CUP DREAMS DIE
21/07/02: Old Cranleighans 306/7 (55 overs) bt OLCC 130 all out (40.1 overs) by 176 runs
The OLCC's hopes of reaching the Brewers Cup semi-final for the first time were dashed on a disappointing day at Leighton Park.
The jubilation of the previous round three weeks ago was forgotten as the Old Cranleighans scored a relatively straightforward victory by 176 runs.
Only Andrew Moss (25) and Jason Thomas (45) offered any real resistance as the OLCC crumbled to 130 all out in response to the visitors' 306 for 7 declared.
The day had started promisingly as the OLCC made a key early breakthrough when Phil Samuels produced a superb delivery to trap Copleston (S) leg before for two.
Julian Shackel was bowled through as usual and should have had a wicket when Howard, having made 24, top edged an attempted drive only for Jason Thomas to be unable to see the ball clearly because of the sun and failed to take the catch.
Shackel got his reward in his ninth over when he had Howard given out lbw for 25, making the Old Cranleighans 82 for two.
But the visitors seized the initiative thereafter, Copleston (E) reaching his half-century and adding an unbroken stand of 50 for the third wicket.
There was a five-minute delay in the 28th over after wicket keeper Charles Allan was struck by a Richard Newell Price delivery, but after treatment he was helmeted up and the game resumed.
Chase also reached his half-century shortly before lunch, but Geoff Samuels struck a key blow on the stroke of lunch by having Copleston, who was trying to slash him away for four, caught behind by Allan for 76.
Samuels then followed up with a carbon-copy wicket shortly after the interval, removing Chase for 56 as the OLCC reduced the oppo to 192 for four.
But a dashing partnership of 94 between Brown and Janmohamed - aided by a succession of dropped catches - wrested the initiative back away from the home side.
Brown eventually went for 58 when he chipped a simple return catch to Paul Newell Price, but Janmohamed then struck the shot of the day - an astonishing reverse sweep for six off Jon Shingles - to bring up the Old Cranleighans' 300.
Skipper Newell Price produced a fine last over, bowling both Chetwode and Read, to limit the visitors to 306 for seven from their 55 overs.
A disastrous run of bad luck greeted the OLCC innings as the first four wickets went down for just 15 runs.
First to go was skipper Paul Newell Price, who having just hit a fine four, was unfortunate to see a forward defensive shot result in the ball spinning back onto his stumps. And 6-1 became 6-2 just one ball later when Jonny Shingles gloved an excellent Read bouncer and was caught behind.
Next out was Tom Gillmor, unbelievably out in exactly the same manner as his captain, and when Charles Allan was adjudged lbw the OLCC were in real trouble at 15 for four.
But Jason Thomas then took the attack to the Old Cranleighans to give the OLCC some hope. Having missed a few early on, he soon started to connect and raced to 45 off 37 balls before slicing a simple catch to point.
Andrew Moss remained resolute on 19 not out at tea, but a required run rate of 7.43 off the last 30 overs left the home side facing an uphill task to get into the semi-finals.
Indeed, it was a challenge that proved too much as the hosts collapsed after tea. First Phil Samuels went - having somewhat controversially been reprieved three balls previously - lbw to the economical Chetwode.
Mike Thomas then strode to the wicket and thrilled the home fans by dispatching his first four balls for four, four, four, six - the last being a magnificent straight hit over long on.
But he was stumped off the very next ball, precipitating the final decline. Geoff Samuels lasted just seven balls before being bowled for a duck, then Moss' vigil finally came to an end when he was bowled by Chetwode, who finished with amazing figures of 11-7-8-3.
Julian Shackel (15*) and Richard Newell Price (7) added a defiant 17 for the last wicket before the latter was bowled to bring down the curtain on the OLCC's Brewers Cup campaign for another year.
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