A makeshift Oakley Sunday 11 didn’t have enough fire-power to tame a strong opposition batting line-up on a warm afternoon at Crondall Cricket Club yesterday.
Batting first captain Dan Sumner put in Jack Brundle and the veteran of many Oakley battles, Gordon Scott, who emerged once more from the shadows of retirement in his 66th year, which is actually quite young for Sunday cricket.
A decent partnership of 40 ensued, with Gordon beaming with pleasure after a hefty blow on the left nipple followed by another that crashed in to his ankle a few balls later, before he eventually departed for a gutsy 12, safe in the knowledge he should be walking again by Friday.
Jack Brundle kept going into the twenties despite suffering from exhaustion and demanding drinks like a 90 year old man who had just scored a double century in the Sahara Desert. However, just when he looked set for a maiden 50, the pressure got to him and he departed for a commendable 31, his highest score in an Oakley shirt…in fact, any shirt.
Flying High: Jack celebrates his best score of 31
This allowed man of moment, Bob Lethaby, to the crease, bristling with all the confidence of a man who has smashed 41 runs in his last 66 overs. After showing his growing group of admirers a couple of overs of trademark, turgid defence, his captain Dan Sumner, ordered, with some authority, an opening of the shoulders.
Older readers of his post will recall when Ian Botham once said to Graham Dilley “Let’s give it some humpty” when faced with a near impossible mission in the 1981 Ashes Series. However, in truth, when the same rule applies to Bob, it is the equivalent of asking a Kangaroo to up sticks and start a new life in Greenland.
However, not being one to accept the brutal reality of his ineptitude, Bob opened his shoulders and starting to swing like a suburban couple at a 70’s dinner party and before long, remarkably, an eclectic flurry of the sublime and the ridiculous got the scoreboard ticking along nicely.
Aided by cameo roles from Dan Sumner, Steve Bown and in particular, Oscar Rowley, who smashed an excellent quick-fire 20, a maiden 50 was becoming realistic target. However, sadly for Bob, but gladly for his fellow Oakley members, who would never hear the last of it, Bob fell 5 runs short, finishing his innings on a career high of 45 not-out as the overs ran out.
45 Not Out: Bob Missed out on 50 he wouldn’t like to talk about
Defending 154, the Oaks missed Alex Brundle and George Lethaby badly as Crondall had a couple classy batsmen in their top four and they were pretty much merciless with the ‘bad ball’ racing along to the target in the blink of an eye.
There were a couple of wickets, one apiece for Steve Bown and Dan Sumner, but by then the game had gone, which at least allowed Dan to give overs to Colts players, Ethan Taylor and Brett King, who didn’t let anyone down and even created a few chances as the Crondall opener plundered an excellent hundred.
Crondall, as always, were excellent hosts and as is the tradition, a few beers and tales of cricket ineptitude at the Plume of Feathers public house ended what was a good day for all concerned.
Especially for Bob…he scored 45 not out you know, but you won’t hear him talking about it…never!