Report by Michael Wood
Oakley rocked up to Amport, which is near Andover and has a massive house in the distance. It was all a bit odd as when we looked on the map, we didn’t see it, all a bit dodgy if you ask me.
Batting First
Anyway, Bayliss put us through our paces with a good warm which was mainly fielding practice, so he obviously lost the toss, and we got put in to bat. Opening the batting was Matt and DJ and both started well, looking nice a solid before DJ got out LBW the silly bugger.
But this didn’t matter too much as in came Woody to steady the ship, which of course he didn’t, and he also got out LBW to an unplayable in-swinging yorker. While the top order were busy getting themselves out, Matt was batting very well. Hitting the bad balls and keeping out the good ones. Good grief! he was making it look easy.
Josh came in at 5 and starting well before getting himself out on 20 (caught). Bayliss came in and walked back very quickly, so quickly you could have blinked and missed it. Tiley, the same, which meant William Cheyney had a chance to show us all he can bat. Well, he sort of did and was very attacking but soon got caught.
50 For Matt as Charlie Goes Berserk
Matt was still there and got himself to 50 and was starting to open up. Although we had lost wickets, we still had a lot of runs but we did need more. Paddy and Stefan tried to hold up an end while Matt was getting the runs but it was not until Charlie came in that the game really changed.
Charlie went berserk and whacked the bowlers around the ground getting, smacking two sixes in a row and getting a vital 37. Matt finally got out for 89, but it was a sensational knock. Oakley ended up 238 and tea was had. Well, most of us had eaten it already and there were no cuppas available, so we mainly sat around chatting.
Defending 239 With Steaming Stef
Right, so 239 was needed to win. Were they going to get it? Not a chance. Stefan opened up and looked like he was up for it, like he normally is. Then WALLOP, he got a wicket with his 2nd ball, nicking off to Paddy taking a hard catch he made look easy.
At the other end, Harry Tucknott who is just 15 but about 7’ 2” was steaming in. After going close he did get the wicket he deserved. Stefan was bowling wonderfully and picked up a further 2 wickets before coming off.
Charlie had a go, but looked a bit tired, so Tiley came on partnering Josh. Josh was bowling pure gas and was far too quick for the batsmen and when he got his radar all sorted, he picked up a wicket. Tiley also got a good caught and bowled before it was time for a bit of spin.
William’s Web Secures Win
Bayliss brought on Will who was soon ripping it sideways picking up 3 wickets with some unplayable delivers. DJ also picked up a late wicket and before you knew it, Oakley had won the game. Stefan was the pick of the bowlers going through the top order like an absolute geezer.
Man-of-the-match however, was Matt who was brilliant with the bat. Huge shout out to Bayliss who didn’t put a foot wrong skippering the side to the first league win of the season.
On we travel, as the chairman might say…