1. innings of OLCC

2. innings of Kingsclere

Posted 31/07/06:
    Captain for the day: Dave Bibby, won the toss by arrangement and decided to bat - Kingsclere had only 8 players at the start of the game. They were augmented in the field by the notorious tag-team subbing outfit : Will Rowntree, Matt Dennis, and Dave Burton.
    The OLs progress was scratchy on a slow and awkward pitch. From one end the pacy JJ Green was going through the top on occasion and from the other end "Bunny" was low pace, nagging, and difficult to get away.
    After a couple of hefty blows Charlie Allan was given out LBW by Ed Sugden. Charlie left the crease grudgingly and turned to stare back longingly towards the middle as he trudged off. For what it's worth, non-striker Andrew Moss thought it was a perfectly decent decision. Soon after Andrew clonked one to mid-off for the 1st of 2 catches by OL sub fielders. Dave Burton tried to drop it, but then changed his mind.
   Ed Carter got himself in and then started to up the pace with support from Matt Dennis. These 2 put on 48. When Ed was caught brilliantly by Will Rowntree for 34, Matt was joined by Dave Bibby who typically took no time keeping the run rate going. Once Dave was out, the rest of the order managed to take us through to 40 overs.
    There was a nice cameo from Will Rowtree that included a sumptuous straight drive and an elegant clip to the square leg boundary. There was a rumour that these were Will's first ever runs at any level of cricket. I find that very hard to believe. Anyway, the OLs finished their 40 overs on 158 for 9 .

    The Kingsclere reply started slowly, but surely. And they were only just up with the rate after first 6 over. After a promising start, Dave Burton started to drop a few short, and, on this slow track, the Kingsclere batsmen cashed in. Shack was brought on but, on this day , only his spirit was willing. However he did contrive the dismissal of 2 batsmen in his random 3 overs.
   Will Rowntree put in a tidy spell, and was unlucky that 2 edges didn't stick. In general Kingsclere were ahead of the game and it was looking like we would have to bowl them out to avoid the loss.
    With 14 overs to go, Kingsclere needed 41 with 5 wickets left. Richard Price came on to bowl and with Ed Carter at the other end, the OLs started to claw the game back. RNP got Fisher to chip one to Dave Bibby at mid-off. Then, crucially, JJ Green nicked a quick seaming ball from Tedster, and the dangerman was out for 34. . A pig-tailed Aussie came in and cracked an ominously powerful straight drive off Tedster, but Tedster cleaned him up 3 balls later. Sam Liddeatt then chipped a ball from RNP to mid-on and in rushed Jackster to sprawl under it and hang on. It was now down to the last pair to score the remaining 23 runs. Youngster Chris Lawrence was having a good go at it, at times gambling with Mickey's fielding prowess. Will Rowntree came back to bowl a timely maiden before RNP wrapped things up by bowling Lawrence at the end of the 34th over. Kingsclere were 12 short of victory.

Jackster's view - How our celebrity columnist saw things yesterday...
Shack 2 wickets barely tells the story!
We were struggling a bit as Kingsclere put on 50+ without loss, Shack and Mickey waving catches through the slips.... so the skipper turned to Shack to give him the chance to redeem himself... Shack bowled 2 overs of filth, and bagged two outrageous wickets: one caught and bowled off a rank long hop, the other bowled when the batsman bottom-edged it onto his stumps trying to smash another rank long hop out of the park! And then, captain Bibbles had the nerve to take the destroyer off and bring himself on! Result? First ball, full bunger, four runs. (actually Bibster bowled quite well after that, but it kind of ruins the story)

More than honourable mention to Will for coming back to bowl a second spell at the death and bowling a maiden to keep the pressure on. And for Pricey for bowling roundarm (Ed. Slightly round arm) with a bad shoulder when we needed some inspiration. And for not kicking the stumps over (Ed. Your welcome).