Challenging Start
The Second XI somehow got their game on yesterday despite the awful weather across the region. Holybourne rocked up at around 10:30 for an 11 AM start that would allow us to watch the football at 5:00 PM. The Oaks batted first and openers Rutty and Josh were given a stern test of their resolve in, shall we say, difficult conditions. Imagine, if you will, playing cricket in October.
Rutty struggled a bit in the conditions and went for a 23-ball 5 and was replaced by DJ, who joined a now flowing Josh. Deej, struggling for form this season, found his groove and was looking good until his innings ended in unfortunate circumstances. A front-foot drive from Josh deflected off the bowler’s hand and onto the stumps. He had to go. Bugger.
Middle Order Contributions
This brought Ian ‘Eeeboy’ Bennett. Ian, only just getting over a no-ball from last week, soon started motoring along. At least until he was stopped in his tracks LBW. Kris doesn’t like giving LBWs and Ian doesn’t like getting them. We have no tracking device at Oakley so he had to leave the cauldron for a useful 17.
Meanwhile, Josh had been happily going about his business, passing 50 without fuss or fanfare. He was joined by George Lethaby who picked up where Ian left off, hitting some good strokes whilst aiding Josh towards a first ton of 2024. Another rain break added to the tension, drama and indeed, buzz when Josh had to leave the arena on 99.
Battling the Elements and a Lower Order Collapse
If there is one good thing about playing cricket in an October storm, it’s that the wind pushes the downpours through quickly, lending weight to what, this summer, is becoming the rather tedious saying about clouds having a silver lining. The skies cleared and Josh reached his ton with a single and was cleaned up a few balls later. He needs to concentrate more, that boy.
Thereafter, it was all about having a whack and getting us past 200. Tiley (5) and Neil Robbo (9) both did that and were followed by quacks for Kalum and Joby as wickets went down quicker than a drunk man on a spiral staircase. This left Zak having to see off one ball to avoid a quadruple wicket maiden, or the chairman would have to bat.
There was a minor issue here as Bob was umpiring at square leg in the type of full civilian gear that people only normally wear in summer, not deep into autumn. Zak saw off the impending ‘that’s so village’ moment whilst, at the other end, George finished unbeaten on a commendable 26, that might have been a few more if he had got on strike in the last 3 overs.
Duckworth-Lewis Confusion and Holybourne’s Chase
The rain meant some sort of reduced target via Duckworth-Lewis. Duckworth and Lewis must be sick in the head as it’s a seemingly ludicrous way of sorting out a cricket match. I think it works like this: You take the final score of the batting team’s innings, take a plumber’s toolbox, remove 2 spanners (but not the mole grips) and a screwdriver, multiply the rest of the contents by three, and add the square root of the previous night’s bar takings. For the overs, you take the number of rain breaks and multiply them by seven.
This left Holybourne needing 170 off 28, but that was changed by another shower. By counting the packets of Haribos on the display cabinet and the number of stumps at one end of the wicket, the target became 160 from 25. Bourne then decided that they would go death or glory so they could get home for the football.
Glory looked a possibility as Patel and Arnold went all Bazball on us, which wasn’t really in the script. However, when Patel got cleaned up by a jaffa from Neil Robinson, The Oaks assumed some sort of control. However, Arnold remained and while he was there, there was danger, although a pulled calf aided our cause.
Gushy Moments and Victory
Wickets fell around him as Neil picked up another, Joby gained a first 2s wicket, and Kalum another. DJ then started to weave his magic and Bob tempted Elliot Milner into another six with the wind behind him. It was taken smartly on the boundary by his son George in a gushing moment fit for an American romcom. “God I love you son.” “I love you too, Papa.”
Once the tears of emotion had dried in the 40mph gusts, DJ finally got Arnold, with the miscue fortunately going to the safe hands of Josh, who took three in all. With the game won, it was a case of polishing off the tail who helped us along by choosing a go-big-or-go-home strategy as the England kick-off time got closer.
So, maximum points made the grief worth it. It was a horrible day to play cricket, but we needed it to improve our season average. It was hard work for all concerned, and fair play to Holybourne for a spirited performance, going win or bust. Hopefully, they got back in time for the football.
On we travel.