19 Apr 2008 - OCCC @ Ivanhoe - Lost by 47 runs

Our first game of the season saw us travel to Ivanhoe’s ground near South Mimms service station on a cold, cloudy and windy afternoon. At 1.50 pm we had 9 players present, and when I went out to toss, it came down tails side up and having called it in the air, I chose to have a bowl in a 35 over game. Unfortunately, it was to prove the only good thing I did all game!

So, at just after 2pm, we began our season with Mike Knight bowling up the hill but with a strong breeze blowing from over his left shoulder helping out his natural inswing. He used the new ball well and bowled a tight line, along with Jacob from the other end bowling a slingy and skiddy action. Both bowlers put the openers under some pressure until Mike got the first breakthrough of the season with the score on 12 clean bowling the right handed batsman and knocking back his leg stump. That brought the oppo’s “overseas” player to the crease. Hailing from the land of the Kiwi, we’ve come across him before and knew he was a hard hitting and fast bowling all-rounder. He played carefully at first getting his eye in and treating both Mike and Jacob with respect. However, this didn’t last long and he soon started timing it well through extra cover and the score ticked over at about 4 an over. I rung the changes at both ends and Rohan replaced Mike after a tight 5 overs, and I came on at the other end. I had a very indifferent 2 overs replacing Jacob into the wind and soon made the call to Junky to warm up and come on against the wind. It wasn’t too long before we got the second wicket after a cool headed bit of fielding from schoolboy debutant Olly Sohan. The ball went straight to him at square leg from the Kiwi batsman, but his partner had already run half way before a late call of No reached him. Olly nonchalantly threw the ball to Junky who whipped off the bails to run out the left handed opener. The No 3, feeling guilty obviously decided that he needed to go on and make a big score to make amends and soon started hitting it even harder and put Junky, Rohan and Olly to all parts. Junky picked up the No 4 lbw after he played all around a low straight one and with the wicket playing very slowly, Tony came on after Junky finished his 7 overs and bowled well but the Kiwi was into his stride and soon notched up his 50. Jacob finished his 7 overs from the other end and once he started pitching it up caused problems with several flashing through a vacant slip cordon as we were protecting the boundaries. I then bowled a further 3 indifferent overs at the death and after a fine piece of fielding from Allan at deep mid on we got a run out off the last ball for Ivanhoe to finish 202 for 4 with their Kiwi No 3 not out after scoring a bludgeoning 100. Considering it was our first game and the weather conditions, this was not too bad a result, although it would have been nice to keep them to 170.

For some, tea could not come soon enough and after a couple of sandwiches and a hot cup of cha, the feeling soon returned to our fingers and ears. Even Junky went for the steaming tea before loading his plate with food it was that cold!!

Our innings got under way with Allan and Mike Knight opening and they both played some classy shots. It had got colder and a bit gloomier during the interval (which myself and Rich Hilman can attest to as we both umpired at the beginning of our innings) and fielding and bowling was not easy. It was slippery underfoot for the bowlers and a couple of their fielders even had hoodies on under their sweaters! The score ticked over nicely at about 5 an over and it wasn’t long before we notched up the 50 for no wicket. The oppo skipper also realized pace was not effective in these conditions and really slowed it down, but it wasn’t until we had scored 78 that they got the first wicket. Mike played a straight one late and his stumps were rattled, as he departed for 32. Out went Rohan, but his second ball proved too good and he too was back in the hut having been castled. Out went Jacob with a mindset of defend the straight ones and hit the loose deliveries. Even with Allan trying his best to run Jacob out with some comical cum suicidal running, the score ticked along nicely before Allan lofted to mid off when on 38. Out then strode Steve Ringer returning after a nasty knee injury, a sight we all missed last year. However, he was visibly rusty having not swung a bat in anger for 18 months and failed to really connect with any of his big swings and shortly after was bowled. Olly Sohan went out at No 6 and played some nice looking shots alongside Jacob who was playing well. Olly was out next seeing Bill Barnes replace him until he too was castled. I went out, and after running a few with Jacob, he was bowled (a trend is starting here!!) bringing Rich Hillman to the crease and then I was on the receiving end of a ball that turned 45 degrees and through the gate of my big swing to knock back the middle stump. So surprised was I to have been bowled (it was that wide initially) I didn’t believe it to begin with but Steve umpiring nodded and off I went scoring an all too familiar duck. Junky joined Rich Hillman at No 10 and they managed to stay in to the very end bringing the score to 155 for 8 from our 35 overs, a distant 48 behind what we needed to win.

It was good to get out again after a long winter, and although we lost and it was cold, wet, windy and completely unsuitable for cricket, I think most would agree they enjoyed it. It was a shame we couldn’t beat a 10 man Ivanhoe side seeing as we haven’t beaten them for a good 3 years but if that’s the worst we play this year, it could well be a good season again.

Oh yes, one more thing – the man of the match award. We didn’t take many wickets, and no one really scored that many runs, but top scoring with 39, and bowling a fast and lively – if wicketless - 7 overs, I’m going to give it to Jacob. Not bad for someone who informed me that he was “bear sick last night” when he arrived. I believe that meant he was out on the lash on the Friday night and had maybe one or two shandy’s too many. Not the best way to prepare for the first game, but having been guilty of this many times in my playing career, I’m not going to criticize - in fact, I may well be doing it next week seeing as its pay day!

See you those of you playing next week at our new home ground at Potters Bar.

Ivanhoe 202-4, 35 overs (Martin 114*, Shannon 1-29 (7 overs), Knight 1-17 (5 overs), Holden 1-23 (7 overs))

OCCC 155-8, 35 overs (Holden 39, A Saldanha 38, Knight 32)

Result: Lost by 47 runs

Man of the Match: Jacob Holden

Alex Bennett