200-UP SHACK INSPIRES WIN

11/07/02: Julian Shackel had a day to remember as the OLCC kicked off Cricket Week with a 74-run win over Kingsclere.

Shack, who had shared in a record 10th-wicket partnership of 90 to see the OLCC to victory against the Old Edmunidans in the Brewers Cup 10 days previously, fired an OL career-best 56 before taking three for 35 - the first of which was his 200th wicket for the club.

He took three of the last four wickets as Kingsclere were all out for 168 in reply to the OLCC's 242 for four declared.

It had been a slow start to the day, with just nine runs coming from the first 15 overs. But David Pollard and Dominic Beer soon got into the swing of things and had progressed smoothly to 46 before Pollard went for 32.

Michael Thomas, fresh from his stunning century in the Brewers Cup success, gave a brief glimpse of his powerhouse batting but this time holed out to mid-on for just 15 to bring Shackel to the crease before lunch.

If progress had been slow before the interval, Beer and Shackel got things moving thereafter and put on an excellent partnership of 111, both batsmen reaching 50. Shackel moved past his previous best for the club (52 not out) with an exquisite boundary but he then fell two balls later for a fine 56.

The wicket brought about the re-appearance in OLCC colours after five years away of Dayalan Doraisamy, and the Sri Lankan sensation rolled back the years with a vintage 38 not out that featured two lusty sixes over midwicket.

Beer's classy innings finally came to an end when he was caught for 75, but Doraisamy and captain Paul Newell Price pushed the score onto 242 before calling it a day.

Shackel and Ed Carter opened the bowling in Kingsclere's reply and had passed the bat on a number of occasions before a captaincy masterstroke from Newell Price paved the way for the first wicket.

As shrewd move saw Simon Best come across from mid-on to mid-off, with the off-side fielders moving round to form an intimidating four-slip cordon, but leaving just David Pollard in front of square on the on-side.

The batsmen thus almost felt obliged to take any run on the leg side, and the trap was sprung when Pollard swooped to his right and threw in to James Berridge, who completed the run-out of Pounds.

And Berridge it was who bagged the vital wicket of Will Green, who got a faint clip on a Thomas delivery that was slanting down the leg side only for keeper Berridge to take a fine catch.

It was a vital blow for the OLCC as the visitors reached tea at 42 for two - but the over that was to swing the game was just around the corner.

Best had already teased the opposition batsmen by conceding nine runs in his first over before the interval, but came back for his second having re-armed with some tea-time pastries and ripped out the Kingsclere middle order.

Left-hander Frith was first to go - although he was reluctant to do so - when Best took a superb return catch low down to his right to set the ball rolling.

He then lulled Wray into a false sense of security by allowing him to hook a mighty four before snaring him with a genuine mortar that the batsman top-edged to Shackel at fine leg.

And the party piece was complete when, in the same over, Toyne advanced down the pitch, took a huge swing, got a thick edge and heard the rattle of the stumps being hit to leave the wizard Best celebrating once more.

There then followed a gritty partnership between Hardy and Peters, the pair adding 70 as they resisted the teasing attack of Best, Chris Straw and then Tom Gillmor.

The stand was finally ended when Pollard snared Hardy lbw to leave Kingsclere 122 for when a sudden cloudburst forced the players off and the covers on.

However play was able to resume after 15 minutes and there was soon another wicket to celebrate as Shackel got one through Peters' defences to get the last 18 overs (reduced from 20 because of the rain) off to a good start.

Liddeatt and Green then launched a brave counter-attack and reached 156 before Doraisamy, re-introduced into the attack to bamboozle the batsmen, had the latter stumped by Berridge.

Liddeatt's cameo ended when he fell lbw to Shackel, and it was that man of Quorn again who took the final wicket, Newell Price taking the catch to wrap up a comfortable victory with 10 overs to spare.

The two teams rounded the day off in jovial fashion at The Old Bell, where OLCC President Graham Carter presented Shackel with champagne to mark his 200th wicket.

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