v MNPA - 20th May 2008

Date: 20 May 2008

Versus: MNPA Occasionals 

Venue: Ruxley Lane 

Result: OC's win by 24 Runs

Report:

OC’s vs MNPA Occasionals

The build up to the weeks biggest game has been brewing up to a crescendo, mind games, taunts, barracking and people coming in to find about 20 emails in their inbox not work related and we are not talking about the reds vs blues in Moscow.

Come game day, although it was sunny, a chill wind blew in from the east, from the west came the one night only performance of Ian Doyle, skipper, batsman, bowler, fielder and now cider drinker in Somerset.

OC’s won the toss and elected to bat first, Reuben the eldest and DJ coming into bat. The standard of bowling was expected to be poor so Bisson informed the umpires to show a bit of leniency on the wides, unfortunately Reuben the younger chased a wide one and edged to the keeper for a single. Collett came in and kept to his “test match” tag by only taking shots at balls he liked, 20 runs of his 28 came off 4 deliveries which were as buffet as they come. Despite the umpires warned about the quality of the bowling, some of those in “civvies” were quite handy, one particular bowler finding a nice line and length which went through the gate to dismiss James for 32. Doyle, in his “Somerset Waste Management” Van and Australia rugby top appeared to be auditioning for “The X Factor” with his constant renditions of “Yeah Yeah” by Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames (or Matt Bianco if you re a child of the 80’s) mixed up with the usual comedy attempts at running himself out before departing caught for 38. A disappointing spell from the middle order followed but OC’s ended on a satisfactory 120.

The chill wind saw a disappointing turnout from the OC’s Beach Babes supporters who after sitting in the sun waving 4’s and 6’s retired to the shelter of the pavilion with their fruit based drink, for the laides.

Dan Reuben and Manuawar opened the bowling for the OC’s and were productive again, Dan getting a wicket cheaply in his spell and Manuwar adding another couple of wickets to his haul as well as the usual comedy appeal when a ball hit the batsman a distance above the waist. So far dependable first changes Mahesh & Beeks came on with Mahesh gaining the prize wicket of Knox and a maiden over and Beeks almost getting three wickets (including bowiling out a maiden © Terry Beeks) were it not a dropped catch from Ducklin. Six wickets down, Bisson brought himself on to find that first wicket of the season and came up against a stubborn tail which appeared to have a younger version of Collett, who had the same heave shot to the long on boundary, Barnett and Moore top scoring for the oppo with 18 & 27 respectively. With the game looking out of reach, Ducklin came on for a single over with the runs required at 10 an over before Bisson saw sense and got back to his competitive self and brought on the guile of Doyle who took another wicket. Ducklin redeemed himself with a catch from Bissons bowling who now has a bowling average without a DIV/0! On the excel spreadsheet as the Occasionals fell short on 20 overs with 100.

Finnerty showed his face in the pavilion after the game and Doyle disappeared into the sunset, via a Ruby Murray, back to the wild west, his job done just like the man with no name, Lassie, or the Littlest Hobo.

Man of the Match – Ian Doyle for travelling from afar, for having a good spell with both bat & ball which effectively won the match.

Champagne Moment – Knox ct Collett b Mahesh, the significance of the wicket which confirmed Mahesh as a developing bowler plus the sight of seeing Ben in an Umpires coat appealing the catch rather than giving the batsman the finger.