Oxford Downs
- Sunday 9th August 2009
After a couple of late swine flu pull outs, a
diverse LNZCC XI which included a member of Generation y, several members of
generation x, a member of generation Model-T and an Australian, pitched up to
the delightful Oxford Downs cricket club on an atypical 2009 summers day. A 40
over game was negotiated, and LNZ were inserted on a deck which could only be
described as a featherbed after a month’s rain in a few days.
Former
New Zealand opening batsmen
Blair Hartland opened up with the skipper, and showed glimpses of class as he
quickly overhauled his best score since 1997 of 5. Oliver cheapened cricket at
the other end with his 12 kilo bat finding the short leg-side boundary on
several occasions whilst Hartland continued to please the eye, driving and
clipping majestically until being chipping one back to the bowler on 25. Still
at 90-1 after 13 overs, LNZ looked well placed to post a competitive total. And
then... Swann promoted to number 3 swept his way to a well compiled 4 before
their off-spinner got a half tracker to bounce and turn and the Swann had no
choice but to lob it to mid-wicket. Oliver followed shortly after hacking the
off-spinner out to a lone boundary rider. Batcheler and Penman Snr. steadied the
ship under immense pressure and chirp from the 5 strong slip cordon, however the
arrival at the bowling crease of Antonio, the local bat-maker playing his first
game of cricket changed the shape of the match. Batcheler was done in by a brute
of a delivery which seemed back on the second bounce, Penman, relieved to not be
facing the debutant, holed out at the other end. Cooper looked good before
falling for a wily piece of flighted bowling and a leg-side trap well set by the
Bat maker. Hill and Penman Jnr. could not stop the rot, and it was down to
Tikao, Bartle and Holden to produce one of the most memorable LNZ tail wags of
all time. They didn't, and we were all out for 166 in the 38th over.
With a positive attitude and faux confidence
brought on by a swift pint, a professional looking LNZ took to the field for
warm-ups. Show-boating in front of the large crowd of Wags, children, dogs and
umpire assessment officials, Swann attempted to take a Dave Tikao high ball
reverse cup style, however due to using £23 worth of strapping tape on his hands
they had ceased to become useful and he gracefully accepted the catch flush on
the swede. A good start... Batcheler opened up and bowled with
vigour,
Penman Snr. bowled through unchanged at the other end in his typical metronomic
fashion with good reward. After 16 overs LNZ were in the game with
Oxford teetering on 54-2. Tikao started
well, but due to an obscure technicality, most of his beamers in his last over
were called no-ball by umpire Conway, who was bordering on officious under the
watchful eye of the
Surrey league umpire assessors in attendance.
Bartle, Holden and Cooper all plugged away gallantly without success, and the
skipper looking for inspiration finally gave way to Hartland’s two hours worth
of warming up and chucked him the ball. Blair has played cricket at the highest
level but has never been known as a front line bowler, but his only over took
'not a front line bowler' to new levels. It wasn't until after the game he
explained that he bowled left handed because his right shoulder was ruined
(information the skipper could have used an hour or so earlier)... Cooper was
unlucky not to have a wicket as the Skipper grassed a tough chance (half-chance
really) and Batcheler came back to grab his debut LNZ wicket, albeit a
consolation one.
Oxford got the runs with 3 down and 11
overs remaining in what could only be described as a comprehensive victory.
Pints and banter followed in Oxford Downs new and
very impressive pavilion, where Phil Bartle donated his LNZCC cap to their
variegated collection. GBK man of the match went to Swann for a swashbuckling 4,
and the 'catch' of the season, and Dave Tikao packed the worst bag of the
season.
A big thanks to all of the players who made
themselves available, Marty Conway for a very correct days umpiring (he
passed!), Pete Coleman for his masterpiece in the book and Ted Sandbach and
Oxford Downs for their hospitality.
Yours in Cricket
Mike Oliver
ODCC won the toss and requested LNZ to bat. 40 Over match
with 8 overs per bowler
Scoreboard LNZCC 166 All Out (38.2 of 40 overs) Oxford
Downs 170 for 3 (29.1 overs) Oxford Downs win by 7 wickets
Batting
Runs Catches Stumpings Run
Outs Stats
*Mike Oliver
60
caught
Blair Hartland
25
c&b
+Andrew Swann
4
caught
Nick Batcheler
15
caught
Anthony Penman
22
caught
Glenn Cooper
7
caught
Alistair
Hill
10
bowled
Hamish Penman
3
run out
Dave Tikao
1
bowled
Philip Bartle
2
stumped
Richard Holden
0*
Extras
17
FOW 68, 92, 105, 122, 143, 154, 160, 163, 166,
166
Bowling
O M R W Stats
Nick Batcheler 6 1
28 1 caught
Anthony Penman 8 2
19 2 caught x 2
Dave Tikao 3
0 31 0
Philip Bartle 5 0
41 0
Glenn Cooper 4.1 1
14 0
Richard Holden 2 0
16 0
Blair Hartland 1 0
20 0
FOW 32, 38, 166
Umpire: Martin Conway
Scorer: Peter Coleman
GBK Man of the Match: Andrew Swann
