Olney Town Cricket Club Sunday Casuals/League v Spencer (Friendly) on Sun 17 Jun 2007 at 2pm
Olney Town Cricket Club Won 4 wkts
Well who would have thought it - a wicket that looked like it had all of 100 runs all day in it unveiled a monumental 411 runs !!! Due to unstinting work from the Griffin, the immaculate bar work of Hammerlord and the Skippers tactical brilliance, the Casuals bought home the bacon for yet another victory.
Spencer batting first played out a maiden over in the first over which was to be the only one as they savagely set about the pacey Olney attack. Poleski Filip broke through early to neatly clip the off stump to remove the Spencer opening bat and despite Adam Barrick smartly removing the incoming batsmen too, the Olney enthusiasm was short lived. A stand of 83 then ensued for Spencer before Captain Gratland clearly having seen enough of his bowling troops being pulled apart stepped in to remove the other Spencer opener for 54 with the assistance of a sharp catch behindg by badger Kingston !
A rapid wicket in the same over by the skip aided and abetted by the coolest of catches by BC put Olney back on the map then lo and behold he bagged another for another 3 wicket haul. The rejuvenated 32GG inspired Barrick then took his 2nd wicket to keep Spencer guessing before Wippet Dave Hurley took the final wicket to camouflage the god awful figures for the renowned teach !
Labrador (Paul Winter) came on for the last over and well.....did his best!.
Skipper Gratland facing a calamitous total of 205 to get, turned the batting order around to face the task. Out stepped Annie Oakley and Nev Thompson - much worry followed as no haste was in evidence. One of the Spencer bowlers then bowled a 312 ball over (finished on 2-0-40-1) before promptly dismissing the aforementioned Annie on the 19th bounce middle stump for a wicket that not only destroyed Annie's average but "destoryed my world" according to the crestfallen estate agent. Much coaxing was then required to get the estate agent out of the changing room to face the hostile public with demands for money back ringing in his ears.
Thompson went next to reduce his seasons average to below 1 before Labrador Winter stepped up to the plate. Joined at the crease by Knapper the PE marvels set about their task with gusto before Lassie was given out by a lamentable decision by home umpire BC and trudged back to the pavilion promising to smash his face in at the next opportunity !!!
Out came Gratlando for a swift and well supported from the pavilion 6 before skying one to mid wicket making way for 11 weeks holiday a year Hurley. Now Hurley needing to impress the OTCC commitee set about the task well before scoring a blatent jug avoiding 47no as part of a 57 run partnership with young Knapper.
Knapper finally went caught well on the boundary for a match turning 75 and smartly dissapeared from the ground in a blatent act of subs avoidance !!.
Whilst at the crease badger Kingston came in but departed smartly for a paltry 2 not getting a chance to get 'sett' at the crease, before a revitalised Jack Revitt came in (in black trainers - club fine) to run his heart out for the cause.
Needing 12 from the final over Olney didn't look like getting home until a disastrous sequence of overthrows by the anxious Spencer fielding gifted Olney FIVE ran runs !!! Leaving 2 off the final 2 balls Revitt and Hurley bought the ship home.
Skipper Gratland marked the event with an excitable victory dance on the boundary with the club broom much to the embarassment of groundsman Griffin with an on the spot £2 penalty being issued !
A marvellous victory timed to the final ball by the skipper to enthrall the crowd and the crowd went home buzzing and vowing to come again !
A splendid day was had by all in the field and the pavilion where much pop was sunk not to mention the marvellous home support for the AWAY side.
Bring on the next pigeons !
Olney Town Cricket Club Sunday Casuals/League Batting
207 for 6
Spencer (Friendly) Bowling
Spencer (Friendly) Batting
205 for 7
Olney Town Cricket Club Sunday Casuals/League Bowling