DOUBLE DELIGHT AT KINGSCLERE

29/07/02: A fine all-round team performance saw the OLCC 'do the double' over Kingsclere with a three-wicket win to follow up their 74-run success at Leighton Park earlier in the month.

A game played in stifling heat and under a fierce summer sun saw the OLs snatch a thrilling victory right at the death after some excellent contributions from all members of the side - including guests Will Green and Christian Scrase, both drafted in at the last minute.

Some decent bowling on a helpful pitch - particularly from Geoff Samuels and skipper Jon Shingles (both taking three for 25) - helped restrict the Kingsclere batsmen to 189 for nine when the declaration came.

Shingles and Green (both 43) then fired the OLCC towards victory, but it needed Tom Gillmor's late hitting to see the visitors over the finishing line to complete a successful chase at mostly more than a run a ball.

The game commenced in blistering heat at 2pm and the OLs were soon in the wickets when Samuels teased Kingsclere skipper Sam Liddeatt into mistiming a drive straight to David Pollard at mid-on.

However the early breakthrough was something of a false dawn as James Craig in particular struggled with his line and length - the ball was swinging some distance - allowing Frith and Pounds to rattle up a rapid 50 partnership.

But Samuels, who bowled consistently well throughout his seven-over spell, removed both batsmen's stumps in successive overs, Frith in particular done by an absolute jaffa that cut back off a good length.

His job done, Samuels gave way to the slightly more tempting attack of Tom Scrase and Chris Straw, although both found a good rhythm and extracted some decent turn from the wicket.

Scrase certainly should have had more than the one wicket he would eventually take, and was unfortunate to sees dropped catches from Straw and himself (twice).

At the other end, Straw had an excellent shout for lbw strangely turned down, but finally claimed a scalp by bowling left-hander Sanders.

The OLCC were certainly on top at this stage with Kingsclere on 97 for four, but Nigel Gundry boosted the hosts' innings with a number of clean hits as the balance of power switched again.

But Shingles then opted to bring both himself and Green into the attack, and it was the skipper who made the vital breakthrough by taking a simple return catch offered to him by Gundry in his first over.

Green then claimed a fraternal victory by having his brother caught by Shingles, and when Peters followed, brilliantly caught by Gillmor off Scrase, the hosts had slipped to 149 for seven.

That soon became 155 for eight when Lawrence was bamboozled by a beauty from Shingles that ripped back from down the off side to strike his middle stump.

However Hardy had batted patiently throughout the clatter of wickets and put on a useful 27 for the ninth wicket with Andrews, who unleashed a number of lusty blows.

Hardy finally perished in the last over before the declaration - bowled by Shingles - but another couple of late Andrews hits allowed Kingsclere to declare on 189 for nine from 43 overs.

With 190 to get in what would eventually be a maximum of 36 overs, OLCC skipper Shingles opted for an experienced opening partnership and thus Pollard and Graham Carter started the chase in positive fashion.

Pollard in particular looked to be enjoying himself on his 'home' ground, but his innings ended somewhat prematurely on 17 when a trademark late cut found its way into the hands of Frith in the gully.

Carter continued the attack, making space on the leg side to try and hit the Kingsclere quickies, but perished on 12 when bowled by Green, and Craig departed soon after to a superb diving catch by Gundry to leave the visitors wobbling on 47 for three.

But with the pressure on, Shingles and Neale Jackson came together and showed excellent fortitude on a still-unpredictable pitch to put on 52 for the fourth wicket.

Shingles - impressively picking off anything short - made his way coolly to 43 and looked set for a half-century before Gundry claimed his revenge by bowling the OL captain off his bat as he attempted to shoulder arms.

Jackson continued to defy the bowlers - producing one memorable on-drive that deserved more than the two runs it gained - but when his resistance ended on 18 it was 125 for five and hopes rested on Green and Gillmor.

The pair did not disappoint, making light of the seven-an-over run rate by running the twos particularly well so that when Green was bowled for 43, Samuels entered the fray with 20 needed off 19 balls.

It appeared a situation tailor-made for Samuels, and he showed his usual excellent run-chasing mentality to reach six but then gifted a simple caught-and-bowled to Gundry to leave Straw and Gillmor requiring 13 off the last two overs.

It was then that Gillmor bravely opened his shoulders and, assisted by some keen running from Straw, the pair knocked off 16 runs off five balls to secure an exciting victory.

Post-match jovialities between the sides were held at the ground after an excellent day's cricket.

Links: