SHINGLES SHINES IN THRILLER
03/05/04: Jonny Shingles' crucial knock of 36 helped the OLCC scrape past Woodhouse Eaves in a tense season-opener.
Shingles had already produced a typically miserly bowling display, claiming four for 14 from 13 overs, as the hosts made 103 in an innings that ended in remarkable fashion, John Crosfield claiming only the fourth hat-trick in the history of the OLCC.
The tourists' reply began inauspiciously and were in real danger of defeat at 26-5, but Shingles' patient 36 and an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership between Ed Carter (16*) and Richard Newell Price (8*) saw the OLCC to a two-wicket victory that extended their winning run to four matches.
Having been invited to field first, the OLs enjoyed an early success as John Acland-Hood, guesting for the opposition, snicked a fine Geoff Samuels delivery through to wicket-keeper Charles Allan and departed for three.
The hosts then responded well, Waller hitting a powerful 37 in a second-wicket partnership of 52 that set the foundation for what would have been a competitive total of around 150.
But the introduction of Ed Carter and Shingles into the attack swung the game back in the OLCC's favour, initiating a collapse that saw the last nine Woodhouse wickets fall for 46 runs.
First Shingles bowled Waller, then Malladi followed as he was well held by Crosfield at mid-off to give the hard-working Ed Carter a well-deserved wicket. Shingles quickly settled in to a familiar line and length and was rewarded with three more wickets, two more clean bowled and a third caught by Allan off a top-edged sweep. With Ed Carter superbly running out Webb, the hosts were rocking at 89-7.
Skipper Andrew Moss then turned to Crosfield, and he claimed the vital wicket of Harding with the last ball of his second over when the Woodhouse captain holed out to Chris Straw at a wide long-on.
Another wicket followed with the first ball of Crosfield's next over when Hayes' resistance ended, and the hat-trick was completed when Allan stumped last man Turner.
Set 104 to win, the OLCC faced a tricky 30-minute session before tea and ultimately reached the interval in some trouble at 26-4. Openers David Bibby (0) and Tom Gillmor (10) both fell to Waller, then the same bowler dismissed Allan (7) and Straw (1) fell to Harding to leave the OLs facing an uphill task.
It was a challenge that became tougher as Graham Carter (0) went to the first ball after tea, but Moss (5) and Shingles came together for a crucial partnership of 41 to get the tourists back into the match.
But when Moss drove uppishly to Acland-Hood to give Harding his second wicket then Shingles fell lbw to the same bowler the game was back in the balance, and it shifted back towards the hosts when Crosfield (0) was run out.
However Ed Carter and Richard Newell Price put on a gritty unbroken stand of 33 to see the OLCC to the winning line with another 12 overs to spare.
— NO PLAY was possible in the second match of the OLCC's East Midlands Tour, the Bank Holiday Monday trip to Elvaston, Derbyshire. Rain fell early on Monday morning and the decision to call the game off was taken at around 11am.