A youthful Sunday 11, where chairman, Bob Lethaby, was the oldest player by 25 years, scraped to victory at a cool but sunny Oakley Park today.
Winning the toss and bowling first, the Oaks got off to good start with George Lethaby taking two quick wickets, however, Waltham settled and moved to 45-2 at drinks.
There then followed a collapse with Waltham going on to 75-6 then 85 all out after some great bowling as well as some smart catches and an excellent Matt Vickers stumping.
The other wickets went to the excellent Dan Jones 3-4, Alex Brundle, 2-7, Callum Van Dyk, 1-23, Oscar Rowley, 1-12 and Dan Sumner 1-1 with Tom Barnes unlucky to go wicketless in a 5 over spell that went for just 10 runs.
Catches went Tom Barnes, Jack Brundle, Alex Brundle and George Lethaby.
Chasing a meagre target, Oakley struggled, with Bob Lethaby going for 4 and Dan Sumner a duck. Matt Vickers looked in good nick before going for 8 and Dan Jones followed for one.
Opener, Jack Brundle, then went for a patient 11 soon to be followed by Oscar Rowley after just one lusty 4. Callum van Dyke didn’t last much longer, going for 5, to leave Oakley reeling on 45-7.
George Lethaby and Julian Worthington steadied the ship edging the score to 74-7 before George had a blood rush, getting clean bowled when trying to find the farmers field.
Tom Barnes got cleaned up by a full toss after Julian had hit a big four and pinched a couple of singles leaving the score tied with number 11 Alex Brundle facing four bowls left in the over.
Alex, acting out of character, played three forward defence strokes as the fielders closed in on him before losing his patience on ball four, swinging like a suburban couple at a 70’s dinner party.
Fortunately, it got an inside edge that fizzed passed the stumps for four and the most dramatic of victories was complete.
This was (apart from Bob) a really young side where the second eldest player was 21, so great credit to the boys, especially for what was an exceptional effort in the field.
Thanks to Petua Sumner for the teas and the lads and ladies who popped up to support.
Up the Oaks!