Hook edged out the Oaks in a cracking encounter at a cloudy but muggy Oakley Park yesterday, with the Oaks losing by one run as they chased victory on the last ball of the match.
The Oaks batted first, with George Lethaby and Clive Welsman putting on a great partnership of 50 odd, with George in particularly belligerent fashion before going for one shot too many and departing for an entertaining 27.
Further cameos came from Clive Welsman (33) and the Brundle brothers (twenty-something each) but the calamitous run-out of Dan Sumner (courtesy of Keith Lovelock rolling back the years) and a plethora of obligatory quack, quacks, halted a charge to a big score on a slow pitch.
The key losses were big hitting Ian Bennett, dismissed by an incredible Luke Simpson catch, and Brad Compton-Bearne who continued his ‘golden duck or glory’ campaign with a vintage pirouette at thin air, completing the 360 degrees just in time to see his bails fall off. Bob Lethaby also went for a typically well-constructed nought.
This left it to the tail to put on some valuable late runs, however, a 12 year-old smiling assassin going by the name of ‘Rooty’ Campbell, took three wickets in four balls, turning the cherry with remarkable skill as he mopped up Jack Brundle (who had earlier hit a first ever six!) Perry King and Tom Barnes. This left Dan Jones stranded on 9 and a moderate total of 146 which included no fewer than 5 ducks.
Last game, last ball: The supporters of the Oaks and Hooks were treated to a cracking encounter at Oakley Park
Chasing the target, Hook boasted an experienced looking line-up that could have taken the game away quickly. However, the wickets of Kevin Poulter (c&b Perry King) and Kish Parmer (bowled Barnes) kept the Oaks in the hunt, even though Luke Simpson was standing firm at the other before getting caught by George Lethaby off the bowling off Dan Jones for an excellent 46.
Further cameos came from the Hook youngsters with Will Wyatt playing a big role as well as young Josh May who hit a great on drive for six when the game was swinging in the favour of the Oaks. As the drama unfolded, Oakley picked up further wickets through Clive Welsman and Brad CB who dismissed Ollie May, who with all round hilarity, was squeaking like a rusty bike in his new pads…or as Bob said so succinctly…“Ollie, you sound like a porn star’s bed”.
Ultimately it came down to the last ball and Barry ‘Baz Bazzer’ Goodman (after surviving a dropped catch) was the man to deliver the two runs required as Alex Brundle pushed in the field, going for the victory gamble, rather than settling for a tie a deep field would have ensured…never mind, it was a brave move.
Barry cut the ball past the close field and completed the the two runs and the victory for Hook in what was an excellent encounter featuring the perfect balance of experience and youth in both teams.
The game was played in an excellent spirit by both sides with some great cricket along with plenty of comedic value enjoyed by the supporters of both clubs who boosted the Oakley coffers on the last Sunday of the season.
Well done to all the players and supporters of both clubs in what will hopefully become a regular home and away fixture on the summer calendar.
Back indoors next week.
Up the Oaks!