Dahl leaves OCs all at sea

OCCC 82 (Westcott 21, Dahl 4-16) lost to Cranleigh School 145 for 6 (Bedford 43*, Pope 31, Harris 29) by 63 runs
Full scorecard

Stung by last year’s easy win for the OCs in the Speech Day Twenty20 after failing to score enough runs, the School made no such mistake this time in cruising to a comprehensive 63-run win. On a grey and damp day, there was little memorable cricket, especially as the OC side was weakened with many of the regulars on Cricketer Cup duty.

Rain delayed the start and then the School lost two early wickets before Ollie Pope, back for an outing between Surrey 2nd XI appearances, and James Harris cut loose and then Lewis Bedford laid into the second-string bowlers. Ed Copleston, who masterminded last year’s victory, was powerless to check the flow, although some dropped catches, including one by Copleston himself, did not help the cause.

The OCs needed a flying start but they lost Euan Johnstone, one of the Tonbridge heroes, to the first ball. Peter Westcott and Nathan Thorpe briefly threatened to make a game of it but a flurry of wickets scuppered that, and then the legspin of Angus Dahl completely bamboozled the middle order who subsided in a burst of heaves and charges, all unsuccessful and ugly, as the last five wickets fell for 13.

Waters' Cricketer Cup heroics just fail at Eton

OCCC 219 (M Crump 65, T Crump 33, Broughton 25, Jones 24, 48 overs) lost to Eton Ramblers 220 for 8 (Abbott 66, Waters 7-32, 46.2 overs)

After the heroics of the first round at Tonbridge, we faced another tough trip, our first to Eton. For a time near the end, Seren Waters put us in command of a game we had been second-best in for much of the day, but with victory in sight our bowlers failed to give him the support he deserved and Eton edged home by two wickets.

Although we had Will Rollings, Stuart Meaker and Elliott Hannah back in the fold, we were dealt a major blow in the 24 hours before the game when Alan Cope withdrew with a swollen testicle (surely an OC first) and then Michael Burgess was withdrawn by Leicestershire. With both Scrivens still nursing broken digits, our batting suddenly looked fragile, something not even the last-minute call-up of Will Howard could paper over.

Winning the toss, Matt Crump decided to bat but within two overs rain brought a long delay. This gave a few members of the team a chance to stock up and rest, especially Luke Chitty who, not expecting to be playing, had had a large night) and Howard who was in a pre-pubescent mood after stalking Taylor Swift the night before. It also meant the game, which was reduced to 48 overs each, did not finish until almost 8pm.

Our innings never really got going. Waters chopped one on early, Meaker was undone by a very good ball, which left a lot on the shoulders of the Crump brothers. Batting sensibly, and within themselves, they forged a solid 100 run partnership, before Tom Crump drilled a half volley very hard back at Freddie Fox who took a very sharp caught and bowled. This catch had a big factor to play in the rest of the game. Not only did it mean we finished on a par 219, it also broke Fox's hand.

At Tonbridge, the first 10 overs of our innings set up a great victory, and unfortunately it was the same in this round, but the boot was on the other foot. Chitty and Rollings bowled with too much width which gave Abbott a chance to free his arms. Calculated risks paid off and after 11 overs the Ramblers were 87 for 0.

As often, spin can change these games and so it was with the introduction of Waters and Bruno Broughton. But although Waters made the needed breakthrough by dismissing Hobson, it was in Waters’ second spell that Eton fell apart. In six overs he took 6 for 16 as Eton crumbled from 132 for 1 to 166 for 8. They had 15 overs to get 54 runs but there was also doubt if Fox would bat. As it was, he did not need to. MacDonagh (22*) and Tidbury (27*) played with sense and took Eton to the win with seven balls in hand.

Defeat and score-settling at the Hogs

As most attention was centred on events at Tonbridge, the OCCC had a second full side in the field for the annual trip to Hampshire Hogs. Always an enjoyable day out in beautiful surroundings, the game often seems to provide off-field internal controversy. Last year Ed Henderson (rightly) took pot shots at Mike Roper after what became known to almost nobody as Texaco Coffee Bullshitgate. Despite that the forgiving Henderson again played Roper. Both filed match reports. Both are printed below. Firstly, the always-amusing Henderson …


OCCC 226 (E Copleston 69, P Roper 43) lost to Hampshire Hogs 228 for3 

 A string of recent victories at the Hampshire Hogs(a) had to come to an end at some point and (b) prompted the Hogs captain Indy Chakhrabati to pick a strong side.

Denied the services of any Cricketer Cup players due to the game at Tonbridge, our XI looked short of someone able to score a hundred and short of about four bowlers. As it turned out we were short of players able to score a fifty and short of players able to catch a cricket ball too. Fortunately, and most importantly, we were not short of gumption and perseverance which meant although we lost by seven  wickets we did not embarrass ourselves by any stretch.

 It was a marvellous and unexpected bonus to have all 11 players at the correct ground before the designated start. That allowed the captain, Ed Henderson, a full complement of players from which to fashion a batting line up. How that translated into Michael Roper opening the innings is unclear. Whilst Michael fished around outside off stump unsuccessfully, his brother Phil had a look at the bowling and after a few overs, tucked into it with a series of clean, aerial strikes. Michael Roper (0) was replaced by his good friend James Jupp who professed to be 'neither in form or out of form' thanks to no cricket since 2014. It is fair to say he struggled to find the middle and didn't contribute materially to our grand total. Gerald Waterfall failed to trouble the scorer batting at 4.

