TON UP FOR GOOF IN THRILLER

09/07/03: Geoff Samuels became the sixth player to take 100 wickets for OLCC in a thrilling 18-run win over Kingsclere.

Samuels, who began the day on 98 wickets, claimed 4-14 as the OLs successfully defended a total of 150 on a tricky pitch at Leighton Park.

Tom Gillmor's 56 provided the backbone of the OLCC innings, with David Bibby adding a crucial 26 late on, while Jonny Shingles took 3-39 as the visitors finally succumbed for 132.

Gillmor and Paul Newell Price had given the hosts an ideal start as they put on a rapid 65 before the latter departed lbw for 12, and another big partnership looked likely as Shingles quickly cracked two fine boundaries.

However he then fell for eight after being undone by some variable bounce, and 82 for two soon became 87 for three as debutant Richard Craig was caught close in for four.

Hopes of reaching lunch without further loss disappeared as Gillmor, who had brought up his seventh half-century for the club in some style, was bowled by an Acres delivery that crept under his defences.

And a fifth wicket of the session fell just four minutes before lunch as Ed Craig was caught behind after showing some impressive form in a short innings of three.

If 111-5 at lunch was bad for the OLCC, things quickly got worse on the resumption as Dayalan Doraisamy was bowled for three and captain Dominic Beer holed out to cover for four.

Geoff Samuels added five before being caught behind and when Chris Straw followed two balls later the prospect of a seriously low score loomed at 126-9, eight wickets having been lost for 44 runs.

However Simon Best joined David Bibby at the crease and his dogged resistance (0* off nine balls) allowed Bibby to slap together 26 in typical fashion and eventually haul the OLs up to the relative respectability of 150 all out.

Some fine tight bowling from Samuels, Newell Price and Richard Craig gave the Kingsclere openers plenty to think about and soon it was the balding swing bowler Samuels who made the double breakthrough, removing both Hardy and Enters to secure his 99th and 100th wickets.

With the pressure building, skipper Beer turned to the dual spin attack of Shingles and Straw and it was the latter who reduced the visitors to 36-3 when a fine spell of tight bowling resulted in Frith attempting to take the aerial route and only succeeding in holing out to Best at mid-on.

But Kingsclere dug in to mount a fightback and put themselves firmly in the box seat courtesy of Acres and Lawrence's stand of 55, which left the villagers needing 60 to win off around 25 overs with seven wickets still standing.

Yet Samuels, reintroduced into the attack, again made the breakthrough as a fine Bibby catch at mid-on removed Acres for 45 and Beer stooped to pull off another great catch, sending back Lawrence (18) off the bowling of Doraisamy. Samuels then wrapped up his four-wicket haul by bowling Green (A) for four as the visitors slipped back to 98-6.

Shingles then took up the attack from the pavilion end and after some initial defiance claimed the wicket of Green (J), who departed for 11 having been the victim of Best's second catch.

Newell Price, back for a second spell, finally claimed a deserved wicket by bowling Andrews for a duck but the tension continued to mount as Nigel Gundry attempted to shepherd Kingsclere to victory while the OL bowlers maintained the pressure.

Finally No 10 Patel went for six after trying to hoick Shingles out of the park only to be well caught by Ed Craig down on the boundary and a tense finale finally went the OLs' way as Gundry attempted to force the issue and was bowled by Shingles for 15, bringing an exciting game to a thrilling and enjoyable conclusion.

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