The Oakley second string came up agonisingly short in a thrilling encounter against Hartley Wintney at a warm and sunny Oakley Park yesterday afternoon.
Batting first Hartley go off to a flier with their opening bat obviously punching well below his weight as he plundered runs whilst well supported at the other end by the other opener who eventually got cleaned up by Brad Compton-Bearne.
The Oaks then got a bit of luck with an inexplicable LBW decision that was the first of three wickets for Clive Welsman but they were leaking far too many extras of all forms in the field; errors that were going to cost them dearly later in the game.
The Hartley middle ordered also batted well and when the opener eventually went, run out for 95, and James McCleester picked up a late wicket, it all seemed like scant consolation as heads dropped and concentration lapsed. Hartley finished on 222 or as Richie Benaud would say, choo, choo, choo.
In reply, the Oaks opened with Clive Welsman and Bob Lethaby due to them both having to attend family functions and whilst Clive took advantage of his situation, clumping the ball to all parts of the ground with nonchalant ferocity, Bob resembled something akin to of a cat on a scorched tin roof.
After several escapes, including an edged single, a pulled shoulder muscle from a wild swing and a chaotic near miss from a run-out, Bob eventually and mercifully went for one, playing a shot that resembled a one armed man trying to kill a snake in a phone box; it has to go down as one of the most hideously inept innings in the 166 year history of the club.
In fairness, as Clive continued his assault, Gordon Scott and Michael Wood both attempted to emulate Bob, both getting out to ugly shots they would rather forget and it was left to Alex Brundle to join Clive, who by now, was adding to the bizarre nature of this game by frantically trying to get himself out as he had to exit the ground before his wife, Martine, came and slit his throat.
Because of Clive’s nature, he refused to retire, preferring to be out by legitimate means; however, as his attempts became more ludicrous, he nearly ran Alex out about six times before eventually getting caught for 63 and fortunately, Alex lived to fight on and was joined by Brad Compton-Bearne, who hit two fours before playing one of his more unsavoury shots which involves hurling his bat across the square when he is bowled.
Will Bentley joined Alex at the crease after Jack Brundle exited in a fury after making 11, and Will batted really well for his 21 before holing out and leaving Alex to keep the chase going as he coasted past 50 for the third time this summer. Unfortunately Alex went LBW for a brilliant 60 which left it to the tail to see the Oaks home but sadly after small but vital contributions from Ben Farragher and Pete Holcroft, James McCleester was out caught and bowled and the Oaks fell short by six agonising runs.
If anything, this was a defeat that taught the Oaks that concentrating on fielding up until the last ball of the opposition innings is vital if you want to win cricket matches.
Up the Oaks