 The ever eager Eds Copleston who bats at five whatever the captain on the day may say was in fine form. Looking untroubled and manoeuvering the slow bowlers cleverly, he batted beautifully for his 69 and was only undone by the Hogs quick bowler resorting to short pitched theory. Eds was supported by Charlie Clarence-Smith (23), Rob Verdon and Rob Merry who all chipped in. The real fun came when Peter Hobbs stood up to the quick and smashed some hooks and drives in entertaining fashion. Our 226 exceeded expectations and looked unlikely at times. For those of us who like routine and consistency, it was reassuring, as it is every year without fail, to be on the wrong end of two interesting lbw decisions.

In the field we had to take our chances when they came. We didn't. Henderson was culpable for the most heinous drop which denied Copleston, in the middle of a spell of very well flighted and controlled leg tweakers, a wicket. Other than this we bowled and fielded reasonably but without the penetration required. All in all, a valiant effort from the troops.

And then Roper ...

The 2016 fixture promises
more off-field banter

The OC Lions arrived at Hogs for this June fixture in good spirits buoyed by recent successes on this ground and the opportunity to be captained by Brendon McHenderson. The notable exception to the team togetherness was P Hobbs who was struggling to come to terms with his omission from the Cricketers Cup XI. Having lost the toss, OCs were inserted on a green top and Hog's excellent new ball partnership, capable of swinging the rock both-ways, made the most of the overhead conditions rendering opening the batting a near impossible task for the Roper brothers. Following a flurry of early wickets, runs from Sweets Roper, Eds, Rob Merry and the classy Hobbs ensured the OCs posted an eminently defendable 225.

The OCs, looking for early wickets, made the baffling decision to throw the new nut to James Jupp with the instruction of unsettling the Hogs batsman with three overs of aggressive short stuff. While Ed Henderson bowled with admirable determination from one end, the lack of high quality seamers was apparent as early as the 2nd over. Turning to spin sooner than expected, Eds, Hobbs and Phil Roper bowled well in spells but the one or two chances created were not taken. The clear highlight being the half chance that fell to Hendo preceded by what can only be described as a salmon pounce. Hogs accelerated towards the end of the chase and won comfortably by 7 wickets. A disappointing day all round but important to let the dust settle before making any knee jerk decisions with next year in mind.

Cope inspires stunning win at Tonbridge

OCCC 302 for 7 (Cope 133*, Burgess 77) beat Old Tonbridgians 301 for 7 (Harman 4-45, Chitty 2-67) by three wickets
Click here for match photos

Alan Cope on his way to a match-winning hundred

The OCCC beat Old Tonbridgians by three wickets in the first round of the Cricketer Cup at Tonbridge on Sunday.  Modern sport is littered with hyperbole, but the three-wicket win must rank as one of the best in the club’s 125-year history and Alan Cope’s unbeaten 133 as one of the best innings. 

We knew that starting the defence of the cup at the 15-time winners – and the side who beat us in the 2014 final – would be a tough ask, and it was one made all the harder when both Scrivens managed to break fingers within days of each other and Will Rollings decided on a very untypical Old Cranleighan act of putting exams before sport. Add into the equation that three of our bowlers had not actually bowled so far this season, we travelled in hope but not expectation.

Mike Burgess on his way to a 55-ball 77 

Tonbridge won the toss and batted first under grey, chilly skies on a flat track and got off to a flying start, aided by a burst of extras from the wayward Matt Crump.  A destructive bowler on his day – his 6 for 7 in the 2013 semi-final remains fresh in the memory – he is going through the quick-bowler’s yips and his confidence with the ball is low.  After a good start his lost line and did not return for a second spell.

Paddy Harman struck early but Tonbridge punished anything loose, ran well between the wickets and made the most of some, at times, indifferent fielding.  The rusty Waters came in for some punishment, as did Bruno Broughton, although he did take five catches, including a stunning return one.  Hardest to get away was the gentle medium of Rob Jones, who took pace off the ball and made the batsmen do all the work.

Tonbridge lost wickets in the last ten overs but also made hay, adding 100 runs.  Luke Chitty picked up three wickets but was smashed back over his head when his length dropped, and Harman cashed in in the dying overs with three wickets in seven deliveries.

We had only chased down a 300+ once (301 to beat Lancing Rovers in 1992) and Seren Waters’ departure to the second ball of the innings added to the sense this would not be our day.  But Mike Burgess took on the bowlers – Tonbridge had as usual opened with two spinners – hitting over the top and driving and Tom Crump (24) kept pace with him for the first nine overs.  When he fell, Cope ensured that Tonbridge had to cope with all-out attack from both end.

Paddy Harman strikes an early blow

An inside-out six from Burgess over extra cover was the shot of the day, while Cope took on the bowling as soon as he arrived.  The pair added 101 in 11 overs and by the time Burgess fell to an excellent leg-side catch, run-rate was no longer the main issue – we had 29 overs to get 138.

Matt Crump came and went, but first Rob Jones (10) and then Bruno Broughton (22) kept the scoreboard ticking over as Cope passed his hundred.  Nevertheless, when Will Howard, who kept well in what he claimed was his “last major match”, fell cheaply, we were seven down with 50 needed.

Cope was then joined by Euan Johnston (24*), making his cup debut.  Johnston batted with maturity, and Cope all but ended the tie with a six and four over extra cover which seemed to knock the stuffing out of Tonbridge.  The winning runs came with 23 balls to spare.

We now travel to Eton Ramblers, easy winners over Old Eastbournians, on June 28.

Bruno Broughton just fails to cling on to a return catch