An early Cricketer Cup exit

Oundle Rovers 191 beat OCCC 177 by 14 runs

After a gentle two-and-a-half hour journey up to Oundle the OCCC were faced with a very dry pitch (no grass in sight) and Greg Smith drafted in to open the batting for Oundle. The toss was quite a critical one as with the sun and wind beating down on the wicket it was only going to get dryer and harder as day went on. The OCCC lost the toss and fielded.

Will Rollings struggled with consistency early on but bowled the ball of the game to dismiss Smith with late swing removing his off stump. It was not too long until the OCCC spinners came into the game and while the odd ball misbehaved, generally the wicket held together and Oundle got to a competitive total of 191.

The Oundle openers bowled very straight and made it tough work for Waters and Scriven B, with the ball keeping low it was a patience game. Once Foster the Oundle opener starting bowling off cutters the wicket seemed to respond with balls popping over batsman shoulders or rolling along the floor. Credit to the Oundle bowlers for bowling full and straight and making the most of the 'facilitates'. OC's were unable to build any partnerships and lost wickets consistently with the Oundle spinners turning the ball sideways and with 4 LBWs on a wicket turning....enough said of the umpiring. A late partnership between Howard and Suresh gave the OCCC innings some credibility but we were well beaten.

Best of luck to Oundle in the next round.