Our second game of the season saw us play our first at our adopted home ground in Potters Bar. Very nice it was too. Although the grass off the square could have done with another inch or two off it.
Anyway, with only 10 men available after Junky’s back gave up the ghost last week we knew it was going to be a tough game. At the toss, the oppo skipper miscalled it and I won my 2nd on the spin and chose to field in a 40 over game. It was a lovely day and when I returned to the boundary was greeted by Steve applying the sun cream – my first thought was that there wasn’t enough in the world to do the job but he seemed to manage quite well.
Right – down to business. Mike Knight took the new ball and opened with a maiden. Rohan’s first ball from the other end was a touch wide and saw Rich Hillman diving away to his left on the sandy outfield. In fact, some very harsh one day wides were being called for anything down the leg side, and much over 2 foot outside off was also adjudged wide. Anyway, Rohan soon reined in the radar though, and he in fact struck first in his 2nd over with a slightly short ball that dug into the pitch and sat up a bit more than expected and the batsman looped it to the big trough like hands of Steve at shortish mid wicket, who gratefully snaffled the chance. With the score on 7-1 thoughts of a mauling like we gave them a couple of years ago when they were all out for 40 odd came to mind, but soon disappeared. The other opener while unable to hit it off the square was stubborn in defence, and the number 3 signaled his intentions early and started to hit it to all parts. With ten men it always seemed there were too many gaps and not enough plugs as the score ticked over at about 5 an over. Several runs squirmed through the gully slip region – especially off the streaky opener who seemed to edge everything wide of any fielders. I replaced Rohan after he had bowled 5 overs, and Mike carried on his spell to bowl his full 8 overs in one go. Unlike last week when I was lucky to get the ball on the brown stuff, and even luckier to make it bounce in front of the stumps, my line and length improved somewhat and was quite tidy. However, the odd stray one was still apparent and the harsh extras mounted up. Jacob replaced Mike after his spell and bowled very quickly and aggressively – and was in fact called for a wide that went over the middle stump at about chest height. We managed to run out the stubborn opener shortly into his spell. A couple of overs later, I bowled a truly remarkable delivery to remove the new no. 4. A couple of stock deliveries were followed by the effort ball, which in turn was followed by the “leg spin” slower ball which completely flummoxed the batsman. It pitched on leg stump, turned viciously before missing the outside edge of the bat (he was playing the completely wrong line) and slammed into the middle/off stump at the same time. The score was now about 100-3. My 8 overs finished and Rohan came back to finish his allocation. His second over then saw another fine piece of cricket from none other than myself! The aggressive no.3 who had just reached his 50 tried to hit Rohan over extra cover but slightly mistimed his shot. I, running round from a fairly deep Mid Off, managed to get to it before it bounced and pouched a wonderful catch. With the momentum swinging our way with 3 quick wickets, it was Tony’s turn to get into the action. Giving him the end with the larger legside boundary, we had two scouts out at long off and on and another on the midwicket/cow corner boundary. However, he was to prove not to need them! He bowled one of the best spells I’ve seen him bowl, and took his first wicket in his maiden over. He clean bowled the perplexed batsman who was playing back to a full one that clipped his off stump. This set the scene for his next 5 overs as shouts of F&G Tone, and Roll back those years could be heard from all around the ground. Rich Hillman then held a great catch behind the stumps for his second, shortly followed in the same over by another castled batsman. Jacob – coming back at the other end to finish his overs then clean bowled the No 8, before tony claimed an lbw and finally a blatant caught behind that neither the batsman nor the umpire seemed to want to acknowledge to complete his umpteenth 5 wicket haul for the club. We managed to wrap things up in only 32 overs with the score on 142 all out – a remarkable comeback seeing as they were 100 for 1 at one stage.
So, hot and bothered but in a good mood, we went over to the pavilion for tea. And what a tea it was. Cream cakes, scones, sambo’s and some savoury nibbles washed down with a hot cup of cha. Poor Junky – fancy missing out on that one!
Our innings got under way half an hour later with Mike Knight and Allan opening, with myself and Ifty umpiring (to make sure the harsh wide calls were reciprocated). The score moved slowly at first with the openers bowling tidy lines with a bit of shape – not to mention some wholly optimistic appealing for any kind of wicket, and to quote Ifti, it was like they were appealing for “bat before wicket”!! It wasn’t long before a couple of lovely off side drives from Mike started to tick the score over a bit quicker tho, before Allan swung at a loose leg side ball and managed to get a top edge and saw it loop up to midwicket to end his innings. Rohan came in at 3, and was soon ducking under some short stuff – calmly called wide by Ifti – before showing his ability with some late cuts over the slips and through gully. All the while the bowlers were vociferous in their appeals and becoming more and more agitated with each one that was declined. Rohan was next out replaced by Jo Spencer. His first ball was short and wide and pounded to the gully boundary. He and Mike then had a good partnership before Jo holed out to deepish mid off, bringing Steve to the crease. My judgement, honesty and all round gentlemanliness was then called into question after a big appeal against Mike caught behind. From my view, Mike managed to hit his pad straps with the bat – not the ball and after turning down the appeal was called a cheat. My immediate reaction was not the best when I told him to “come here and say that” which he thankfully didn’t, but the animosity remained. Steve unfortunately did not last long, and was caught in the covers, prompting my 25 over umpiring stint to also come to an end. Jacob came out to replace Steve, and set about scoring some quick runs. However, he was also out with only 2 runs required, meaning Ifty had the chance to score the winning runs. He did so in true Ifti style and slashed one away to third man and only a natural disaster would have stopped him coming back for the second – which didn’t come - and we won the game by 5 wickets with Mike Knight not out on 55 at the other end.
So, our first win of the season notched up in some style was most satisfying. An epic comeback with the ball and an assured batting display by our top order – especially Mike – signals good things for the rest of the season. Now – the bit you’ve all been waiting for – the M.O.M award. There are 3 people in the running – Tony for his superb bowling performance, Mike for his classy 50 containing some “shots of the day” (Jo) and myself – an amazing wicket, an even better catch and an umpiring display worthy of some kind of award. Ok – I jest on the last contender! Now, I believe that a joint MOM is a bit of a cop out, so there is only one winner – Tony. Mike’s half century was expertly compiled, but Tony’s 5 wickets were pivotal in the match, and without them they would probably have batted their full 40 overs and scored a lot more runs making our chase all the more difficult.
Nothing else left to say apart from good luck next Saturday – I await the match report next week!
Hainault Road: 142 all out, 34 overs (Sawell 5-29 (6 overs), Francis 2-33 (8 overs), Holden 1-16 (5 overs), Bennett 1-33 (8 overs), Knight 0-24 (8 overs))
OCCC 143-5, 32 overs (Knight 55*, Spencer 26, Francis 15)
OCCC won by 5 wickets
Man of the Match: Tony Sawell
Alex Bennett