The 2s travelled down the Crown Tavs batting strip (the M3) to play said opposition on a baking hot day touching 32 degrees. Having had a disappointing start to the season, with a few tight results going against us and the not-so-good bowling display against Basingstoke Capitals the week before, the 2s were looking to get back on track and pick up a win.
This would start by the skipper winning the toss and batting first, which of course he didn’t do, meaning we were fielding. The news went down as well as you could imagine but, nevertheless, the boys had to get out there.
Looking like a long day
Rogan and Will Mac opened the bowling for us, and both started very well. Rogan was bowling heat, as per usual, and Will Mac, actually bowling on the strip this week, looked sharp and beat the bat on several occasions.
However, after a relatively tight start, things started to unravel, with runs seeming very easy to come by on a rapid outfield. It certainly didn’t look like a 190-par pitch that it had supposedly been all season.
Drinks came at a good time, and we immediately picked up a wicket first ball afterwards, George taking a screamer at slip off Goughy which he’s let everybody know about and will continue to, assuming he hasn’t been eaten by Rogan’s dog.
Feeling like we could now put the screws on proceedings, Crown Tavs’ number three put that idea to bed immediately, smashing his first ball over cover for four before perhaps being slightly fortunate to hit two sixes into the overhanging branches when they seemed destined to be caught by Rogan on the fence.
We then dropped him, I think, about five or six times. They were all tough chances apart from Rogan’s, who spent the car journey there telling me what a great pair of hands he had.
Seemingly, the number three was never going to get out, while the other opener had quietly gone about his work and raced along to 90. Crown Tavs reached the second drinks break on 233-1 and seemed destined for 350.
Comeback???
As much positivity as we tried to project in the huddle about trying to keep it under 300, that seemed unrealistic at this stage with how well both batters were going.
Will Mac, however, changed the game for us, picking up a double-wicket maiden in the first over after drinks with two balls I had specifically told him not to bowl at that stage of the innings: a) a short one and b) a half-volley. Both catches were taken superbly by Nigel.
From then on, the Oaks bowlers, Will Mac, Tiley and Rogan, were awesome in seeing out the innings, restricting Crown Tavs to just 53 runs in the final 10 overs.
Congratulations to their opener on his first hundred, which helped guide them to 286-4 from their 40 overs. Most people would look at that score and say it was over, but on that pitch, with that outfield and our deep batting line-up, we felt anything was possible.
The chase
Tiley and George opened the batting, and we lost both early. George went to what can best be described as a loosener, picking out the deep leg-side fielder, while Tiley nicked behind to the keeper.
This brought in Dan Weller-Evans, fresh from his brilliant 89 the week before, and Nige, who had notched up 50 the last time he batted.
Both played some lovely shots before falling in quick succession to leave us 72-4.
Goughy and Will Rabley came to the crease, and both looked in the mood, particularly taking a liking to the spinner as they launched some huge sixes into the trees and bushes, including Goughy hitting three in a row.
Goughy then fell for a brilliant counter-attacking 44 from just 24 balls to leave us 142-5 in the 20th over.
Pressure is for tyres
This brought Noah to the crease, who’s relearned how to bat over the last couple of weeks and looked to support Will, who was continuing to motor.
Will brought up his 50 knowing the job was only half done. The pair aimed to get to drinks with no fewer than 80 still required and did that successfully after some lusty blows from Will and some good running between the wickets as the fielders were beginning to feel the effects of the heat.
Shortly after drinks, Noah was bowled to leave the Oaks 221-6. Rogan swiftly followed him back to the pavilion after picking out a fielder who took a decent low catch.
Will Mac, who had brought us back into the game with the ball, now had to support Will, who was 94 not out, to bring it home.
And bring it home they sure did.
Will Rabley brought up a superb first century with a HUGE six over the clubhouse to play probably the best knock I’ve seen from an Oakley player.
Will Mac then decided he was going to smash the ball out of the ground not once but twice, including breaking somebody’s car windscreen (see the photo, it’s awesome), to see us home in the 35th over.
What a chase from the boys!
What a day for the club
The result was made even sweeter after finding out both the other teams had won as well, making it the first winning hat-trick of the season for the club.
Will Rabley was, undoubtedly, Man of the Match, but Will Mac was a very close second in my opinion, as he gave us a chance with his spell at the back end before helping finish the job with the bat.
Luckily England, as hard as they made it, didn’t ruin the day and thus ended the perfect Saturday.
The 2s will aim to kick on from here as that game has hopefully kick-started the season for us and, fingers crossed, more wins will follow. It would be nice if they were a lot less stressful than this one.
Up the Oaks!!!