A depleted second string were well beaten by a very strong Silchester side at a balmy Oakley Park yesterday. In an eclectic age range in a team that featured a 13 year-old and a 65 year-old, it could be argued that all that was missing was a corpse and an embryo.
Bowling first, George Lethaby and Lance Van Dyk grafted hard in the strong sunshine and if a few half-chances had stuck, things may have been a tighter.
However, Silchester got on top and piled on the runs but the effort of the Oaks fielders can’t be faulted and a fine catch (think Salmon taking the first Mayfly of Spring) by Bob Lethaby and an excellent stumping by Steve Savage, briefly lifted spirits on what was a tough afternoon where Silchester amassed 267.
The wickets were shared between Dan Jones, Perry King and Tom Barnes.
Depleted Oaks: The second string worked hard on a tough afternoon at Oakley Park
Chasing respectability rather than the target, the Oaks lost Steve Savage early but Dan Jones dug in and Dan Beckell scored 20 in a decent knock. When Dan went, George Lethaby came in and looked in great nick mixing solid defence with attack, before being on the receiving end of a fast daisy cutter he couldn’t dig out and he exited for 21.
Bob Lethaby entered the fray and looked really good taking his guard, but that was about it, and he departed, done all ends up for a well constructed gold one.
Dan Jones continued to play with maturity and it was great to see Jack Brundle construct his highest score for the Oaks, but the game ended with a flurry of wickets to condemn the Oaks to a heavy defeat as they ended on 122.
There were positives, one being the determination of the fielders not to give up and the other being the batting of both Dan’s, George and Jack, which will offer hope of better days ahead; it is unlikely they will come across a better team than Silchester in that league.
Well done to all the lads who fought hard for the team and never gave up.
Up the Oaks!