OL Cricket Reports

LA Fitness (109 ao) beat OL’s B (65 ao)

A balmy Tuesday evening at Alwyn Road saw LA Fitness beat OL’s B in a keenly contested end of season clash, which will probably be remembered more for the manner of victory rather than the actual final scores.

On a very green and lush track, LA Fitness’ coach won the toss and decided to make the most of the bright conditions, getting their innings off to a solid start with the top order running eagerly to keep the score ticking over. Good bowling from Jamie (5 overs for 31) and Nipper (5 overs for 35, with one wicket) made them work hard for their runs on a slow pitch and kept the game even throughout the first ten overs. Every time it seemed that runs were about to start flowing, Fitness seemed to lose concentration and throw away wickets – two well-taken run-outs contributing to the mayhem, much to the dismay of the excitable crowd! Bowling changes brought the introduction of Fozzy, and The Fish (playing with mobile in hand), and the differing “styles” soon paid dividends. The batsmen, trying to accelerate the scoring, found wickets began to tumble at regular intervals despite some strong appeals not going the way of the fielding side. Good catching from captain Thorne, Nipper, Melvin and Skinners meant Fitness struggled to a total of 109 all out, with Fozzy bowling well to take 4-17 from his 3 overs. Keeper Rhys was excellent in taking two sharp stumpings, and The Fish span his web to thwart the chances of a ‘five-fer’ and hat-trick for Fozzy by taking the final wicket to finish with good figures of 3-24 from his 3.4 overs.

Having bowled and fielded well in restricting Fitness to almost half their previous total against the Lime Tree Avenue outfit, OL’s got off to a reasonable start with Pete (12) and Big Wal (9) looking solid, before both coming unstuck in the gloomy and increasingly hostile conditions. Thorne (12), Skinners (10), and The Fish looked to keep the total ticking over above the required rate with some good shots and hard running (!), before the wheels came off the OL’s innings in monumental fashion – Alwyn Road witnessing the kind of collapse not seen since… well since the Headingley Test finished really! Wickets tumbled with not one of the bottom six batsmen getting close to double figures, all of them falling foul of the aggressive appealing and bowling of one or two of the very committed Fitness players. Pick of the bowlers probably Danny Scott with 2-1-2-1, although all the Fitness bowlers gave everything in a strong and bullish bowling attack.

OLs B 121-9. Exiles 67ao, OLs B win by 54 runs,
28the July 2009

OLs got back to winning ways, with one of the good days to balance out the recent bad, in a proper Tuesday night game, which was a credit to both sides. Skipper Big Wal won the toss and decided to bat on what was a very green and damp track due to recent rain. Excellent bowling from Mini 2-20, and Edden 0-17 kept the rate very low to start of with, with Pete dealing in singles, 8, and even Thorney struggling to find his touch. The virtue of keeping wickets in touch was later highlighted as Big Wal hit 25 off 14 balls, and OLs amassed a healthy looking 121-9. Thorney top scored with an excellent 41.

In reply “New Boy” Mike donned the gloves and kept superbly. Exiles must be thanked for allowing a fielding replacement as Liam Rigg replaced his dad, it was assumed his throw comes from his mum’s side of the family. In contrast, early wickets fell and Exiles were never at the races, a couple of drop catches but generally OLS had one of their better days in the field, including Nipper running out Mini aiming for a suicidal second. Superb bowling from Simon Rigg 2-9 and Nipper 2-13 was backed up by The Fish 1-20, Jamie 1-9, and Liam making his bowling debut, put his nerves and a few wides behind him to finish the game off with 2-16. Top score was S. Edden 20, nobody else, not even extras, got into double figures.

Big Wal was awarding the fines exemption for his runs, all round performance, Strauss like Captaincy, and his usual catch of the season contender.

OLs B 117-9. Exiles 1 118-1, Exiles win by 9 wickets,
14th July 2009

Exiles won this game with something to spare, though the game was closer than the result suggests, and an awful lot closer that in threatened to be at one stage. OLs stuck to their ethos of the bowlers batting at 8,9,10,11, and this may have backfired, as the tail had to wag very hard to get OLS to 117, and a chance. The innings was held together by Thorney 63*, a fifth player to hit 50 this year. Three consecutive 6s, had even threatened to make it a little more. The top order was skittled by playing poor shots to poor balls, and all managing to get out, apart from Thorney the top 7 contributed only 11. A good job Mr E.xtra made 17. Nipper was the pick of the rest with 11, including a mighty 6, but he too came and went, as OLs went from 33-5 at half way to 117, but still not enough to contain the Exiles. Best bowling was Dawbs 4-19, though even he apologised for the awful ball that got Pete out!! Adam Ursell 3-32, and Will M, 1-14 helped to restrict the Ols.

