Match report from Will Rabley
Last weekend the Oakley first 11 welcomed Hook to the fortress we all call Oakley Park, with both teams looking to climb back into the promotion fight.
The match day started like every single match this season and Alex lost the toss. Don’t worry Alex I’m sure you will get the record. Hook decided to put the Oaks into field as they looked to amount a target that we were unable to chase. This set young Josh Carpenter and very old Dave Bowers bearing down onto the batsmen.
The first two balls of Hook’s innings showed that they may have been on top in this game. However this was not the case. Josh gave those two 4’s up to get into the batman’s head. Then the 5th ball of the over zipped past Hook’s opening batsman taking a feint edge. This saw Hook at 8 for 1 at the end of the first over then the Oakley bowling attack got to work restricting the Hook’s batting line-up as much as we could.
Then came around the 8th over where the second wicket of the game fell and again it was to young Josh Carpenter. Hook’s wicket keeper pushed at a delivery, and it flew straight into the hands of the returning Will Cheyney at short cover. This then bought the ever-dependable Stefan Kaltner into the attack off the back of a fifer last week. Then Dave Bowers eventually finished his spell and got a wicket, I think. Can’t really remember the spell as it was a bit boring.
Dave made way for Dan Jones. Dan and Stef got to work trying to break the Hook partnership that was forming. Stef was unlucky to not get a wicket in this match with multiple plays and misses from the batsmen. Then perhaps the strangest ball was bowled, a lovely full toss that was going to be put into the field and that’s where everyone was looking. However, then Nigel Bishop seemed to fall to the ground, and everyone was confused. Turns out the ball had been smashed right towards him to gift DJ a wicket. Stefan did end up getting a wicket in this match although it was from some excellent fielding of the bowling of Kalum. The final 2 wickets fell to the skipper in the 42nd over and the final ball of the game. This saw Hook get to 230.
The Oaks then went into bat, opening with Will Cheyney and Dan Jones scoring 23 off the first 5 overs. Unfortunately, the first ball of the 6th over saw DJ fall to a caught and bowled. This then bought in Nigel to steady the ship with Will Cheyney. These two then added 44 runs before Nigel’s innings came to an end after being bowled. This was the time in the match that the momentum shifted Oakley’s way as Woody strolled to the crease. On his first ball Woody got off the mark and signalled hit intent to help push Oakley over the line.
Woody and Will Cheyney set another big partnership for the Oaks putting on 50 runs before Will was removed for 44; a very good performance for his first game back. With the fall of Will’s wicket, the most dangerous partnership of the innings was formed with Josh coming into the game. Woody and Josh chipped away at Hook’s lead which was still at 114 runs. This partnership saw 87 runs added to the Oakley total with Josh scoring a lovely 50 and frustrating the Hook bowling attack. Unfortunately for the two Oakley batsmen both fell to back-to-back balls from Liam Doran.
Then the skipper, Alex Brundle, came to the crease with keeper Ian Bennett. Ian unluckily fell to his first ball. This flurry of wickets threw somewhat of a spanner into the works. Although this spanner was quickly dislodged by Alex and Stefan scurrying between the wickets to get the final 21 runs for the victory. All round a good day for the Oaks. with some great energy in the field and everyone playing their part right to the end.
On to Colden Common next week where we look to stake our claim in the promotion conversation.