SUPER THOMAS FIRES OLs TO VICTORY

30/06/02: Mike Thomas fired a brilliant century as the OLCC pulled off a famous Brewers Cup victory.

Thomas, a late call-up into the side, struck a magnificent 102 not out off 70 balls, smashing 17 fours and a six, as the OLs stole a stunning one-wicket victory at St Edmund's College, Ware.

Chasing a target of 252 for victory, the OLCC slipped into real trouble at 94 for seven, and looked set for defeat at 163 for nine. But Julian Shackel (27 not out) and Thomas put on a thrilling unbroken 10th-wicket stand of 90 to snatch a sensational win.

Earlier, OLCC captain Paul Newell Price won the toss and elected to field, and it was a good solid start by Old Edmundians batsmen. Phil Samuels bowled accurately from the pavilion end, Julian Shackel was a little more expensive but came back well and had Sharp caught at slip by Paul Newell Price, and finished with 1-42 from 11 overs.

Another wicket followed quickly with Charles Allan producing a smart piece of stumping to give the skipper a wicket.

The hosts fought back through opener Gillham, who played superbly for his 72 before being bowled by Richard Newell Price. The OLs sensed another wicket and when Marks top-edged a Richard Newell Price delivery, Thomas took a comfortable catch to leave the Old Edmundians 141-4 at lunch off 34 overs.

Overall the OLCC fielding was of a good standard, with the match delicately poised at the interval.

After lunch R Gillham took the attack to the OLCC, and with good support from Murphy and R Sharp plus some at times slipshod OLCC fielding he was able to manoeuvre the hosts into a position where a total of 270-280 looked possible.

But the OLCC fought back brilliantly in the last couple of overs - Phil Samuels kept the ball up in the blockhole and got his reward, and Paul Newell Price kept the last over tight to set up a victory target of 252.

Tom Gillmor got the OLCC innings off to a blistering start with fours off successive balls, but the fun endedn soon afterwards when he became the first of three batsman to be bowled by Dowling, who was slanting the ball in at pace from the top end.

Charles Allan followed Gillmor back in similar fashion, then Rahul Sharma lost his off stump having failed to get off the target in 18 balls faced.

Hopes remained high for the OLCC with Paul Newell Price and Oliver Ash at the crease - after their mammoth 239 partnership in the Brewers Cup last season - but Ash departed for 13 after a couple of impressive strokes, and the crucial wicket of the captain fell when he edged the spinner Collett to slip.

The OLCC reached tea at 74 for five, but there was still a glimmer of hope as both opening bowlers had been bowled out. Jon Shingles (46) steadied the ship but the dismissals of Phil Samuels and James Berridge - the latter out to a fine caught-and-bowled - saw the OLCC veer worryingly towards defeat.

However Shingles was joined by Thomas, who took the attack to the home bowlers in some style, crashing the ball to all parts of the ground to post his maiden OLCC fifty.

Shingles perished in the chase for runs, but Shackel and Thomas rattled off a stunning unbroken stand of 90 to see the visitors home with nine balls to spare.

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