Match report by Two’s correspondent, Michael Bryant.
On a glorious summer’s day in mid-July, it was the turn of St Mary Bourne CC to face the wrath of the mighty Oaks. Knowing St Mary’s Bourne sat a couple of places above us and seeing their last few results we knew this was a must win game to continue the mini winning streak the 2’s have found themselves on.
On inspection the pitch looked very decent with a fine covering of grass on it just to keep the bowlers interested and firm enough to keep the batsmen happy. The Toss was always going to be important, so fortunately when the coin landed on the side that Jack didn’t need to make the decision, he was relieved when their skipper said they would have a bat.
St Marys Bourne got off to a bit of a flier and they found themselves 26 off 5, no worries in steams FAWAD AMIN cleaning bowling their opener for 10. Fawad finishing with figures of 3 for 22 off 8.
From there St Marys Bourne never got going and this was thanks to some very tight bowling in the middle overs from KALUM SAPUMANAGE finishing with figures of 2 for 25 off 8 and MIKE BRYANT finishing with 4 for 15 off 6.2 The rest of the bowlers chipped in and so did everyone else in the field CHRIS MORRIS taking two fine catches and STEPHEN (70 NOT OUT) SAVAGE taking a decent catch behind the stumps.
We finally bowled them out for 118 in 36.2 overs, half the job done. Now for the batmen to take us over the line a get us those points.
Getting off to a good start we found ourselves 27/1 off 7 JEFF (BUCKET HANDS) TRINDER getting a beauty of a ball to dismiss him. In steps CHRIS (TAKE A SINGLE TO POINT) MORRIS for the first 3 overs we thought he might have forgotten he was batting with Savage or maybe he was just trying to run him out, however there was a lighting 2 from that pair at one stage.
This was never going to be easy and St Marys Bourne did fight back, they struggled to pick up the necessary wickets but some tight bowling from there two main bowlers slowed the run rate nearly into their favour. Just ask JACK BRUNDLE who took a magnificent 28 balls to get off the mark. However, this was needed and both him and Moz weathered the storm and saw us to within 27 runs of victory, until Jack middled problem his best shot and was well caught by someone looking into the sun. In steps NEIL (SO LAID BACK) WARNER who takes us over the line finishing on 12 not out in a short period of time. Moz finishing on a well fought 35 not out. Oakley CC 119/3.
Overall a great team effort, everyone chipped in and fought right to the end. It was also nice to see a few families coming out and watch the mighty Oaks. That makes it 3 from 3 now.