Pre-Game Preparations
After a two-week layoff due to a bye and a canceled game because of the great British summer, the 1s made their way down the M3 to Compton & Chandler Ford CC for a mid-table clash.
The Toss and Opening Batsmen
After a decent warm-up and fully prepared to take the field to bowl, DJ won the toss and elected to bat. Could this be DJ’s day? Only time will tell. At the top of the order, to start us off, were Michael “the wall” Wood and Dan “hopefully get some runs” Jones. They both faced a very difficult opening period with the C&CF opening pair bowling really tight and with a lovely line. Digging deep, Mike and DJ got us up to 30 without loss until, sadly for DJ, he played around a decent ball, knocking his off stump back. Anyway, there’s always next week, skipper; keep digging deep.
Middle Order Struggles
In stepped Paddy “safe hands” Saines. Again, both bats found it difficult to score freely, hitting lovely shots but picking out the fielders. Eventually, Paddy fell to a short ball from probably one of the quickest bowlers we’ve seen in the league, getting nice bounce and carry to the keeper standing a good 25 yards back. This only lit up Alex “let me steam in” Rogan’s eyes. Sadly, due to a bit of sickness, Josh wasn’t his usual destructive self and went cheaply. The Oaks needed a partnership, and with “the wall” and Greg “bullet arm” Spires, hopefully, the pair to do it. However, this partnership was short-lived after “the wall” looked to push the run rate on. Nevertheless, it was a fantastic innings from him, which we would later find out won him MOTM.
Stabilising the Innings
At 99-4, we needed something, and we got it. Greg and Stephen “2nd most laid-back man at Oakley” Bown dug deep and got us to 147 until Greg was caught on the boundary. Alex “wee man” Brundle (nickname from Woody) ran hard with Bown, putting on a good 30 runs for the next wicket. The way they got that wicket was one of those freak run-outs: Alex smashed one back to the bowler, who got a touch on it. Sadly, Bown’s best friend had to raise his finger while saying “sorry.”
Lower Order Fightback
Brundle and Rogan ran well until Brundle missed a straight one or a turning leg spin; only he knows. Rogan fell shortly after that, not getting hold of one and being caught at mid-on. The plan now was not to get bowled out and get somewhere in the region of 220. With five overs left, Harry “H Bomb” Tucknott and Mike “Turns like the Titanic” Bryant smashed it to all corners, putting on a 44-run partnership, taking the Oaks to 239 off 45 overs.
Defending the Total
Time to defend this and get the 24 points. C&CF started well, with some great shots taking them to 21 off 4 overs. Some really tight bowling from Stefan “Having fun” Kiltner assisted big Mike in getting the breakthrough at the other end. DJ rotated the bowlers well due to the sweltering heat. Brundle picked up a wicket in his first over to reduce the home team to 36-2. A little partnership was forming until Rogan was chucked the ball and probably told, “bowl fast,” and that he did, with his first ball digging in at his toes and screaming over the 4-foot-3 batsman’s head. Not deterred, he carried on steaming in and bowled quick, with the keeper and slips standing a good 30 yards back. The breakthrough came with an edge that flew through to Paddy.
Wrapping Up the Innings
With the hosts at 69-3, we were confident we could stop them from winning, but we wanted to bowl them out and get all the points. Greg, DJ, and Harry all picked up wickets, and it was only a matter of time.
The Oaks stuck to it, which felt like the longest innings ever. Even when the hosts put on a little partnership, heads didn’t drop, and the friendly chat was still there. Eventually, with the sun setting, we managed to pick up the final wicket and bowl the hosts out for 183. Great work in the field by everyone and a top team effort.
On to the next one. We march on.
MOTM: Michael Wood, who celebrated his 50 by winning a fire extinguisher.
