The Sunday 11, or should I say 9, finished the season in style with a fine and hard earned win at Hartley Wintney yesterday.
Batting first, Oakley lost Dan Sumner early but a brilliant stand of 97 between Callum Van Dyk and Darrell Dimond put the Oaks in command before a plethora of late wickets that appeared to be costly.
Bob Lethaby once again looked a class act before departing just 48 short of a maiden 50 and was replaced by Jack Brundle who batted well for his 23 before some calamitous stuff from George Lethaby and Alex Brundle left Matt Vickers stranded at one end as the Oaks collapsed to 164 all out.
Defending the total, lovers, George Lethaby and Alex Brundle made amends for their pathetic batting with some excellent, disciplined bowling that left the Hartley openers struggling to get the scoreboard moving.
George went for just 13 off 7 overs and Alex, with a brilliant slower ball, removed one of the openers before 15 year old Tom Barnes stood up to the mark with an excellent spell that included the removal of Hartley’s most dangerous batsman.
Callum Van Dyk picked up where the others left off and the Oaks continued to pick up the wickets with some fine catching and stingy fielding really putting the pressure with Jack Brundle taking a flying catch despite tripping over as he ran towards the ball.
The game was still on though and with a depleted field, the Oaks still needed to defend hard with 20 needed off the last three overs with a couple of wickets in hand,
However, the Oaks held their nerve in the field and an excellent last over from Alex Brundle resulted in Hartley being all out 11 short of victory.
Hartley Wintney were excellent and sporting hosts who provided Oakley with an fine tea and warm congratulations in what was a fitting fixture to end a succesful season.
Well done to all the regular lads and helpers in the Sunday set-up including, Dan Sumner (captain) Paul Sumner (umpiring and photography) Petua Sumner (teas) Alex Brundle and George Lethaby (bar stock and finance).
We all agreed after that it has been a great summer where friendships have been cemented amongst some fine cricket, some occasionally ugly hangover inspired cricket, some calamitous cricket, and most of all some right good laughs along the way; it was also day tinged with sadness that it is all done for another year.
At least we have the indoor league to look forward to.
Up the Oaks!