Forgettable end to a memorable season

OCCC 161 (Hume 68) lost to Cranleigh CC 258 for 5 (McLean 81, Watkin 51) by 97 runs
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Richard Hume smacks a six

It was a forgettable end to a memorable season, but an enjoyable match nonetheless and one played in a good spirit and in late-summer sunshine. That we lost by 97 runs against a strong side was almost incidental.

So numerous are Old Cranleighans in Cranleigh’s club that it was always going to be something resembling an in-house match. Cranleigh skipper Matt Crump said he had tried to keep the number of OCs in his side to a minimum. “We only have four,” he claimed before re-counting and finding eight. “Well, four what I would call genuine OCs who play for the OCs.” Quite.

In fairness, two of the seven were Ollie Pope and Lewis Bedford, the most promising talent in the School 1st XI, and another George Ealham, the 12-year-old Prep School captain who dragged along his father, Mark, also a decent player.

Pope made 48 before chopping on to Henry Watkinson; Bedford 29 only to hole out to a boundary catch by Jonny Gates. Two of the non OCs were Cranleigh’s overseas players and both made fifties, McLean taking a particular liking to Paddy Harman who he smote to all parts in his whirlwind 81.

McLean's 81 is ended by Hume

With an attack which could never be accused of lacking experience, we struggled to contain the run-rate. Ed Henderson, Mike Chetwode, and Watkinson all bowled solidly but were often let down by some creaking fielding. A target of 259 in 40 overs was always beyond a batting line-up which Henderson said started at No.6. That was being charitable.

Richard Hume alone looked up for the challenge, hitting crisply in his 68 but that aside only Eds Copleston, with a patient 24, offered much support. Among a raft of questionable strokes only Gates could claim to have been triggered (“no wonder I prefer polo”) while at the other end of the scale James Halton’s ambitious cross-batted hoick was a strong contender for heave of the season.

The end game quickly as the shadows lengthened, and Crump, who decided to keep his leading bowlers on for much of the innings, rubbed salt in our wounds by bringing on another two under-12 fielders in the closing overs. At least Crump provided entertainment with an over of wides and no-balls to the accompaniment of ribald comments from the boundary.

Will Howard's team-mates show sympathy after his dismissal