OLCC vs Cricket Society

A bit of building for the future today, with an OLCC side of average-age less than 30. The OLCC win the toss and rarely elect to bowl first on the newly laid, early season pitch. No less than four seamers at captain-keeper Nick Hayles' disposal; the first two of which, Will 'Don't sack' Mackay and Vikesh 'VP' Patel, both make early inroads. They may have had more as edges a plenty fly through the gully and down to Third Man. At 40-2 and after 7 overs a piece, the new Gillers (Tobes Gilbey) picks up where the openers left off and bowls extremely well on debut; eventually tempting the Cricket Society number three into a mistimed pull and an easy caught behind. Shreyas does everything today except take a wicket; through the gate with flight, bounce and turn eludes the bails (and the keeper!) but this pitch and his ever-improving consistency will earn him plenty of chances this season.

Toby and Shreyas' consistency contributes very effectively to the Guvnor's first wicket and the turgid innings of one of the Cricket Society's openers ends when his eyes light up to one of John's full, straight ones. Continuing to share the wickets around, KB (OLCC seam veteran today) comes into the attack and pries another valuable wicket; new Gillers holding his second catch with confidence. The Guvnor bowls very consistently today during one of his longer spells of 11 consecutive overs and is very deserving to finish with three very well earned wickets; a stumping and plumb LBW. Each bowler is admirably backed up in the field; with Groom and Powers doing a lot of ground work on the off side - and the OLCC can feel very happy at the half way mark to have restricted the Cricket Society to 138-7 off their 49 overs.

As with the bowling performance, the batting order contains much youthful promise - but is fundamentally reinforced with experience and it two of the elder statesman that anchor our response. Nat and Kenza open up for the OL's; the latter with a trademark expansive cover drive before being pinned on the hip and given marching orders by stand-in-umpire Shreyas. Mackay equally never really gets going and Seb has an extremely brief knock before the lesser seen 'retired hurt' comes into play. Any gathering concern from the flurry of comings and goings is then put to bed over the next fourty minutes. Nat and number 5, Hooders, build themselves a 58 and 54* respectively; patiently waiting for any width outside off stump to cut the OLCC into a commanding position. There is enough time for Nat to give Shreyas a few lusty blows, before he holes out and let's the skipper come to the non-strikers end for two balls; both of which Ackers puts away for the win!

Key contributions from our experienced members, backed up by some youthful contributions make for a great team win today.

OLCC win by 5 wickets