Oakley maintained a double promotion push on Saturday with both teams recording comfortable victories in cool but sunny late summer conditions.
The firsts put on an impressive showing at Longparish, accumulating on a formidable total of 261 with Adam Robinson once again in belligerent form with an aggressive 102.
Other contributions came all the way down the order, notably from Neil Robinson (42) and Tom Holbrook (25) with Bob Lethaby adding some late innings entertainment for his team mates with a knock of 7 (seven) not out that was riddled with class.
In fairness to Longparish, they had a go, but as the wickets tumbled they appeared to settle for the consolation of completing their 42 Overs.
The Oaks worked hard to get Longparish all out but stoical middle order defiance from two veterans frustrated the bowlers enough to allow them (Longparish) to complete their allocated overs with 9 down.
Wickets went to Clive Welsman (3) Tom Holbrook, Andy Woodgate, Neil Robinson and emerging all rounder, Bob Lethaby, who was in excellent form, picking up three wickets with a bamboozling cocktail of of doosra’s, flippers, googly’s, wrongun’s, sliders and reverse good balls that had the Longparish batsmen flaying at the ball as if they were one armed men trying to kill a snake in a phone box.
What a talent Bob is.
Bob’s brother, Keith Cutmore, also bowled well and was unlucky not to pick up a wickets as reward for his efforts.
Ton Up: Adam Robinson Set Oakley Firsts Up With a Marvellous 102
Meanwhile, down the road at Oakley, the seconds were eventually making light work of Ashford Hill II’s after a shaky period with the bat early on. 63 year old youngster, Steve Savage, kept the innings together with a well constructed fifty that was well supported by Alex Brundle (42) and his irrepressible brother, Jack, who made a 19.
The Oaks eventually put on 216 and when Ashford Hill crumbled to 7 for 7 an Oakley defeat seemed about as likely as a confirmed sighting of Elvis Presley riding two abreast on Shergar with Lord Lucan…On the surface of Venus.
Pick of the bowlers was Steve “Chinese, Bowner, Bownster, Bownie” Bown, who returned incredible figures of 4-5 off 10 with some of the meanest and most aggressive overs seen since Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose took Mike Atherton’s England to pieces in Trinidad some 20 years ago.
There were also wickets for Callum Van Dyk, Lance Van Dyk, Alex Brundle (2) and emerging colt, Dan Jones, as Ashford Hill eventually scrambled to 81, leaving captain Michael “Woody, Woodman, Woodster, Woodie” Wood happy enough to drink heavily into the evening.
So the season is set up for a thrilling climax next weekend with the seconds in what is effectively a final against second placed Odiham, whilst a first team win will guarantee them the second promotion spot.
Keep going boys, one last push for glory.
Up the Oaks