After the disappointment of a recent abandonment and a weekend without a fixture, it was a record-breaking day for the Two’s on a super sunny Saturday at Oakley Park.
Due to excellent availability, skipper, Jack Brundle, was able to field a strong side and attempt to rebuild the season. The same couldn’t be said for Hartley Wintney, whose availability was dented by a musical event taking place in the village.
A Rutty and Burrell Platform
This made The Oaks strong favourites from the off. Batting first, George Rutt and Matt Burrell set about taking full advantage. Both players played a host of good shots, on occasion, having to be creative against some eclectic Wintney bowling.
Just when it looked like they would bat all day, Matt was well caught over the head of the fielder who looked a red-hot favourite to get nowhere near it. It was a fine catch and Matt had to go on 43, leaving George Rutt to move past 50, with Steve Bown joining him.
50 up: Rutty completes an excellent 50.
Bownie sensed this could be a day for some confidence boosting runs and moved through the gears quickly. Meanwhile, Rutty was heading towards a ton but clearly getting exhausted. This led to his eventual downfall, and he had to wearily depart on what was a tremendous 88.
This brought George Lethaby to the crease to join Bownie, who had already moved to 32. George and Bown had batted well together in the nets during the week and made a joint decision to go on the attack. With plenty of batting to come, it was a positive move and tired or inexperienced Wintney bowling started flying to all parts.
Club Record and a George Ton
Bownie soon passed 50 with George chasing him down and it started looking like this onslaught could lead to centuries. A flurry of sixes from George allowed him to pass Bownie into the eighties, by which time the club record of 336 was in sight. That record was soon passed and Bownie, sensing George now had more chance of a ton than himself, started looking at helping him over the line. This led to Bown giving George (now on 92) the strike, with 4 balls to go.
Visibly knackered, George picked up a 2, leaving him three balls to get six for his ton. A swing and a miss, then another, left him needing six off the last ball. The delivery landed in the slot and off it went, over the bowler’s head and into the field to complete a hundred in style. A great finish to an innings that left The Oaks on a mind-blowing 360 -2. Bownie finished on 82 in an unbeaten partnership worth 169. A fine effort.
Partners in sublime: George and Bown put on a chaotic unbeaten 169 partnership
Finishing the Job
With the game all but won, skipper, Jack Brundle, decided to remove George and Bown as bowling options, ensuring everyone got a game. New boy Charlie Ead (4-22) was the pick of the seven bowlers, so nearly picking up a fifer on debut. That said, everyone bowled well and there were also wickets for Kalum Sapumanage (2-17) Herbie Hamilton (1-9) Jeff Triner (1-10) and Harry Tucknott (1-11).
Wintney were dismissed for 107, ensuring maximum points and Jack could look at it as a job well done. Wintney were a willing and good spirited team who were unfortunate to be weakened on a day when The Oaks were very strong. That shouldn’t take away the credit from Matt, Rutty, Bownie and George though. They still had to make the runs and at times, be imaginative with shot-making against unpredictable deliveries.
So, a good day that was about to get better as the results from the other teams came in.
Up the Oaks!