Week ends on a winning note
Despite gloomy weather forecasts and the late cry-off of Eton (for the second year running) the 2004 week was a great success, and particularly because we fielded more youngsters than ever before. On some days we had as many as six recent leavers, and all appeared to enjoy their first taste of OC cricket.
We started with the first defeat of the season at the hands of Sam Watkinson’s XI, never quite scoring enough runs despite Simon Copleston’s patient 99 – he ran himself out going for his hundred. The match was played in gloomy weather and suffered from three rain breaks. Eton’s cancellation on the Sunday was academic as it turned out as the groundsman decided the pitch was unfit early in the morning.
On the Monday we drew with Grasshoppers, facing 43 overs against the 63 we bowled at them. It was an unsatisfactory match, with Grasshoppers batting too long and OCs never mounting anything resembling a serious challenge. When the next day, on the one truly sunny one of the week, Georgians’ manager and umpire turned up, but not the side, things appeared to be in freefall.
The next morning we trooped down to Kent to play Tonbridge. Sadly while we were doing that, they were on the way to Cranleigh. Thanks to the wonders of mobile technology, the game was hastily rearranged at Cranleigh and we managed to scrape a two-wicket win.
The most dramatic finish of the week came at Charterhouse where we bowled them out for 117, then slumped to 101 for 9 before a four and two sixes in an over from Michael Chetwode guided us to victory.
On the Friday, Simon Copleston was again dismissed in the nineties against Celeriacs – as was Andy Houston in only his second game in as many years – and five-wickets from Chetwode, including the final one with three balls remaining – gave us three wins in three. Sadly, the Oldies failed to maintain the momentum as they slid to a four-wicket defeat by Surrey Cryptics.
The week ended on a high as we crushed Old Suttonians to book a place in the Brewers Cup semi-final, with Will Howard (94) and Abeed Janmohamed (65*) guiding us to 292 for 6 before three early wickets from Henry Watkinson ended match as a contest. On the Lowers, our second side went down to a 44-run defeat at the hands of Radley Rangers.
Full credit should go to Henry Watkinson for superb organisation and the occasional toy-throwing, Bryony Everett for excellent catering, and the young guns led by Gareth Starling and Johnny Gates who injected life (and in some cases volume) into proceedings. To all those who came down to watch and support, thank you. And to the discovery of the Red Lion in Shamley Green (£65 for a double, including excellent breakfast) as an alternative to East House ‘beds’ and accompanying chiming clock, for ensuring that Messrs Williamson, Chetwode and Seeckts will all be back in 12 months – is that a good thing?
We started with the first defeat of the season at the hands of Sam Watkinson’s XI, never quite scoring enough runs despite Simon Copleston’s patient 99 – he ran himself out going for his hundred. The match was played in gloomy weather and suffered from three rain breaks. Eton’s cancellation on the Sunday was academic as it turned out as the groundsman decided the pitch was unfit early in the morning.
On the Monday we drew with Grasshoppers, facing 43 overs against the 63 we bowled at them. It was an unsatisfactory match, with Grasshoppers batting too long and OCs never mounting anything resembling a serious challenge. When the next day, on the one truly sunny one of the week, Georgians’ manager and umpire turned up, but not the side, things appeared to be in freefall.
The next morning we trooped down to Kent to play Tonbridge. Sadly while we were doing that, they were on the way to Cranleigh. Thanks to the wonders of mobile technology, the game was hastily rearranged at Cranleigh and we managed to scrape a two-wicket win.
The most dramatic finish of the week came at Charterhouse where we bowled them out for 117, then slumped to 101 for 9 before a four and two sixes in an over from Michael Chetwode guided us to victory.
On the Friday, Simon Copleston was again dismissed in the nineties against Celeriacs – as was Andy Houston in only his second game in as many years – and five-wickets from Chetwode, including the final one with three balls remaining – gave us three wins in three. Sadly, the Oldies failed to maintain the momentum as they slid to a four-wicket defeat by Surrey Cryptics.
The week ended on a high as we crushed Old Suttonians to book a place in the Brewers Cup semi-final, with Will Howard (94) and Abeed Janmohamed (65*) guiding us to 292 for 6 before three early wickets from Henry Watkinson ended match as a contest. On the Lowers, our second side went down to a 44-run defeat at the hands of Radley Rangers.
Full credit should go to Henry Watkinson for superb organisation and the occasional toy-throwing, Bryony Everett for excellent catering, and the young guns led by Gareth Starling and Johnny Gates who injected life (and in some cases volume) into proceedings. To all those who came down to watch and support, thank you. And to the discovery of the Red Lion in Shamley Green (£65 for a double, including excellent breakfast) as an alternative to East House ‘beds’ and accompanying chiming clock, for ensuring that Messrs Williamson, Chetwode and Seeckts will all be back in 12 months – is that a good thing?
Labels: Abeed Janmohamed, Cricket Week, Henry Watkinson, Johnny Gates, Mike Chetwode, Simon Copleston, Will Howard
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