In the early May sunshine, Oakley Park looked resplendent awaiting the arrival of St Mary Bourne for the 2nd team’s first league fixture of the 2025 season. The Chair’s pre-match write-up provided warning of a strong opposition, looking to build on recent success. Was he correct? To be fair, the Chair might just know a thing or two – but more of that to follow.
Team Changes and Toss Outcome
In a late change to the published side, big-hitting Dave Parry moved up from the 3s, following Matt Vickery’s decision that his cricketing future lay elsewhere. Whilst this change would undoubtedly strengthen the 2s batting line-up, Ian’s bowling options became a little more stretched.
Warm-ups completed, and the first toss of the year lost, the Oaks were invited to bowl first. Taking the new ball would be Zak, from the Kempshott Chippy End, and young Will McCarthy.
A Promising Bowling Start
Zak, over recent seasons, has grown into a reliable opening bowler, offering swing and left-arm variation. He quickly took the first 2s wicket of the season, trapping the opening bat in front with a full delivery that swung in. At the other end, Will was settling quickly into 2nd team cricket. Varying his pace but maintaining a tight line, Will soon had the other opener caught behind, Rutty passing the catch onto first slip with a slight deflection.
21-2 became 51-3. Captain Ian claimed his first league wicket with the batter caught at point by Nigel. This brought the new batter to the wicket to join Von Guionneau, who was already looking comfortable. Dispatching anything slightly off line to the boundary – or over the boundary – Von Guionneau’s score was increasing at a quicker-than-quick rate. A quick look at Play Cricket shows he has an average close to 50, having played a similar number of matches, with most of his runs coming in boundaries. So he was batting true to form.
Drinks Break – Then a Fightback
Drinks arrived, providing the Oaks the opportunity to reset with the score just shy of 150-3.
And what a reset. On 93, Von Guionneau edged a Will McCarthy outswinger into Rutty’s gloves, and quick wickets then followed. Jack picked up one, caught by a daydreaming Kris at deepish gully. Will took his second (another catch by Nigel), and Ian then returned to claim his second wicket in a very tight spell that went for only 8 runs from 4 overs.
The final 3 wickets were taken by Oaks debutant Alex Gough. Across Alex’s 7 and a bit overs, he demonstrated an ability to bowl some exceptionally good deliveries, proving to be an excellent and most welcome addition to the club. Alex finished with 3-38.
The opposition ended on 223 all out, showing a great response from the 2s after the position they found themselves in at drinks.
Chasing 223 – A Promising Start
Onto the batting. Kris and Rutty opened the innings, looking comfortable from the outset. Kris latches onto anything short (ideally short and wide if any bowlers from clubs in the 2s league are reading this), and Rutty driving anything full. The pair quickly took the score to just shy of 50 and ahead of the required run rate.
The first wicket then fell. Another straight drive from George hit the St Mary Bourne bowler somewhere on his body, deflecting it onto the stumps, and with Kris out of his crease, he had to stroll off chuckling to himself.
Middle Order Struggles
Nigel joined Rutty. On his day, Nigel is a free-scoring, destructive batter. Unfortunately, a pre-season plagued by injury and a lack of practice proved this to not be Nigel’s day, being caught behind to left-arm swing. On returning to the changing room, Nigel provided his own reflections on his performance. However, given this will go out on the club’s social media channels, we’re not able to share those comments here.
With George starting to show the impact of keeping for 40 overs and then opening the batting, the required run rate started to move in the wrong direction, despite the fast start. Rutty then went, caught and bowled (again to the left-armer) for a very good-looking 36. At the other end, Ian was looking comfortable – including one very, very big six – but he was starting to run out of partners.
Nellie and Will Rabley both went in the same over (to that same left-arm swing bowler), and Jack didn’t last long – somehow stumped off his pads, the keeper’s left pad, maybe a bit of bat, and possibly the keeper’s other pad.
Late Order Resistance
Ian and Dave Parry both looked to take the attack to the opposition. Ian was then caught at short fine leg, and Will McCarthy followed quickly, caught at mid-wicket.
Alex showed that he’ll be a decent bat the more practice he gets, joining Dave, who was starting to enjoy his innings. Flicking anything short off his legs to the boundary, combined with straight drives, Dave showed what a destructive batter he can be – and someone that the club would do well to encourage to play more matches.
With Alex going to a fine catch, Zak looked to get Dave on strike as much as possible, but with too much to do, the Oaks were bowled out 77 runs short of the opposition’s total. Dave finished on 36 not out.
Conclusion – Positives to Build On
Well done to St Mary Bourne. A match played in good spirits throughout was won by one 100+ partnership and a very disciplined bowling performance.
As for the 2s – much like the other match reports you’ll have read if you’re an avid follower of Oakley cricket – lots of positives to take away. A fine new-ball partnership, a youngster stepping up to play 2s cricket and not looking out of place, a great debut from Alex, an excellent fielding performance, a great fightback in the field post-drinks, Dave Parry demonstrating that given the right platform he could be a match-winner, and Rutty and some of the batting line-up looking good at the crease.
Greater resilience and shot selection when up against a sound bowling attack to come… it’s only Week 1 after all. Next up for the 2s: Bentworth away and the opportunity to demonstrate some bouncebackability.
On we go!