Oxford Downs 15th June 2003

A wonderful afternoon in the hot sun of the Oxfordshire countryside saw LNZCC record a second consecutive win against the Oxford Downs Cricket Club. After the oppo captain generously opted to field through the hottest part of the day we posted a score of 222 for 7 declared, mainly based on the anchor innings of Sam Foley (88) and a aggressive knock from Shaun Perkinson (58). Sam batted strongly with some wonderful front foot play and only got out late on in the innings when asked to go for stupid runs to enable an early declaration. Earlier, when Perky got to the crease and smashed the first 3 deliveries to the boundary one of the ODCC fielders was heard to comment on a feeling of deja vu from last year. And Perky's assault just didn't stop, his 58 scored from only 35 deliveries. I don't think the 13 year old who was bowling at the time knew what was happening! Useful contributions also came from Isaac Southwell (24), before he was undone by the old age pensioner, Peter Tippen (14) and Brett Radford (14*).

So the home side had around 40 overs to go after our total and we opened the offence with the strike-miesters Bartle and Steve Deane. And with the weight of a batting role off his shoulders Deane-o got into the job of opening bowler, dusting 3 of their top order and then coming back to take the last 2 wickets to win the match and end on 5 for 13. A top effort from the Steve-the-bowler-Deane, he was heard to mumble "watch out Messers Gale, Martin and Vancer" as he ambled off to buy his celebratory jug. With their first 3 wickets lost cheaply and with their last recognised batsman at the crease (actually their only recognised batsman) we had to manage the game to ensure a result. Sam Foley came to the bowling crease to ensure runs flowed just as fast as when he had batted and he did superbly to enable 40 off his 4 overs of flight and guile. And then the change bowle! rs made their contributions with Brett Radford getting 2 wickets in consecutive balls (2 for 25) and Steve Lester getting some improbable inswing to get the late men (2 for 11).