The first team, bereft of their opening partnership of Dan Sumner and Gerry Dique, who have, rather selfishly, gone on holiday, put up a brave fight in defeat at Dinton yesterday.
Batting first, despite decent bowling from the Oaks, in particular Jimmy Bright, Dinton started plundering runs with any fielding errors being exaggerated by a quick out field where the ball quickly skidded away for four.
As well as the openers bowled however, the Oaks were lacking the variation that could have been offered by Dan Sumner or Clive Welsman because with George Lethaby and Steve Bown replacing Jimmy Bright and Tommy Holbrook, it was almost, give or take a bit of pace, replacing like for like, when perhaps, a bit of spin was required.
Mark ‘Harry’ Potter offered some part-time spin as an alternative and did really well to pick-up two wickets to go with Jimmy’s pair but this did not stop Dinton racing to 280, courtesy of a fine century from their number 4 batsman.
The Oaks opened with Darrel Dimond and Scott Bright who quickly got things moving as a 100 partnership developed only for Darrel, infuriatingly, having to leave to work his night shift as a paramedic.
Darrel made an excellent 57 and Scott, a sumptuous 73 before he was eventually caught and when in form Tommy Holbrook exited for just 1, the Oaks were looking like a collapse waiting to happen. However, the middle order did hang around with a decent partnership from Steve Bown and Mark Potter as well as a belligerent 34 from Jimmy Bright who was having an excellent afternoon.
Hot Scott: Brighty hit a sumptuous 73
The game finished on a good note with Colts player, Isaac Reeves, hitting a cracking four of the last delivery of the game, denying Dinton maximum points in the process.
Dinton were a good side, particular in the batting department, but with their opening pair in the side and with a bit of bowling variation, the result may well have been better for the Oaks. However every player put in an honest shift in a game where it was no disgrace to lose.
Some players didn’t arrive back until after 10:00 pm and after a hot day, they would have slept well. A big well done to those who gave up not only their day, but their night, for what was a long old trek.
Up the Oaks!