It was never going to be an easy day for the Oaks against a team several leagues ahead of them but when Liphook rocked up with their first team, we were always talking about damage limitation in a competition our opponents were obviously taking very seriously, which is fair enough.
Batting first and at 1-4, the Oaks were looking at the daunting prospect of enduring one of those scorecards that becomes an internet sensation, going viral for the rest of the cricketing world to have a good old chortle at.
No one wants a season of the opposition saying “aren’t you that team who were all out for six?” I can imagine it being funny until about mid-June, then someone would push it too far and we would be on the end of a further points deduction after an opposing player reported an incident at Oakley Park where he had to have a stump surgically removed from his anus.
A couple of extras and a credible 7 from Jack Brundle took the score into double figures which was of some relief before Mark Potter (18) and George Lethaby (29) shared a gutsy partnership of around 40 to get the score past 50, with the eventual total being 66.
Potts and George offering resistance in the face of a lively Liphook attack
Defending the total was always going to be a ridiculous achievement but it was good to see Brad Compton-Bearne, George Lethaby and Alex Brundle at least make Liphook work for their runs. This resulted in Brad and Alex both picking up wickets their efforts deserved.
Brad’s wicket resulted in one of the Liphook openers kindly helping out Alan North, offering a volley of self-abuse and an exquisite bat throwing exhibition to the young children who had come to an ‘Oakley Cricket Club Taster Day’. Today, as well as some batting and bowling, these bemused youngsters learnt that getting out in cricket is not very funny, even when the result is a formality.
Other entertainment featured a swarm of bees setting up home on the van of an opposing player before being taken away by a man and a woman dressed as if though they had just arrived back from a romantic self-catering holiday in Chernobyl.
There was a hive of activity at the club to day (Get it…hive…bees?)
So, good luck to Liphook in the next round, they were a good bunch of lads and with a team like this one (particularly Ganguly their opening bowler) there is no reason why they can’t go far, even if they are unlikely to meet another genuine village club like Oakley as the tournament progresses.
A good experience all the same and at least the rain stayed away after an atrocious forecast that threatened waders rather than sunscreen.
Well done to all, especially those who helped set up and of course, Miss Cherry for scoring.
Up the Oaks!