Match Report

OCCC v Penn Street - 13th June 2009

This fixture is normally eagerly anticipated among the OC veterans as it's without doubt one of the nicest grounds we get to play at all year. Situated in a small village near Amersham, the pitch is surrounded by woodland on one boundary and a road at the other end - and on the other side of that road is the lovely Squirrel pub (recent winners of the Chiltern "best family pub" and "best pub food" awards) where players and spectators gather around pub benches in the garden to watch the match unfold - perhaps its no wonder the OC's like playing here!

At shortly after 2pm, I went out to the middle with their skipper to toss up, and when the coin landed tails side up I was relieved to win and chose to bat. At this point, we only had 6 of our 10 players present - and there was no way I was bowling with 6 even though I'd just heard Steve inform us that once the OC's fielded with 6 and by the time the 11th arrived the opposition were 20 for 6 (or something similar - Steve, I'm sure you can confirm the exact numbers!!).

So, at around 2.15, the Srikanthan brothers Gajan and Karti went out into the middle to bat on a glorious afternoon tailor made for big scoring and "sexy cricket". 5 balls later, sexiness deserting him, Karti was on his way back to the pub benches having been adjudged lbw (quite fairly it seems as he hinted he'd have walked!).

Now, when we were getting padded up, we only had 6, and I had the difficult choice of putting myself in at 3 or opening - those of you that know me will know I dont belong at either position! 3 was obviously the position I chose. So, in the first over of the game, I find myself walking out to the middle knowing that I had to stay there or this could be over by 3pm! Thankfully, as I went out, our late arrivals appeared and as punishment for their tardiness, I told them they were taking 7, 8 and 9 and to fight amongst themselves for which number they got. Greeted by Gaj at the wicket, I survived the last ball and we decided that the bad ball should be put away and to value our wicket.

This plan worked for a while and the score crept along as we consolidated. Both Gaj and myself despatched the bad balls and played sensibly for the rest on a pitch which for the main behaved itself, but played a little slow and low. This ultimately did for poor Gaj who went back to a short ball that stayed low and bowled his off stump for 14. Steve came in at 4 to see the field instantly disappear to the boundary.

Unfortunately for Steve, he's a bit recognisable with his beard and size - not to mention his batting style, and teams tend to remember him year on year and know that his philosophy is if it goes for 6 I cant get out. It wasn't long before he proved this by smashing a couple into the trees. I had managed to move to 19 and was feeling comfortable at the crease when I was outdone by a lovely slower ball that swung away and clipped my off stump (I dream about bowling those) and back I went. In went Bill at 5.

Steve was out shortly after, being caught at fine leg off a top edge, and then a mistake by Karti (umpiring) that he wont make again. He gave Bill out lbw! Now, I've always said, if its cheating not to give it, you have to give it out, and even from the boundary (behind the bowler) it looked harsh. Bill was his usual critical self after such a "ridiculous" decision cursing Karti, his parentage, inteligence, looks, profession (he's a doctor) and anything else he could think of that could be used detrimentally against him. While seeing your side 48 for 5 after just 12 overs is not funny, I did have to bite my lip from laughing out loud at the seriousness of Bill's outburst, and was thankful (in a way) that James was out shortly after which meant I could go and umpire and get away from it all!

So, we were now 60 for 6 and Hasan Ramzan and Nadir were at the crease. We were in trouble and the wicket keeper was heard saying to his slip - if this is over quick, you fancy a beer match? Mistake. He hadn't reckoned on Hasan. He decided that today was the day he would score some runs. once the openers had finished their alloted 8 overs (their skipper took 4 for 20 from his and was by far their best) the change bowlers weren't up to the same standard and Hasan began despatching them to all parts.

He hit one of the biggest sixes I've seen into the trees (it would easily have hit the windmill at Mountnessing for those of you that have played there) and then another one almost broke the window of one of the houses the other side of the road as well. All this time, he was ably supported by Nadir who was flicking the ball on both sides and giving Hasan the strike. Nadir was done for though when the score was around 120 and he missed a straight one.

In came Yousouf - obviously a little put out that his younger brother was pounding the ball to all corners and had already reached his 50 and he immediately showed his intent to catch him up. He hit some lovely straight drives - one missed my ear (umpiring) by inches as it flew for a flat 6. Now, I'd been telling Hasan all through to just concentrate on staying in and not worrying about his and the overall team score, but as we reached 200, it was obvious he wasn't far from his own century milestone.

