Arun

Ockham CC v St. James CC

25th May 2008

Ockham 194-5 St James CC 196-7

Match Won

After a doubt quenching and critic silencing performance against Nat West a mixture of raw hopefuls and experienced players arrived at a damp Ockham

The previous night had seen much rain and it was a testimony to the ground staff that St James were greeted by a damp but firm wicket and sunshine showing off England in all its beauty with back drop of green field trees and sounds of cows lowing

Dave Smith again offered to do the arduous duty of wicket keeping against some testing bowling allowing Mike Woolley to do the skippering..At his disposal was a bouyant set of St James regulars ,with welcome returnees in the form of the Ahmad's, topped up with a mighty helping of South African county standard players ,surreptiously slipped in by a cunning and partly ruthless absentee fixture secretary

When all became apparent, members could be forgiven for thoughts of how quickly the game will be over and whether they would get a bat today.

But such is the mystery of each individual game of cricket and a rude awakening awaited St James as they were put in to bowl

Some young and stylish Ockham openers staked their claim to the result by settling and later attacking the bowling

With the talent and experience at the skippers disposal bowling varied from frighteningly quick and classy to good old straight medium but with no break throughs

The batting was helped on by some brown cardigan catching and croquet hooped fielding although Matthew K added some county style catching and stump hitting for a good run out.

But the dreams of dominance were gradually being dispelled as the score mounted and boundaries regularly clipped away with little in the way of wickets to show for it.

A late flurry of hitting and wickets saw a declaration of 194-5 and a sumptuous tea was taken, made by the top scorer for Ockham ,an example that it was hoped would be picked up by the St James youth.

With tea consumed a formidable top order was assembled with a safety anchor of Smith senior occupying one end. Excitment was tangible back at the pavilion as the tall opening quicks ran in.The quality of batting technique quickly showed as anything short was punched away for 4 ...1 bounce into the next field.

Cricket has a way of showing it must always be respected and with the necessity of adjusting to wet wickets ,the strange behaviour of the devious cherry to humidity and simple human reactions to a different situation unexpected wickets fell.

Its at this point that proceedings can best be appreciated by listening in on the telephone conversation of the match scorer, disturbed from his sandwich munching and the absent fixture secretary called away by an urgent fashion show (f:= fixture , s:= scorer)

s:Well Jonathens about to go in..Gosh ,he marching out like a headmaster about to quell an organized homework strike

Quickie comes in ..he's lifted that over mid on for maximum I think something or someone has just lit the blue touch paper, look I'd better go my teas getting cold, talk to you later

And the firework s began with ball being blasted to the boundaries for a quick fire36,with the game back on track

An enthusiastic Ryan ,promoted to number 5 ,seemed young to take on the obvious responsibility at this juncture of the game..1 false hoyk and thats it

But underneath those pop star curls dwells a fine sporting brain and quick balls were straight batted whilst anything short or slow was despatched into the empty spaces for exciting 4's....3 figure have been reached...Mind you only 12 overs left

Dave finally gets going with 2 fours but having held up one end well he's caught for a Robin-like 26

Then the tension gets to the crowd, a punched 2...thoughtless yells of 2 ..run up..a mix up, ball sears in, off come the bails Jack is stranded ..words are said ,the long trudge begins

Relief as the classy Aamir is promoted up the order and the stylish hitting continues until .....oh no another mix up he's run out

s:Stan, who's on the score book, Mohsin but he appears to be freezing to death up the corner there, James who's padded up and Mike who's just going in.....The old jerseys looking a bit tight these days...and he's wearing that nervous smile ...could be back soon

s:end of over...Mike on strike ...a bye...Ryan facing...oh no he's been castled..bad luck cracking knock 162-7

s:James going out....prod outside off stump...light not good...Mike on strike..ok....he's taking guard, looking about...bowler trundles in.... he's managed to poke it back to him

2nd ball...he's tonked this one, its coming down to deep mid wicket for 4...(shouts) here steady

3rd ball bowler trundles in ,..he's done it again..oh no there's a man under it...he's fallen over the rope... Mikes just hit a six

s:James prodding outside off stump...next ball big swish...where's it gone...disappeared...oh no keeper retrieving ball from top of pad

next a single new over James on strike...bowler trundles in ...boy he's thumped that ..fielders can't stop it ...4

Now he's thumped a three.....thunderous running....a bye James back on strike...another pull ..4 ...a sweep and it gone to fine leg for 4

Better ring off I'll try and remember all this and put it in the match report...Bye

And so here endeth a great afternoon congratulations all round ..Lots of drinks and more practice for the lads in the dark

But all good things come to an end and its back to reality ...despite pleadings we've only got 9 for next week

But the secretary gets a heart warming surprise, proving the spirit of cricket is still alive, when the old lady next door offers to make up numbers with her dog