An abject batting performance by the second XI left their title ambitions in tatters on a sunny but cool afternoon on Saturday after a Friday deluge had put the game in doubt.
After being put in to bat first, Steve Savage and Stuart Spalding dug deep against, what was, it has to be said, some excellent bowling from St Mary’s who were executing some really tight stuff at one end of the pitch that was playing like a Christmas pudding.
However, when Savage went trying to push the score along, a collapse ensued with Dan Beckall, Michael Wood and Alex Brundle going in quick succession, failing to deal with the low bounce.
Bob Lethaby put up some resistance with a couple of well timed fours amongst some decent defence but, stupidly it turns out, he got cleaned up trying get the innings heading towards a good score when he was safely settled in with 10 overs still remaining.
Thereafter the innings collapsed amid a host of rash shots and it was left to number 11, Pete Holcroft, to guide Stuart Spalding to what was an excellent, patient and well crafted innings of 50 on a damp pitch. The fact that the next highest score was 10, was a clear indication of what went wrong as Oakley reached 100 exactly.
St Mary’s were never really particularly troubled chasing the score but in fairness, the Oaks kept battling and had the odd flurry of hope as the opposition batsmen got themselves out trying to finish the game early.
Alex Brundle bowled well as usual and picked up a wicket and as a consolation, former Colts, Oscar Rowley (2) and Perry King (3) emerged with good figures and a late wicket from Michael Wood at least made the score appear respectable as St Mary’s got to their target with seven down.
The Oaks were missing a few players who were upgraded to the First XI but the truth is, there was enough batting in the side to get them to what would have been a defend-able target of 150; they just failed, when it mattered, to execute the patience and grit that Stuart Spalding showed with his 50, typical Aussie that he is.
The Oaks now need to man up, dig in and get back to winning ways to avoid their season petering out after all the hard work earlier in the summer.
Up the Oaks!