The Oaks were left devastated after just missing out on what would have been a memorable win versus Eversley at an increasingly cold and cloudy Oakley Park yesterday.
Bowling first Mark Potter and Clive Welsman were really tight, going for very little and when Gerry Dique took a sharp catch on his chest in the slips, Eversley knew they were in a game.
However after a couple of half chances went down, the Eversley number three started to get his eye in, showing he was a class act, taking apart anything wayward as Potts tired and Jimmy Bright struggled to find his line.
Clive, captaining for the day had to gamble and put on Dan Sumner and Alex Brundle who both bowled superbly, with Brundle getting the dangerous number 3 (McGowan) caught and bowled as he started to open up after passing fifty, whilst Dan removed the opener at the other end.
Sensing Alex was tiring Clive brought on George Lethaby, who took his opportunity with gusto, taking two middle order wickets in an excellent five over spell as the Oaks got themselves right back in the contest.
However, the Oaks tired in the field and few basic mistakes with ground fielding allowed boundaries that should have been avoided and Eversley got themselves to 200 when it could have easily been 20 or so less.
Left to Right: Bown, Dique, Potter, Welsman, Compton-Bearne, Bright (S), Lethaby, Bright (J), Sumner, Brundle, Saines
Chasing the target, whilst Dan Sumner started a little nervously, Gerry Dique was looking composed as he plundered three quick fours. However an edge resulting in a smart catch sent Gerry walking for 16 and when Paddy Saines got done by a jaffa of a ball for two, the Oaks were in trouble.
By now Dan had settled and he began building a partnership with Scott Bright who was looking in good shape but in a moment of misfortune, Scott called for a quick single, not knowing Dan had a tightening quad muscle that left him run-out by a good foot. Brighty fell soon after, infuriated with himself after mistiming a full toss when he was well set.
Brad Compton- Bearne entered the fray with an entertaining and chaotic 16 that included two sixes and a four whilst Steve Bown, picking up a bat for the first time this season, struggled against some excellent bowling from McGowan and got undone for one.
By the time Clive and Potts came to the crease, the game looked pretty much up, but they settled and started building a partnership that edged the Oaks to respectability and then the possibly of victory.
However an inexplicable run-out had Potts walking just as he was showing some real class and Clive had to rebuild with Jimmy Bright. Jimmy was really upset after not doing himself justice with the ball but he responded by batting with class and composure as the scoreboard ticked along.
Clive completed a magnificent and almost faultless fifty and it looked like he and Jimmy might finish the job but a stumping saw him depart with 18 required. The nerves then jangled and Jimmy was run-out after a frantic mix-up leaving it to Alex Brundle and George Lethaby to chase the 15 required.
With a couple of edges, quick singles and a cut for three, they got the target down to five but on the last ball of the penultimate over, George edged to the keeper who gobbled up an instinctive catch and it was all over.
George and Al, mates on and off the pitch, sat alone in the dressing room for a while, wondering what they could have done more but ultimately, sometimes an edge goes for 4, sometimes the ball misses the bat altogether and other times in goes into the gloves; that’s cricket for you, there were ifs buts and maybes in both innings and most of them went the way of Eversley, who were a very good side who took their chances well and fielded just a little better than the Oaks..
As excellent as they both were, we all know what Clive and Potts can do with the ball, but on reflection, what was a major consolation from the narrowest of defeats against a team who play a far higher standard, was that Alex Brundle (1-40) Dan Sumner (2-33) and George Lethaby (2-28) given the right instructions and field placings, can bowl against very good batsmen and take big wickets and Jimmy Bright can bat calmly under pressure with genuine shot making. He is no tail-ender.
The blatantly obvious man of the match was Clive Welsman who went for just 20 runs in nine overs, nearly won it with a fine half-century, and captained with guile and experience, galvanising the young players in particular, to believe in themselves by showing his belief in them; it was a typical example of how to captain a young side.
Well done to all concerned, we move on and look forward to a successful season.
Up the Oaks!