GOING DOWN FIGHTING
27/06/05: John Acland-Hood's magnificent 131 could not prevent an OL defeat in the Brewers Cup against Old Tauntonians.
Acland-Hood's innings - his highest score for the club and the third highest by any batsman - helped the OLs to a spirited 296 all out after they had been set 336 to win.
Earlier, Chris Gange had top scored for the home side with an explosive unbeaten 171 in their 335 for five, while Phil Samuels claimed two wickets to bring up a century of scalps in his OLCC career.
The hosts had won the toss and chosen to bat first on a fine morning, and their decision looked a good one as 67 runs were added for the first wicket at a reasonable pace.
But a double breakthrough got the OLs straight back in the contest. First Paul Newell Price cleaned up Higginson with a beautiful inswinging yorker, then Manley attempted to hoick Julian Shackel out of the park only to be superbly caught at the second attempt by Tom Gillmor at long off.
Thereafter though Gange took over, with a succession of Tauntonians batsmen chipping in at the other end.
Dan Park, playing in his first OLCC game for over 16 years, claimed his first wicket when Baker drove straight to John Acland-Hood at extra cover, then Phil Samuels got in on the act by firing out Way lbw to record his 100th wicket for the club.
Samuels then castled Carpenter but Gange's innings, which came off 113 balls and featured 15 fours and 10 sixes, saw the hosts reach that formidable 335.
The OLs needed a good start in reply and got one thanks to Acland-Hood and Jon Shingles. They put on 66 before the latter fell lbw to the spin of Higginson but that only brought skipper Paul Newell Price out to join Acland-Hood.
After a patient start, the stand between the two blossomed and was on the verge of reaching three figures when the captain dabbled at a Fishlock delivery outside his off stump and was caught behind for 39.
Park (6) and Charles Allan (7) then played brief cameos as the OLs kept in touch with the required run rate, but they then suffered a major blow when Acland-Hood was bowled, bringing to an end a superb 124-ball knock that included 17 fours.
Still the visitors battled though, and with brothers Geoff and Phil Samuels at the crease a sensational win remained a possibility. But the former fell for 16 and with Gillmor following soon after without scoring, OL hopes were seriously compromised.
Phil Samuels (21 not out) continued to shepherd the tail, aided by dashing knocks from Dayalan Doraisamy (10) and Richard Newell Price (18), but when Julian Shackel was dismissed lbw it signalled the end of a brave counter-attack and a 39-run victory for the Tauntonians.
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