Scorecard

North Bucks Ambulance v Olney Town Cricket Club Sunday Casuals/League on Sun 26 Jul 2009 at 2pm
Olney Town Cricket Club Won by 6 wickets

Match report On a dreary day in Gt Linford Olney Sunday All Stars trudged over to Milton Keynes for a dead rubber (a bit like the one in Joe Rices wallet)- however with the inspirational leadership in full swing the troops were ratcheted up to fever pitch as the skipper won the toss and elected to bowl - to unanimous groans and threats of castration.

After a motivational quick gaze of Mike Lords training manual (this week featured the delightful Rachel from Maggotsfield) the troops took to the pitch.

The old opening bowling partnership from early in the season Macdonald/Rice combo failed to make a breakthrough though Rice only went for 10 from his 5 overs as NBA struggled to get away. First 10 overs seen off and the call went down to fine leg where Douglas Bader (Mike Lord) was hobbling around aimlessly - The Lord whilst bowling economically also failed to trouble the scorer.

After a couple of comedy fielding moments where 2 dollies were hideously fumbled or would have been had the waiting field stood underneath them had looked up, firstly Lord got a return catch but only proceeded to shout "NOT MINE-SOMEONE ELSES" causing mass confusion and everyone else to stop and into the ground thudded the unwanted ball - titters echoed around the ground, then Annie Oakley decided to re-enact Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy on his way to dodging a dollie waiting for him to get into place !!

So it was lucky for OTCC Mike Brown (or slap snr - more to follow) was at the other end and with the help of catches from Jon Hurley and Macdonald snaffled up the first couple of wickets and the Olney boys were under way. With Lord keeping it tight down the other end NBA consistently struggled to make any headway.

With the aforementioned senior slap having done his job he was replaced by the soon to be follically challenged young Ben Brown. Shrugging off the prospect of a hairless world at just 14 years old he proceeded to bowl well though his Pa did his best to raise his spirit by deftly lifting his cap to young Ben to show him the future at every opportunity, but the Bream got to the ROOT of the problem by bowling tidily to secure a couple of wickets. There was one HAIR raising over in the middle of the spell but young Yul overcame it to finish with respectable figures!

With the golden arm of Gratland yet to be seen the growing discontentment in the cheap seats became evident with raucous cries of We Want Our Money Back! The Skip ignored the calls and pressed on.

Bosman signing Stuart Griffin replaced the crumbling Lord and the wickets started to fall - taking 4 wickets including a caught and bowled which had the residents of Sydney checking their buildings damage insurance as he smashed into the pitch taking one inches from the ground. A couple of yorkers later and the NBA's were back in the hut for 149 (34 bloody extras!!!)

Tea was taken and whilst Rice put away his normal 57,000 calories the batting line-up was thrashed out before the Olney men padded up to do battle. Now resident opener Jon Hurley went in at No 1 and proceeded to bat like someone had told him Cameron Diaz was waiting back at his house in an expectant mood!

Sadly whilst this was going on Annie 'the mushroom' Oakley edged one through the slips for 4 before being despatched with a sharp ball which cut back and helped on its way by an inside edge and gone for 5. Gasps ensued from the pricey seats.
Brown snr ventured to the middle to calm the nerves and played with aplomb before he was found out playing down the wrong line to a useful left hand bowler and gone for 20. Titters from The Bream in the staffroom were reported to be heard. Speculation continues that coming from Sat 1sts, Brown Snr is finding the step up to Sunday ranks a little difficult to acclimatise too and maybe this is a leap too far at this stage in his career - still we can sort that out in the nets over time.

Jon Hurley at the other end had amassed 35 before slashing at one too many in his quest to get back to the now frantic Ms Diaz. Human mountain Griffin then came to the crease to steer the ship home able assisted by Gary Brown who was despatched to a NO BALL which The Mushroom declined to see ! GB gone for a timely 21.

In what is believed to be a first in OTCC history skipper Gratland sold batting space No 6 to Gray Macdonald for £10 (promoting him from No 9). GM using the time wisely to score 11 agricultural runs to assist the Griff (38no) in bringing home the points. Regrettably Scotty Dog has threatened legal action should his batting position be usurped again by the grubby dealings of the skipper. However one look at his briefs (turned inside out to save on washing), and the case would be laughed out of court !

25pts for the men - and though they cannot make the Cup Final are now handily placed in their respective cup division.

With 2 crucial league games to come and returning stars to the fold, competition for places will be intense as the Sunday XI chase down the silverware !

Marvellous!


North Bucks Ambulance Batting
149 for 10
Player name Runs
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Olney Town Cricket Club Sunday Casuals/League Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Gray Macdonald5.002500.005.00
Joe Rice5.011000.002.00
Mike Lord8.022200.002.75
Mike Brown6.011226.002.00
Ben Brown6.0029214.504.83
Stuart Griffin7.011844.502.57
Jon Hurley3.0021121.007.00

Olney Town Cricket Club Sunday Casuals/League Batting
150 for 4
Player Name RunsCatchesStumpingsRun outs
Jon Hurley Caught  35 1
Steve Oakley Bowled  5
Mike Brown Bowled  20 1
Stuart Griffin Not Out  38 1
Gary Brown Caught  21
Gray Macdonald Not Out  11 1
Simon Gratland  
Scott Wrighting  
Ben Brown  
Joe Rice  
Mike Lord   1

North Bucks Ambulance Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.