SCRASE SETS UP SUCCESS
26/06/04: The OLCC extended their unbeaten run over Leighton Park School with victory in a low-scoring contest.
After a disciplined bowling performance that restricted the OLs to 126 for seven declared from 40 overs, the LP 1st XI were dismissed for 87 to give the OLCC a 39-run victory.
It meant the OLs maintained their record of not having lost to the School since 1996, a record spanning seven matches and including five victories.
Before the game started, players and officials stood at the boundary to remember David Pollard in a minute's silence.
The OLs were then inserted after skipper Chris Straw lost the toss, and suffered a blow as early as the seventh over when Adam Saker was bowled by Burton for a duck, a sign that quick scoring would not be easy against a keen attack.
But Saker's fellow opener Tom Scrase, back in OL colours after an absence of nearly two years, was to prove the mainstay of the innings as partners came and went at the other end in a string of steady partnerships.
Next to go was Peter Straw (2), stumped in curious circumstances just as he was looking set to build on the second-wicket stand of 17, and Tom Gillmor followed him back to the pavilion after a brisk 13 ended with him popping up a catch to gully to leave the OLs on 39 for three.
John Crosfield (5) then joined Scrase in a stand of 19 before he was caught behind, and James Craig's innings of seven ended when he was clean bowled, making the score 80 for five.
With the run rate still below three per over, the OLs needed to add quick runs to set up a declaration but in attempting to up the pace Scrase finally fell for a patient and well-crafted 40, undone by an excellent slower ball.
It was left to Chris Straw (18*), Graham Carter (8) and Phil Samuels (13*) to boost the total, and the 20 runs scored off overs 39 and 40 allowed Straw to declare on 126 for seven and give the LP side 35 overs in which to chase the target.
They made a similarly steady start, but both openers were out in 14 overs with just 18 on the board, Field (2) falling to an outstanding diving catch by Craig at second slip to give Samuels a wicket his probing bowling deserved, before MacAndrew (10) was bowled by the hard-working Matt McNaughton.
There then followed a stand of 22 between Dennis (11) and Aylward (13) which threatened to give LP a shot at victory as they went into the last 20 overs needing five runs per over.
But Craig, brought on to replace Samuels, recovered from a rusty start to clean up Dennis and Jones (0) in three balls, then Saker claimed the key wicket of Aylward, who skied an attempted pull and was well caught by wicket-keeper Gillmor, leaving the School on 53 for five.
Saker then bagged two more wickets, Wong (8) and Dresner (0), both of whom offered up simple catches to McNaughton and Straw respectively, and Craig weighed in again with the scalp of LP captain Lean, and the OLs were well on top with the score 63 for eight.
It was time for the fearsome bowling attack of Simon Best and Graham Carter, and Best it was who wrapped up the LP innings, first trapping Denselow (3) lbw then bowling Burton for an entertaining 18.
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