Report from our special Two’s correspondent, Mickey Wood
The Oaks 2s travelled to the glorious AWE Tadley CC, in what turned out to be a rather exciting game.
Oakley bowled first with Ollie and Noah steaming in and an early wicket was taken, according to Savage the ball swung in loads! Ollie at the other end did not have much luck and it did not take long for the new batsman to settle and he looked in good form.
Suddenly they were on 70 odd with just the one wicket to fall. However, on came boring Bowers who is a master of bowling the ball straight slow and not for many runs (or wickets). He slowed the run rate down and he then got the key wicket with a good catch from Ollie.
Catching was not great today with Woody who had not dropped a catch since 1908 dropping another one. He then hit the ground in anger and hurt his fist. Anyway, where was I. Oh yeah Bowers bowled really well, and the oaks had their tails up. On came Woody with the pressure turning we had a chance to get a few wickets and bowl them out for bugger all.
Did he deliver? You bet he did not. Bowling wides full tosses and basically a load of pony. Luckily, Calum at the other end was doing a great job bowling it nice and tight. On came Deano (Bowny) who had a very good spell he got a key wicket and then 3 others with some fine Yorkshire’s. It was great to see him bowl well as we all know he can. Shout out to Noah too who got another wicket in his final spell and done the Lingard celebration. Overall, it was okay bowling and fielding wise. The chase was on with 188 runs to win.
Savage and tall Jeff opened the batting and looked in fine form, smashing the bad balls and defending the good ones. At one point I thought they could take us too 188 by themselves. How wrong was I. With tall Jeff getting out Woody went in and got bowled by a wisely old Fox of a cricket player who was bowling it very slow and straight. It was all a bit too much for the middle order.
Woody, Bown and jack all went early. They know they need to improve, and I am sure they will in the coming weeks. The Oaks were left with Nigel and Bowers who batted very well, running hard and getting the odd 4. The chase was well and truly on. With 3 overs to go the oaks needed 8 an over and they were doing just that. Nigel got out but he done The Oaks proud, Calum hit a huge 6 but his running between wickets was a bit slow. It was a good knock though but when Bowers then got run out it was all a bit too much to do in the last over. We ended up 3 short.
It was a great shame, but we know we need to do better, and we will.
MOM: Dave Bowers