In reply, proper batsmen, played proper shots, and without their strike bowler, OLs struggled to take wickets. Although Simon’s 5 overs for 22, kept the score in check, Fozzie bowled better than 0-33 suggests, Nipper took the wicket to fall, and Billy bowling leg spin, (apparently), was a little expensive. Mixed fielding didn’t help, including the newly instigated WKIOTs, (Wicket Keeper Instigated Over Throws) but on this occasion the Exiles were better at the three key elements of batting, bowling and fielding. OLs edged the optimistic appealing, banter and enthusiasm. Exiles romped home with Hillyard 45, French 36*, and Will 23* proving too good.

Network Rail 126/6, OLs B 127/1 OLs B win by 9 Wickets,
30th June 2009

This is proper Tuesday night cricket, as 22 blokes with limited cricket ability, had a great laugh, a great game, shared banter, and thoroughly enjoyed the Advertiser league Spirit. The game was won, by possibly the best ever innings from a “non player” as Parks hit 80* to see OLs home with 4 overs to spare.

NR won the toss and elected to bat first, the Taylor Brothers opened, and the fun started, with constructive criticism from the off, well criticism anyway. The partnership didn’t last long as Simon took his first wicket, and ended up with 2-19, again 4 dropped catches prevented his figure being better. Fossy played his first game in 2 years 1/34, Nipper 2/20, and Pikey 1/34, all bowled well, but were let down by some awful fielding and woeful catching, though Billy The Fish closed the book on catch of the season, as he dived full length to take a one handed catch an inch of the ground. Not sure who was more surprised, Billy, the batsmen, or the fielders. Good batting from Ryan 38, and Elliot 27*, and NR had an improbable 126.

In reply OLS lost Billy for 1, to Elliot, in the second over, and the “Parks” show rolled into town. He hit his first 3 balls for 4,6,6, and ended up unbeaten on 80 off only 47 balls, with 12 boundaries. All the more impressive when you consider he did it with just the one shot, known in the MCC coaching manual as the “Smack”, not cultured, but on this occasion very effective. Pete “Tavare” Rigg, kept him company and was the steadying influence with 34*, as OLs won at a canter. No NR bowler was spared as all went for over 6 an over, but the fun never stopped, as all agreed that this was an innings of real merit and a game that typified the fun to be had in the league.

L A Fitness 193/5, OLs 137/9. LAF won by lots
23rd June 2009

OLs with a couple of key players missing were put to the sword by LAF in this top of the table clash. LAF were better in all aspects of the game, though with 4 bowlers running in from 20+yds, did seem a little unnecessary. Skipper “New Boy” Mike, held things together well, but with limited resources LAF just scored far too many, as OLS had one of their legendary off days. 7 dropped catches, many miss-fields and overthrows didn’t help the cause. Though 2 highlights were a classy stumping from Rhys and birthday boy Pete, Collingwood-esk run out.

All the LAF batsmen knew what they were doing, had their own kit and everything, and James 97* was simply unstoppable. He smashed 6s to all parts, and looked set for a ton, until he missed the last ball. OLs’ bowling started well, with Simon and Nipper, who both went for around 6 an over. Simon was especially unlucky to go wicketless, with 3 drops off his bowling 0-34, and Nipper bowled the best all year for 2-29. It all went wrong at half way, when the change bowlers were, well, errrrr less economical. Melv, Stish, and Matt having a competition to see who could be hit the furthest, Which Melv won, though Matt did take the consolation, “most wides” prize. Other scores Bav 29, and Cash, Isbar and Vil all in the teens

In reply, OLS were never up to the rate of nearly 10, though Big Wal, 25 and Thorney, 43, did make a fair fist of it. The LAF bowling was just too good, and frankly too good for a Tuesday night, as the OLs’ middle order came and went in procession, all doing their best, but coming up a little short. Parks and Pikes hitting was unorthodox but effective. A late cameo from Simon, hitting 22 off 6 balls, just meant the score was a little closer, though 62 off the last ball proved to be just a little too much. Best bowlers were, all of them.