With only a couple of overs to go, he went for a big 6 that would have gone miles, but alas, he missed it, and the ball hit his off stump. A few seconds later, we heard him shouting and swearing as he realised he was in fact out on 96 and fell just short of his 100. In came Tony at 10 and managed to run himself out from his first ball and that was our innings wrapped up. 205 all out from 37.5 overs - a very good result considering we were 48 for 5 at one point. So, tea was taken in the pub and it was very nice. one of the best bits of cake we've ever had was on offer as well, and it was demolished in quick style - naturally!

Off out to bowl we went knowing that a good display could see us with a comfortable victory, but a poor one on a pretty good track would see us lose just as easily. We started well with myself and Yousouf bowling, keeping it fairly tight and runs at a premium. I got the first breakthrough when I bowled the batsman via a slight inside edge and they were 16 for 1 after about 6 overs. Yousouf was bowling well from the other end with good pace - albeit a bit short, but he got one right when he bowled the other opener and beat the edge several times of the new bat before he had their no. 4 caught spectacularly at point by Karti. 

Yousouf bowled a fine 6 over spell to be replaced by his brother who bowled fast - but too short as well, and their no. 3 put him into the trees over 3rd man a couple of times. Hasan let him know how he felt when he told him "you've paid for the whole bat, you might as well use the edge" which had us all laughing - especially when he dropped it short and was again put into the trees next ball.  

I finished my spell and brought on James. Now, Mr Gleadow had had a bike crash the other week, and was less than his usual keen self to bowl with an injured shoulder - which I think is more mental than physical! But, I persuaded him to give it a go, and immediately wished I hadn't. He started with 4 wides, and the 5th was just as bad, but the batsman decided to smack it to the mid off boundary. So, one legal ball, and James had already given away 8 runs!

Apologising to me, the batsman and even the umpire about his rubbishness, I suggested he go round the wicket to negate the wides. He did, and immediately picked up a wicket. The batsman managed to loop it to cover where the safe hands of Karti were waiting. Next ball was wide, the one after despatched to the boundary, and then the next ball was a carbon copy of his earlier wicket - caught at cover by Karti. 1 over, no maidens, 2 for 14. FILTH!!

Hasan however, was bowling well and when he pitched it up it was unplayable, nicely proven when he clean bowled the no. 5 bringing a young lad to the crease. Anyway, after James's one over of pies, Gaj replaced him and bowled ok - albeit a touch full and was hit to the boundary a few times while Tony came on for Hasan after a fiery 4 overs.

But, Gaj then popped his hamstring after about 4 overs and could barely walk. At the earlier drinks break, Nadir and Yousouf had swapped over wicket keeping responsibilities, so I asked Nadir to finish the over. Things were starting to sway tho into the oppo's hands. With the asking rate around 6 an over, they batted well and picked off the bad balls and ran very well, keeping up with the rate, but not really overtaking it. Tony was bowling well and was inexpensive, albeit a little non threatening and the score ticked along. I brought back Hasan and we immediately got a wicket - obviously keen to keep the young lad off strike and away from Hasan, the no. 3 pushed Bill for 2 runs - error! With a throw like an exocet rocket, the ball flew back to the stumps and the youngster was out by a bus ride.

This was what we needed and we were back in it. Not long after that, Nadir picked up a well deserved wicket getting the no. 3 caught on the legside boundary by Bill - an excellent catch in fact and they were 181-8 - we needed 2 wickets, they needed 25 runs and there were 5 overs left. Hasan bowled one lad, and then an edge found its way past Gaj at third man (unable to move far at all) and the score creeped to 190. Nadir bowled a fine over unlucky not to get the wicket but a bad ball was hit over the ropes and they were 194 for 9. Hasan, in his final over was concentrating on bowling line and length, and was rewarded by eventually bowling the young no. 11 - 195 all out and we had won a nail-biter by 10 runs with only 13 balls to go.

A great game, and one of the closest we've had for some time. with 6 or 7 overs to go, they were big favourites and I really thought we were going to lose, but a fine catch from Bill to dismiss their no. 3 for 94 was the pivotal moment. In fact, Bill was our star fielder really - he patrolled the boundary most of the game saving 2's all over and effected the earlier run out as well. 3 catches from Karti, 3 wickets for Hasan and good commitment all round meant we hung on for our 5th win this season - and very enjoyable it was too!

MOM - not even I can try and claim this one - although my 19 runs were expertly compiled and my one wicket was amazing, I'm going to have to obviously award it to Hasan - 96 runs and 3 wickets makes it an easy decision really!

Conference fixture next week - who is gonna be brave enough to come up against the mighty OC's?? See those of you playing then.

Alex Bennett