation job before Mozza, on 52, chased a short wide delivery and hit it straight to cover. An unfortunate end to a hugely important innings.
Rogan and Will then guided the Oaks home, finishing unbeaten on 34 and 32 respectively, with Rogan ending on a strike rate of 170.
Oakley finished on 248-8.
Rogan and Will Blow Hook Away
After a quick turnaround, the skipper reminded the Oaks that wickets had been hard to come by all season. A strong batting performance needed backing up with an equally strong effort in the field.
Rogan set the tone with the very first ball of the innings, extracting steep bounce from a good length and nearly carrying a chance all the way to mid-off after striking the top of the bat handle.
It was the start of a hostile spell.
Will Mac, desperate to make an impact after his batting disappointment, hit the mark immediately. In his first over he claimed a sharp caught-and-bowled.
Not to be outdone, Rogan struck in the following over, removing the other opener for 0.
A dream start for Oakley.
Hook: 11-2
The opening partnership of Will and Rogan was an outstanding spell of fast bowling, with something happening almost every ball. Both bowlers set the tone brilliantly.
Will finished with figures of 4-0-20-2, while Rogan produced 6-2-11-3, dismantling the Hook top order and leaving them reeling at 53-5.
Keeping the Pressure On
Greening and Thompson attempted to rebuild as Oakley rotated the bowlers.
Holman entered the attack looking to weave a web from one end. While he finished wicketless, it was a tidy and controlled spell, returning figures of 5-0-29-0.
George replaced Rogan from the opposite end. With slightly less pace from both ends, Hook looked to play their shots and increase the scoring rate. George finished with figures of 2-0-20-1.
Bentham joined Greening at the crease and together they looked to keep punishing anything loose.
Tiley replaced George and struck in his second over, removing Bentham thanks to a fantastic catch from Nigel Bishop, taken only inches from the turf.
Tiley Gets the Last Laugh
Looking to exploit the friendly rivalry and university bromance between Greening and Noah, Tiley introduced Noah into the attack in place of Holman in an attempt to remove the set batter.
Noah’s first over passed uneventfully.
Tiley then dragged one down and watched it disappear for six onto the clubhouse roof. As he returned to his mark, he was informed that he couldn’t bowl there.
Cricket, as always, writes its own scripts.
The very next ball, Greening was trapped LBW by Tiley, who promptly asked if he was allowed to bowl there after all. A well-mannered bit of fun in the sunshine and nothing more.
Greening departed for an excellent 44, comfortably the standout innings on the Hook scorecard. Oakley wrapped up victory a couple of overs later, with Noah finishing on 1.4-0-5-1 and Tiley returning 3-0-12-2.
Hook were bowled out for 103.
First Win on the Board
The Oaks secured their first win of the season with a fantastic all-round display and one they will be looking to build upon when they host Old Basing at Oakley Park next weekend.
As discussed back at The Theatre later that evening, winning is a habit, and it is one the 2nd XI will be looking to continue as they climb the table.
There were outstanding performances throughout the side. Kunal and Mozza both scored half-centuries, while Will Mac’s opening spell helped set the tone.
However, the standout Man of the Match performance came from Rogan. His unbeaten 34 with the bat, combined with three crucial wickets up front, completely changed the course of the game at a stage where it could easily have gone either way.
Special thanks to Hook for being great opponents and providing us with much appreciated ice lollies. Top effort that.
Next Up: Old Basing
Get on the bus.