We will of course relish the rematch, with hopefully key players returning, to redress the balance and reclaim the loudest team award as well.

Paddocks 60 all out, OLs B, 61 for 2, OLs win by 8 wickets.
16th June 2009

OLs won the game at a canter, to consolidate their position in the league. Despite provocation they upheld the spirit of the league by allowing the paddocks to bat first. Several batsmen got a start, Wells 10, and the Green brothers 21 and 19*, but lack of numbers and 2 in total from the rest saw a total of 60. Jamie again bowled one over, no runs and 2 wickets, Simon picked up 2 more, and Matt of debut bowled 2 balls, one boundary, one wicket. In reply Pete was back to bring steady 16* big Wal 9, Mike was controversially run out for 8, and Melv decided the bar was open as he hit 15* off 6 balls to finish it off. Wells took 2 wickets, but went for 37, maybe concentrating on the game and not the umpire would help next time!! The early finish allowed Simon and Nipper to win the 4 over challenge with 57.

A glorious evening, saw a hugely entertaining, friendly and well balanced game, which included the good, more of the bad, and plenty of the ugly, which OLs won, mainly due to an unplayable burst of bowling from Jamie. This week’s skipper Melv, won the toss, and still asked the Vic to choose??, in the end OLs batted first.

A solid opening partnership from Big Wal, 16, and The Fish 23, was backed up by Skinners 9, New Boy Bike 9, before Rhys 29* and Jamie 25* saw OLS amass 127/6. Best bowler was Mick Roberts with 4-24.

In reply TV started well, with a 50+ partnership from Dave and R.Job, who was unlucky to fall at 47, chasing the runs. TV were always behind the rate as Simon kept it tight at 5 overs for 15. Nipper took a wicket, and then Melv introduced Jamie. A maiden was followed by a treble wicket maiden, and with Stish’s liquorice all sorts also claiming 3 wickets in 2 overs the heart of the batting was gone in a flash. A late flurry of activity saw TV trying to run 28 off the last over, as boundaries were elusive.

A great Tuesday night festival of friendly cricket saw OLs defeat SB easily, and then the Over 35s won a fun game vs. the Under 35s for a bit of practise all round.

SB were very short of players, so OLs sportingly allowed them to bat first to try to rally troops, it failed to work. Johnnie hit 27 and the others, well didn’t, and 39 all out, well in reality for 5, but that was all there was. Jamie was rested, so Nipper and Simon opened the bowling, with 0-11 and 2-6 respectively. Thought the star of the show was Melv with 3-6, his best bowling ever, not to mention a superb C&B, as Skipper Pete Rigg rang the changes. Some of the SB batsmen looked a little unused to the game, and were pleased to get bat on ball.

In reply OLS strolled to only their second ever 10 wicket win, As Jamie, 27* and Pete 14*, saw OLS home with 15 overs to spare. Johnnie was the pick of the bowlers, but generously allowed his team mates to be hit for the winning runs.

The 10 over game that followed saw the O35s, out play the U35 with superior skill, talent, and all round cheating.

The Rugby Advertiser version of the IPL is with us again, and started with a resounding win for the OLs. The cricket lived up to the IPL, maybe the icy wind didn’t help but the dancing girls were disappointing. The victory left the fines committee with the unusual task of choosing between two fine performances, for the exemption. It was decided that a first ever 50 for Andy Coleman (Skinners) marginally outshine the first “fifer” from Veteran Skipper Simon Rigg in 14 years. OLs intensive preseason training paid off, though how we were going to play with just one bat was a mystery. Billy the fish arrived with his own, so naturally was selected to play.

NR won the toss and asked OLs to bat, Big Wal hit 12, several players got in and out, but Skinners played superbly for 55, including 11 boundaries. A last wicket stand of 25 from Simon 11* and new boy Parks 14*, and OLs reached a above par 122. All the bowlers took wickets with Scouse pick of the bunch with 2/13. Paul was bowling well, but his figures 2/34 were ruined by a 16 run over from Skinners.

In reply, Simon cleaned bowled two in his first over, and the hat-trick ball saw a play and a miss. Two dropped catches prevented him claiming even better figures than 5/8 off 3 overs, his best ever. Jamie again showed his class with 2/11. Stish nabbed 2/10 including an alleged deliberate googlie, and Nipper 1/8. NR were never at the races, but some spirited play saw them reach 38, with Boland top score, but 5 ducks were not going to help.