Scorecard

Olney Town Cricket Club Olney Town CC 1st XI v Milton Keynes CC on Sat 02 May 2009 at 1:30pm
Olney Town Cricket Club Won by 2 wickets

Match report We are only into the second week of the season and already we have had issues with getting a side out. Out of the side through unavailability went Gibson and the previous weeks impressive bowling of Rice. They were replaced with debutant and very impressive Gray Macdonald and in comparison the seasoned campaigner Brock. A settled line up given that at 10 in the morning we only had 10 players. Special mention should be given to Gray as when asked if he could help out the first team he replied with the fact that it had been his dream since he started playing to play for the Sat first team. If only everyone felt like that!!
Following last weeks victorious toss it was inevitable that this week wouldnt be the same, playing on the same strip as last week which again looked an absolute belter, MK took the decision to bat first. Skipper Keeping opening the bowling with Debutant "old" Macdonald. and after 5 tight overs and with the score on 5 we made the breakthrough, Keeping finding the edge of the opener Brock defying the years and other bodily complaints to take a superb diving catch at 2nd clip. That catch setting the tone for the afternoon, Macdonald in his forth over got his rewards for bowling a tight and consistent line, Charlie Brown taking the catch this time at fine leg, however in doing so it was more apparent that he had caught it with his finger as blood poured from the split nail! It became apparent that MK had recently got back from a 20/20 tour in Spain, and the next three wickets confirmed this, two excellently judged catches which came down after orbiting the moon were taken by Keeping Junior and Cadigan, the first catch being a caught and bowled to add to the complexity, and with an additional run out thrown in we were in the driving seat at 56 for 5. A small partnership formed for MK, the skipper however accounting for that coming back to claim 2 quick wickets, this combined with the introduction of Brock changed the score to 111 for 8. A minor last wicket stand held us up for a few more overs before Charlie Brown, finger heavily strapped from the earlier incident, claimed the final wicket.
Following last weeks disappointing display in the field this was exactly the response that we were looking for. An excellent all round display in the field, there were a couple of drops that could off cost us, however we stuck to our task well to dismiss the MK side for what looked to be an easily get able 127.
How often though do you see a side struggle to get a low score. This would be no exception! The MK openers were moving the ball all over the place, First Keeping junior edging behind before he was followed by Brown with the same outcome, and when Cadigan was adjudged LBW to a ball that only the bowler half appealed for we looked to be in trouble at 26 - 3. Skipper Keeping joined Hallum in the middle, and through a great deal of caution and restraint the pair moved the score to 71 before Hallum found the hands of one of the waiting MK fielders. MK Introduced Cross who produced an impressive display to claim 4 wickets, and despite having plenty of overs we looked to be in trouble, Pifle the only additional contributor with 10. Keeping still there though had continued to move the score along and when Macdonald was out the score was 125 for 8. No problem you'd think, still 2 wickets in the hutch and only 2 to get, however with Souster having left at tea to attend the birth of his first child and with Brock having to face 2 deliveries MK knew that 1 wkt would win the game for them. Despite a huge appeal by the MK players for an LBW decision Brock survived, and with the 2nd ball of the following over the bowler served up a half volley to the Skipper who drove through extra cover for the winning runs finishing unbeaten on 48.
An excellent day and a result that was a lot closer than it probably should have been. The first win on the board this season and a welcome one at that, against fellow relegated side MK. Special mentions of the day go to Gray "old" Macdonald making his debut, and this week the whole team for some excellent fielding.
However the biggest congratulations of the day goes to Paul Souster and family, Paul became a father on Sunday morning to a little boy. The whole club sends its congratulations to Mother, Father and baby. Another addition to the growing club family!

Milton Keynes CC Batting
127 for 10
Player name Runs
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Olney Town Cricket Club Olney Town CC 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Stuart Keeping8.04933.001.13
Gray Macdonald7.0029129.004.14
Iain Keeping7.0033216.504.71
Nick French3.001300.004.33
Ben Brock8.0132216.004.00
Mike Brown4.02818.002.00

Olney Town Cricket Club Olney Town CC 1st XI Batting
129 for 8
Player Name RunsCatchesStumpingsRun outs
Mark Hallam Caught  43
Iain Keeping Caught  5 1
Mike Brown Caught  6 1
Ben Cadigan Lbw  0 1
Stuart Keeping Not Out  48
Christian Smail Bowled  4
Stuart Griffin Bowled  0
Nick French Caught  10 1
Gray Macdonald Bowled  0
Ben Brock Not Out  0 1
Paul Souster   1

Milton Keynes CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
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