Scorecard

Olney Town Cricket Club Olney Town CC 2nd XI v Wing CC on Sat 25 Jul 2009 at 1:30pm
Match was Drawn Winning Draw

Match report Dear Reader,

Glad to be back in the fold and reporting once again on the progress of the Twos. Saturday's game was a good result from a game that could have gone either way at pretty much any stage. Starting against 10 men and a bowling attack struggling with a sloping edge-of-square pitch that makes Lord's look like a snooker table, Hurley and Hurley made hay, until John (27) made hay once too often and missed a straight one. Initial run rate was high but Wing sorted their act out and kept wickets falling as a string of batsmen made starts but failed to build (Gallyot 9, Brown 19, Souster 9) and run scoring slowed in the middle of the innings when Dave Hurley went padding up to a straight one after he had looked after his 50+ average (54). Struggling for runs, our power hitters (James Hurley and Chas Malcolm) were sent out to join Gratland (16) and his Bat (Harrison must have taken the Bat's middle with him) with James Hurley (11) and Chas (17 no) taking on some fiery Wing bowling to advance the score with some great drives and flicks to the boundary (plus a little 2-ball cameo from yours truly). We amassed a respectable 195-8 after 44 but it was going to be difficult to defend on what had dried to be a batsmen friendly wicket.

Tea was consumed, joints were oiled, fair skin was covered in sunscreen and Olney took the field to defend our school against what was on paper a good Wing batting side. Things started well removing their opener in the first over but although run rate was low, further penetration into the Wing line-up was checked with some batting that bordered on 'lucky' at times; it was good to get them hopping around in the crease a bit too. This intimidation of the batsmen was legitimate at first but a couple of bowling changes saw both Jon Hurley (6-0-17-3) and then James Hurley (0-22) warned for beaming the batsmen (repeatedly). Jon was unplayable – either due to large amounts of swing (hitting the leg stump from outside off at least twice) or because the ball was going to take the batsmen's/keeper's/fine leg's head off… The gutsy Big Mac turned 10-0-40-1 and despite some unwarranted, crass abuse from his 'mate' in the pavilion, Gratland turned in a fine spell of 10-0-27-1 to check the Wing runs surge and with James (10-2-27-2) coming back to take another scalp (wicket or batsmen hit with bouncer – I don't mind either way) the winning draw was secured with Wing 168-7. Special praise is reserved for arguable the bowling performance of the day with young Chas Malcolm returning 5-0-16-0 with some fine spin bowling,of controlled varying flight and guile, just as Wing looked to pile on the run pressure. From long-off I was very impressed.

Our fielding was generally good but the catches continue to go down… and apparently catches win matches – perhaps some catching practice for the 2nd XI is in order skip (if you're reading this). It was a game that could have gone either way with a couple of earlier wickets, or greater run pressure from Wing, but Olney were on top for most of the game and deserved the 'Winning Draw'. All I need now is someone to explain what on earth a 'winning draw is' and I'll be happy. That and a head-toe sports massage – four weeks is a long time off at my age….

Oops nearly forgot to mention Gary Brown – he scored 19 well timed runs before getting himself caught out and he dropped a catch – he'll claim that he did well to get out of the way of it but if it hits you Gary, it's a chance. If you're wondering why he gets a special mention – it's because if I leave him out of the report he sends threatening texts all week. So if any one else is feeling aggrieved – just drop me a line and I'll see what I can do. Apart from Bernie because he left early.

(Iain James)

Olney Town Cricket Club Olney Town CC 2nd XI Batting
195 for 8
Player Name RunsCatchesStumpingsRun outs
Jon Hurley Bowled  27
Dave Hurley Lbw  54
Bernie Gallyot Caught  9
Gary Brown Caught  19
Paul Souster Caught  9
Simon Gratland Bowled  16
James Hurley Caught  11
Chas Malcolm Not Out  17
Robin Tjolle Lbw  0
Iain James Not Out  8
Gray Macdonald  

Wing CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Wing CC Batting
168 for 7
Player name Runs
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Olney Town Cricket Club Olney Town CC 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Iain James10.0227213.502.70
Gray Macdonald10.0040140.004.00
Jon Hurley6.001735.672.83
Simon Gratland10.0027127.002.70
James Hurley2.002200.0011.00
Dave Hurley1.00600.006.00
Chas Malcolm5.001600.003.20