The Oaks lost in the last Over of an entertaining game at Hook yesterday afternoon as the rain clouds cleared and the sun shone on the righteous and eclectic teams fielded by both clubs.
Batting first, the Oaks welcomed Adam Robinson back for a cameo performance and he duly delivered with a quick-fire ton to show his eye is still in, despite time away from the club with his baby, Violet.
That apart, there were several cameo roles from Dan Sumner, Clive Welsman, Ben Allum, George Lethaby, Brad Compton-Bearne and Kalum Sapumannagge plus a dismissal for the classy looking Bob Lethaby, who did a fine impression of ‘Coco the Clown’ as he made the most of a dropped catch by attempting a single Usain Bolt wouldn’t have made.
Never Run a Miss-Field: Bob Celebrates his Dismal Dismissal
The Oaks finished on 248 on what was a great batting track.
Hook’s Dan Moore and Hants Under 15, Alex Brown, set about the target with some great shot-making, racing along and making the most of any bad balls and blocking the good. Both retired after making 50’s to allow Rupert Armstrong, Liam Doron and Zak Curd to take up the challenge.
As the game slid away captain Brad Compton-Bearne, turned to Bob ‘the Oakley Express’ Lethaby who slowed down the run-rate with a mixture of dollies, high pies and non-googlies in a mesmerising spell where he bamboozled the Hook batsmen with his ineptitude.
Good batsmen are suckers for bad bowlers and when Bob took the wicket of Rupert Armstrong with a snow tipped reverse good ball, the Oaks were temporarily back in the contest.
However, Liam and Zak held their nerve and saw Hook home in the last over of an entertaining afternoon.
Thanks to Keith Lovelock and all at Hook for their hospitality which included a fine tea and a BBQ, as well as a game that was played in good spirits throughout.
Up the Oaks!