A combination of poor batting, good bowling by the opposition and a couple of contentious decisions put paid to any chances of the Sunday XI putting the brakes on a dismal return of weekend results for the Oaks yesterday.
Batting first, George Lethaby, replacing the injured Dan Sumner, looked like making a decent score until he got caught flat footed on one that moved away just enough to remove off stump.
Fellow opener, Gordon Scott, inexplicably dropped off the first ball of the innings, exerted some control but wickets were going for not very much at the other end, despite a reasonable knock from Jack Brundle and a brave 18 from youngster Perry King in the face of some quite hostile bowling.
With Alex Gray and Brett King going cheaply after Gordon edged one, it was down to Clive Welsman and Bob Lethaby to try to edge the game forward with Bob holding up an end as Clive played the role of aggressor.
However, just as the partnership began to get going, Clive was unlucky to get done by a misjudged LBW decision under pressure from a strong but hopeful appeal from the Hartley Wintney players.
Clive Welsman was unfortunate to be dismissed LBW
However, if Clive’s mood was fairly dark and mildly vitriolic, it was about to be paled in to insignificance by Bob Lethaby, who totally lost the plot after he was giving out stomach before wicket by an inexperienced umpire who was put under pressure from another half-hearted Hartley appeal.
Volunteer umpires need to get used to the idea that most deliveries are missing the stumps and that without DRS systems it is impossible for an amateur to give a certain LBW unless the ball pitches in line and traps someone beneath the knee roll in front of the stumps.
This was exemplified by two decisions the Hartley Umpires turned down, not on the basis they were definitely not-out, but because there was doubt and with doubt, the benefit goes to the batsman every time.
However, this did not excuse Bob exploding in to a fit of temper, kicking and throwing everything in sight as the club house turned in to the Mary Celeste before he received respective admonishment from his girlfriend and a stern talking to from Gordon Scott.
Fortunately this was a game where the result was not important but it empathises Gordon’s suggestion that the club should hold an umpires course to explain the rules of LBW that are far more complex than they might seem.
After the drama of Bob throwing toys from his pram in all directions, Alex Brundle and Matt Vickers edged the Oaks to a paltry total of 116 which was always going to be a struggle to defend.
Wickets did come for Alex Brundle, George Lethaby and Clive Welsman and as a bonus Ben Allum took a wicket and an excellent catch as stand-in captain Alex, rightly rotated the bowling, insisting that player participation in friendlies is more important than the result.
Hartley reached the target with two wickets to spare and with calmness now in the air, Clive and Bob, with the help of a couple of bottles of Ringwood, were able to look back and laugh at their misfortune.
It’s only a game.
Up the Oaks!