With a host of players missing this weekend, The Oaks did well not to just get two sides on the pitch but also to win both their matches to complete another weekend double.
Rampant First XI See Off Littleton
The First X travelled to the village of Littleton on Saturday knowing that only a win would keep them in the Top 2, with other sides around them all in great form.
Littleton put themselves into bat and straight away found themselves on the receiving end of some hostile stuff from Mark Potter and Tom Barnes.
In the blink of an eye they were 6 for 3 with Potts bagging the openers for ducks with Tom removing the number three. The Oaks were rampant and swarmed all over the beleaguered opposition like wasps on a pint of cider.
Littleton did manage to stabilise a little, with the middle order hanging around to avoid a complete humiliation but it was long before Clive Welsman (4) and Brad Compton-Bearne (3) came to the party and rattled them out for just 98.
This was something of a relief for Clive, as it was his anniversary on Saturday. When a cricketer is in the shit with his partner, it is only the depth that varies, and an early finish could mean that Clive was only ankle deep.
The Oaks were asked to chase 98 and despite losing Gerry Dique (3) and Dan Sumner (10) a flurry of contributions from Nellie Warner (26) Michael ‘Micky Woodstock Iron Woodman’ Wood (22) followed by an unbeaten partnership between Clive Welsman (who passed his total years married with a very useful 29) and Mark Potter (10) saw the lads home.
Clive arrived back home and fell into the waiting open arms of Martine, who couldn’t wait to hear about his 4 wickets and 29 runs that earned him a man of the match accolade. A match winning performance as a gift…what more could a lady possibly want?
So, that’s seven on the trot for The Oaks in what is turning out to be a great season full of potential. However, a host of tough tests lie ahead with all the teams around us also looking strong and ready for a promotion push in a tough league.
The boys must now move on to challenge number 8.
Second XI See off Tough St Mary’s Test
The Second XI saw off a solid St Mary’s side to register a fine win at a warm and sunny Oakley Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Oaks won the toss and went into bat with 70 year old Gordon Scott (playing his first game of the season) charged with seeing off the first 10 overs with Mike Tiley who was at the other end looking to get runs on the board and build a platform.
Scotty did his job really well, with the seven runs he scored not doing justice to what was an important defensive knock to set up the top and middle order with the weaker St Mary’s bowlers. This plan was vindicated when after Jack Brundle (14) was unlucky to get to a low one, George Lethaby took apart some mediocre bowling with a morale sapping quick-fire 42 as Mike carried on piling up the runs at the other end.
Mike was so unlucky to miss out on a ton in what was a fabulous match winning knock of 95 but further aggressive contributions from Will Montgomery (30) and Perry King (11) pushed the scoreboard along quickly with Nathan Rabley (12) and the dashing Bob Lethaby (2) both finishing unbeaten in a formidable total of 242 -7.
St Mary’s got of to something of a flier in response, with Tom Lee and Andy Tucker immediately showing their intent to have a go at winning the game as they tucked (see what I did there?) into anything loose.
The Oaks stayed patient and waited for their opportunities but no one could have predicted it would be two old farts to provide the inspiration and arrest the run rate.
First, it was Bob Lethaby, who took a quite frankly, brilliant and bruising low catch off a rasping drive from Tucker that came off the bowling of Jeff King. It was an important take for more than one reason, because if Bob had mistimed it, his testicles may well have been facing oblivion.
Then a few balls later, it was over to Gordon Scott who took a flying catch in the slips off Rav Kancharla to snare Lee. Gordon’s wild celebration was like a youngster taking his first ever wicket, with the only difference being that his took place on the ground because the silly old sod couldn’t get up.
Dream Catch: Gordon Scott
St Mary’s kept going though, with George Lethaby (1) Mike Tiley (1) and Will Montgomery (3) all having to really bowl well as back to Jeff and Rav who had finished with a wicket apiece.
As the game came towards its conclusion the Oaks pushed hard for bonus bowling points as St Mary’s now accepting defeat, went for the consolation of 200 runs and maximum batting points. This suited both teams in an entertaining finish but whilst St Mary’s got their 200, Oakley fell just short of getting the 2 wickets needed for full bowling points despite a first ever Saturday wicket for Jack Brundle that drew sighs of disbelief from supporters.
That said, 23 points is a very good tally against a good side in what was an excellent game played in a great spirit. St Mary’s will win more games than they lose this season, there is no doubt about that, and it was great to see them all hanging around for beer and some social time after the game.
Oakley’s pre-season aim to stay in RNE1 is complete. It is now time to reassess where they want to be come the last week in August.
Exciting times at Oakley.
KaraOakley
Well done to Alex Brundle an the young lads at OCC who organised and supported the KaraOakley evening at the club on Saturday night.
There was an element of risk attached to this event as it was quite costly getting a professional in to do a karaoke properly. It paid off, as we had an outstanding turn out of members and guests, with the bar virtually empty of stock on Sunday morning.
These kind of event nights are really important as all the profits are reinvested into the club, as you will all see in the improvements that have been made on and off the pitch. We are lucky to have the bar and facilities, so it is great to see members coming up with unique ideas to raise funds.
Well done all.