18/07/05: Ross Stewart's maiden century for the OLCC could not prevent a Brewers Cup defeat by Denstone Wanderers.

Stewart scored a brilliant 105 off 87 balls to help the OLs reach 272 all out, but the total was some 54 runs short of the 326 all out posted by the visitors on another baking hot day at Leighton Park.

Two early wickets - one to Stewart and one to Phil Samuels (playing in his 100th match for the club) - had boosted OL hopes but the match turned after Cheadle was put down by Julian Shackel on 24, the batsman making the most of his reprieve by going on to make 163.

Shackel and Geoff Samuels did do an excellent job in stifling the middle part of the Denstone innings, picking up 5-0-33-2 and 10-0-40-1 respectively as the visitors struggled to kick on. The lower order did manage to counter-attack however, but Phil Samuels held his nerve to finish with four for 68.

The OLs' chances of progressing to the semi-finals went from reasonable to very slim though when John Acland-Hood (9) and captain Paul Newell Price (0) departed in quick succession, and with Jon Shingles (25) and Jason Thomas (4) following after tea it began to look like a damage-limitation exercise.

But Stewart produced a magnificently-crafted knock and found a willing ally in Brewers Cup debutant Tom Aylward, who showed a cool head in making 30 vital runs in 33 balls towards a fifth-wicket stand of 91.

Stewart marched on past 50 and kept the hosts on course despite losing two more batting partners with Geoff Samuels (9) and Phil Samuels (14). He reached his century with a majestic six off Webster but fell shortly afterwards as he attempted to blast Snow into the tennis courts at the Reckitt end.

Tom Gillmor's cameo 14 kept the scoreboard ticking but his departure left the OLs in 221 for nine with 11 overs left and very little hope of victory. But James Craig (24) and Julian Shackel (25*) restored some pride with a delightful 10th-wicket stand of 51 and when the former finally holed out in an attempt to salvage a win, it was a margin of just 54 that remained in allowing Denstone to progress to the semi-finals.

Links:

•  OLCC v Denstone Wanderers — Scorecard
•  Brewers Cup — Official website
•  OLCC Forum — Register now and join the debate!
•  More links..