The Oakley Sunday 11 wilted in the sunshine yesterday, collapsing like dominoes, posting just 135 whilst chasing a meagre target of 159.
Winning the toss and bowling first, Oakley were put under early pressure by a decent Waverley opening pair, but didn’t help themselves when a couple of early catches went down.
Openers James Bright and George Lethaby bowled well without success, with James particularly unlucky as he forced the Waverley batsmen into a series of play and misses.
Steve Bown and Sam Holbrook came into the attack and broke the pairing and the wickets soon began to tumble as it became apparent that the Waverley batting line-up lacked significant depth.
Sam was in fine form taking 4 wickets whilst Bownie took one before Dan Sumner joined in the action taking three quick wickets with some spin bowling that the middle order couldn’t handle.
George Lethaby took a simple late wicket as Waverley got bogged down just about seeing out their overs whilst behind the stumps, Matt Vickers had an exemplary day.
With a good looking batting line-up, Oakley should have been in control but the majority of what followed resembled an episode of the Keystone Cops as wickets tumbled in a dramatic, comedic and chaotic fashion.
Opener, Scott Bright, after scoring 61 on Saturday, looked settled, but fellow opener Jack Brundle spectacularly smashed on in to his own stumps (the equivalent of an own goal) only to be replaced by Bob Lethaby who had a knock of 36 not out last week that he doesn’t like to talk about.
After nearly going for a golden duck, Bob took advantage of his escape, impersonating a bare footed Frank Spencer on a hot tin roof, before letting one through a gateway between bat and pad that was approximately the width of the entrance to Buckingham Palace.
In Bob’s case, sadly, class is temporary, form is permanent.
Bob’s son, George, followed, going for a meagre 8 in an innings that was a fine impression of his dad wearing wig, so it was now Alex Brundle’s turn to defy all the odds by somehow putting on a worse display than his brother. He did so with aplomb, executing two defensive prods before a cross bat hoik at thin air that resulted in a majestic duck.
Amongst the pandemonium, Scott Bright had departed for 26 whilst captain, Dan Sumner, tried to bring a sense of normality to proceedings by being one of the first players to make use of his bat.
James Bright went for a duck with, it has to be said, the only jaffa of a ball the opposition delivered all afternoon, meaning Dan was joined by friend of the Bright’s, Murray, who clumped two fours and a six in a quick-fire innings that could have been the catalyst for unlikely victory.
After the departure of Murray, wicket keeper, Matt Vickers was a bit unlucky when out for 5 and it was now down to Sam Holbrook to aid Dan to victory. As always, when Sam hits the ball, it tends to stay hit, but what was shaping up to be a good innings ended on 20 as hopes of victory evaporated in the afternoon sunshine.
Dan Sumner and Sam Holbrook attempted to rescue the Oaks
Steve Bown, in at 11, tried to hold up an end but ultimately, the Oakley batting line-up had failed their beleaguered captain who ended up stranded on 41 not out.
On a positive note, the sun shone brightly and Waverley, as always, spent handsomely in the bar afterwards, so at least the club funds were bolstered by a few quid.
It was of course, left to Bob, complete with sunburnt head, to provide the final piece of afternoon entertainment, hopping in his car before realising he had left his ignition on all day, killing his battery stone dead. As a clown prince of Sunday cricket, Bob as ever, was the peerless stand-out performer, amongst it has to be said, some pretty stiff opposition.
Special thanks to Petua Sumner (teas) Paul Sumner for all the cleaning and tidying of the club house and Jack Brundle for driving back to the club with a set of jump leads.
Up the Oaks!