A batting collapse on a par with an episode of Laurel & Hardy, had the Oakley One’s cursing themselves for throwing away a certain victory before eventually scrambling a tie with the scores locked on 158.
Bowling first, Jimmy Bright and Tommy Holbrook were in fine shape, pinning down the Whitchurch attack with some excellent bowling and when the breakthrough was made, courtesy of a spectacular catch by Michael ‘Woody, Woodman, Woodstock’ Wood, it was the least the Oaks deserved.
Even with wickets hard to come by, the Oaks were well on top as the scoreboard stagnated, with Clive Welsman once again causing problems for scoring batsmen with outstanding figures of 1 for 19 off 10 overs.
Other wickets went to Mark Potter, Jimmy Bright and Alex Brundle, who was excellent late on with a vital 3 for 23.
Great Start: The Oaks bowled and fielded exceptionally well
Chasing 158, the Oaks dug in with Dan Sumner and Gerry Dique looking comfortable as they put on a solid opening 50 partnership. However, when Gerry departed with Woody going soon afterwards, it began to look like the game would not be all plain sailing.
Paddy Saines steadied the ship in a 35 run partnership with Dan, who remained steadfast as he passed 50, an excellent knock on a tough pitch. However, when both went in quick succession, chaos ensued with wickets falling like dominoes on the leaning tower of Pisa.
A collapse featuring more ducks than a village pond then saw the Oaks go from 124-3 to 134-9, leaving a bemused looking Alex Brundle and Clive Welsman at the crease with 25 needed and the game looking done.
However, in another twist, they hung on, ticking the scoreboard along, and when Alex pumped a six in the last over, it looked like a victory from the jaws of an inexplicable defeat. With one ball left and two needed, Alex miscued and the game seemed up, however, a no-ball saved him and tied the score.
With the extra ball, Alex missed and just failed to complete his heroic innings but he had still rescued the Oaks with 17 runs as the number 11, helping them to at least avoid a humiliating defeat.
Looking at the first team line-up, it is full of players who can bat well, but in cricket, on a tough pitch, you have to earn your runs and too many players failed to do that, an issue that needs addressing in training.
MOM: Dan Sumner – An outstanding half-century on a tough pitch
Up the Oaks!