Copleston battles to secure the draw

Old Wykamists 260 for 7 dec drew with Old Cranleighans 178 for 8 (Copleston 88, Henderson 30)
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Following two away wins, the inaugural home game in front of the new pavilion on Jubilee saw us take on Winchester on a gorgeous day at Cranleigh in what was a Cricketer Cup trial for both teams.

The pavilion looked utterly superb with the new OCCC flag flying happily in the breeze. Eds Copleston lost the toss and Winchester decided to bat, a wise move given the unseasonally hot weather. Henry Watkinson and Ed Henderson tied down the openers with the new ball before the pressure told and Henderson claimed two quick wickets. Mike Chetwode, coming back from his retirement announced in South Africa, maintained the pressure, and a wicket for him and a nonsensical run-out reduced Winchester to 70 for 4.

Ed Prince proved wayward in his first spell, but his replacement Chris Preece tied things down again before lunch. The expansive new catering facilities allowed us to serve the opposition bacon sandwiches before the game and follow that up with a fine lunch – many thanks to our Head Catering Manager & Assistant Catering Manager – better known as Helen & Hayley. Lunch proved too good for us and we looked sluggish afterwards, allowing Winchester to fight back to close on 260 for7.

Against an opposition clearly not in the mood for generosity, we made a decent start before Preece, who latched onto anything pitched up, and Johnny Gates gave their wickets away within four balls shortly before tea.

Andy Ainsley fell straight after the restart and was soon followed by Jock Vickers, bowled attempting a lofted drive, and our batsmen were struggling against the nagging offspin of Tom Hemmingway. Tom Merry was bowled round his legs, and when Watkinson managed his trademark chip to cover we were 65 for 6 and in all sorts of trouble.

Copleston, struggling in the last couple of years, needed a good score and he rolled back the clock with a defiant 88, mixing his typically impish running with some powerful hitting, including three sixes. He clearly benefited from one-on-one coaching from Stuart Welch. He found a partner in Henderson, whose pretensions as a batsman have been advanced by the foot injury which meant he was unable to bowl last summer.

We were always off the pace, but appeared to be well on course for the draw only for Copleston to fall leg-before in sight of his hundred since 2000. A setback became all the more serious when soon after Henderson was brilliantly caught at leg slip off an authentic glance, but Rob Merry, nursing a dislocated finger, and Prince played out the last four overs among some enthusiastic appealing from Winchester.