A bumper crowd were treated to vintage display of cricketing excellence on a beautiful day at Oakley Park yesterday, with the Bob Lethaby XI defeating the Michael Wood Invitational XI in a keenly fought battle of wit, cunning and individual excellence.
After being put into bat before doing a toss for the sake of tradition, Bob’s XI got off to a decent, if not rather turgid start with the highlight being veteran, Gordon Scott, gleefully pumping Steve Bown to all parts of the ground.
Wickets came and went but runs were also mounting up, with decent contributions from Jack Brundle and Gordon Scott and an excellent maiden 50 for Matt Vickers. Backed up by some useful tail-end contributions from Brad “I don’t like to talk about it” Compton-Bearne, Ben Farragher, Alex Gray and George Lethaby, Bob’s side completed their innings on 205.
Sometimes in sport, you wonder if the script has been written in advance and when Alex Gray, on the last ball of the innings, looped a shot high in to the air towards the irrepressible Deano James, a golden moment in Oakley’s long history beckoned. The birds stop singing, the leaves in the trees stopping rustling and the supporters and players stood still and silent in anticipation of absolute scenes of celebration.
However, Deano, never one to conform to the perceived norm, doesn’t work to scripts, so he dropped it.
A great crowd turned up at Oakley Park for the Big Rich Memorial Day
With a big target to chase, Woody brought out the big guns, with Chris Garret and Deano James set the task of plundering early runs to get the chase going. However, this was counteracted by Bob opening the bowling, utilising his own raw pace at one end, with under 15 sixth change bowler, Isaac Reeves, steaming in at the other.
Bob, known to many as the Oakley Express, tore into the batting attack like an uncontrollable tornado and it wasn’t long before he totally obliterated the stumps with a delivery of such ferocity, it had a bamboozled Deano resembling a new born baby foal on an iced lake.
Wickets continued to fall and when Woody holed out with a mistimed slog that would have mad Big Rich weep and Bownie followed after violent swing at thin air, only to see the wall loop on to his stumps, the chase seemed over, with only pride to play for.
However, a late stand by Nathan Stamp and Pat Cross gave some momentum to the innings and a tight finish briefly looked on, but when the partnership was broken by Jack Brundle (who was standing out as a beacon of hope to the England selectors debating the loss of James Anderson) it only left a late cameo of comedy by Mike Pemberton as a consolation.
The game was followed by a BBQ and a steady flow of alcohol as players and supporters reflected on the feast of top class cricket they had witnessed. As well as the trophy going to the Bob Lethaby XI, the Man of the Match Award went to Matt Vickers who took two wickets as well as being the game’s top scorer, with 50 retired.
Of course, the event was created to remember and celebrate the life of Richard (Big Rich) Wood, who was a regular supporter of the club and if he was watching from above yesterday, he would have seen the good and decent players and supporters of Oakley CC having a great time, poking fun at each other, having lots of laughs and enjoying their day.
He would have liked that.
Special thanks to Deano (BBQ) Pete (Bar) Woody’s auntie (Cakes) and everyone else who came along to make it lovely day where the sun shone on the righteous.