04/08/02:
Not even the
dramatic return of talismanic spinner Neil Dey-Bell after two years in the cricketing
wilderness could prevent the OLCC putting in an unimpressive performance that
resulted in a 12-run defeat to Bath University Old Boys in a low-scoring game.
Despite some comical fielding at times (some thought there to have been nine catching chances missed), the visitors - who were a man short in their first game against the OLCC - were dismissed for just 118, seam demon Julian Shackel taking four for 44.
But in reply the hosts, who looked certain to secure at least a draw on 101 for five with 16 balls to go, collapsed spectacularly and were all out for a paltry 106, Jon Shingles top scoring with 25.
There were six changes to the side that had beaten Kingsclere by three wickets the previous week, none more significant than the return from Sweden of Dey-Bell to great acclaim by all and sundry.
Dey-Bell, whose last appearance was way back in July 2000 when he captained the OLCC to a massive 125-run defeat against Indian touring side Safron, was swiftly re-appointed skipper for the day by match manager Philip Samuels, who just happened to be playing for the opposition.
Having lost the toss the hosts were asked to take the field and quickly set about their task of missing chances, waving balls past and being moved around by the captain.
However
none of this bothered ace bowler Shackel, who soon took an early wicket by bowling
Shardlow for nine. More dropped catches followed before Shackel produced a vital
double strike, bowling Evans and Edwards in quick succession to leave the visitors
on 67 for three.
The luckless Geoff Samuels was taken off after seven frugal overs by his skipper - who had done little to help Samuels' figures by throwing the ball over the boundary when trying to return it to wicket-keeper James Berridge - and was replaced by James Craig.
Craig had struggled with his direction at Kingsclere and again was unable to exercise any control and gave way after four overs to Jonny Shingles, who took the wicket of Simkin in his third over to make it 91 for four.
That soon became 91 for five when Shackel claimed his fourth wicket thanks to a brilliant running catch by Samuels, thus completing a marathon 15-over spell with a wicket maiden.
Dey-Bell took over at the top end and amazingly took a wicket with his first ball in more than two years, Andrew Moss steadying himself to take another excellent catch as suddenly the OLCC started playing 'sensible' cricket.
An interesting passage of play followed as club president Graham Carter, guesting for the opposition, attempted to decypher a series of pyjama balls and other assorted deliveries from the skipper. But he too was to succumb, bowler by Dey-Bell for one to make the score 101 for seven.
Shingles wrapped up the innings by taking the last two wickets lbw - including that of Phil Samuels for one - and a victory target of 119 was thus set.
Tom
Gillmor and Moss opened the OLCC reply and looked to be making good progress
but both were back in the hutch within half an hour. Moss followed a wide one
and was caught at slip for 11, then Gillmor got over-excited having smashed
Webster for successive fours and scooped the slower ball straight to turncoat
Carter at mid-on, who held a well-judged catch.
Paul Chalmers was next to go, caught behind for three after spending 20 minutes judiciously watching a number of Samuels deliveries whizz past his off stump.
That left the hosts wobbling on 33 for three, but Simon Best and Shingles set about rescuing matters with a partnership of 26. Best had only two scoring shots in his 46-ball innings but the second was a beautiful chipped cover drive that brought up his highest score for the club (five).
Eventually Best went stumped, bringing Chris Straw to the wicket with 60 runs needed off 13 overs. Shingles and Straw added 17 before a badly-judged call left the unfortunate Shingles (25) run out by a whisker.
Berridge joined Straw in the middle and the pair kept the scoreboard moving at four runs per over so that when Straw was out, bowled by Samuels for 14, the score was 101 for six and 18 were needed from 15 balls.
But
a shocking collapse ensued that rapidly turned a probable victory into a likely
draw then into a galling defeat.
First the off-form Craig was bowled by Samuels for a duck, then Berridge was run out by a smart piece of footwork by Webster, who kicked the ball onto the stumps at the wicket-keeper's end.
Captain Dey-Bell then wandered off to square leg and was unsurprisingly bowled, and the final indignity was completed when Shackel, looking for runs through square leg, picked out the fielder and was out first ball, leaving Samuels high and dry on five not out.
A depressing defeat was the verdict, although the spirits of most had lightened by the time both parties reconvened at The George.
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