Match Report from Bob Lethaby: Reading Lions vs Oakley
A Sunny Day in Oakley
The Reading Lions roared into Oakley yesterday for a hastily arranged friendly. After one of the wettest, most miserable, dull, and downright depressing starts to the summer, Oakley Park was, after a cloudy start, bathed in hot sunshine on an afternoon that British people would claim as “a bit too hot if anything.” We have short memories.
Opening Overs and Chair’s Magic
The Oaks bowled first with youngsters Ryan Parry and Zak Newton opening. Both were a little up and down, with Zak taking some tap against one technically useful batsman and another who hit thin air for a series of sixes before eventually finding his eye. He was the stereotypical ‘he won’t die wondering’ batsman that every club has, although in league cricket he would have died wandering from his crease in a manner that would make chairman Bob Lethaby blush.
Speaking of the chair, he replaced Zak at the Oakley Hall end and was soon weaving his oft-ignored magic to cast a spell over the Lions, leaving them tamed like… well, lions, I guess? Bob was joined at the other end by the mesmerizing magician, James ‘Mesmeric’ Middleton. Broad/Anderson, McGrath/Warne, Walsh/Ambrose, Lethaby/Middleton—some partnerships just roll off the tongue. Some might call that a grandiose statement, but I don’t care.
Mesmeric Middleton picked up the first wicket, but this was to be his partner’s show, with Bob, biceps pumping like a traction engine, ripping through the top and middle order with unerring gusto. By the time Bob narrowly missed a hat-trick, the watching first team skipper, Dan Jones, had decided he’d seen enough and left the arena. It was apparent he’ll be scratching his head during this week’s selection process.
Change of Pace
To offer some mercy to the batsmen, captain Kris Tucknott removed Bob and brought himself and Ravi on. Ravi, another man on a mission after a dark week in his Oakley career, returned great figures of 1/11 off five as Kris got spanked around the park at the other end. Desperate to repair the damage, he brought on Michael Wood, who bowled a tidy spell of raw (ish) pace for figures of 1/10 off his 3-over spell.
Bob was brought back with Zak to finish off the tail, but they couldn’t get the breakthrough, partly due to the humidity turning wicketkeeper Dean James into being about as much use as a blindfolded Stephen Hawking for the last 10 overs. In fairness, it was getting hot, too hot if anything. So, the Lions finished on 165-8, a reasonable but not insurmountable target.
The Chase Begins
The Oaks opened with Woody and Benjamin, who was still recovering from a few heavy days watching football in Germany. This may have been the reason Ben tried to run two when it didn’t look on. He was gone. Harry Tucknott then came in and used his height to stand tall and slap the ball around with a host of punched front foot drives. This lad can bat and a maiden 50 will come along sooner rather than later.
Middle Order Struggles
Woody got done by a good ball and departed on 19, but Alex ‘Josh’ Rogan started where Woody left off and used those big old arms to hammer some lusty blows in an entertaining knock of 16. Ravi then came in looking to show the world—well, Oakley at least—that he could bat. He proved he could, whacking it about a bit but did lose Harry for an excellent 33. This brought Bob to the crease. A highly intelligent and beautifully executed leave shot was followed by an absolute jaffer that would have got Joe Root out, leaving Bob on his way back for a commendable 0 from 2 deliveries.
James Middleton followed Bob, looking like he meant business. Marching to the crease with his bat over his shoulder like the gun of a far-right Christian evangelist off to shoot some innocent elephants, James was determined to make investing his children’s inheritance on lessons at Dummer pay off. And he did too, with a knock of 20 being his highest Oakley return.
Oakley tried to keep going long enough to reach the target, but 8 from Ryan and an unbeaten 6 from Zak Newton weren’t quite enough to tame these Lions of Reading. However, it was a well-fought, fun game, and the Lions all hung around for beers and a chat after the game. So, a good day all around on a hot afternoon… a bit too hot if anything.
On we travel…