Four wins in a memorable Cricket Week
A highly enjoyable Cricket Week saw us win four matches, draw one and lose one, with the only dampners a rain-affecxted game at Old Georgians and cry-offs from Old Tonbridgians and Buccaneers. There were four hundreds, two impressive run chases, some excellent lunches and a lot of young OCs on show. Full match reports follow in chronological order ...
OCCC 191 lost to Eton Ramblers 192 for 6 by four wickets
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The OCCC 2017 cricket week began with cloudless skies as we entertained Eton. The last three years have seen some nail biting finishes and Eds Copleston won the toss and batted with the club in need of runs and wins. George Thomas and Ollie Trower opened up and looked confident as we began to make Eton toil in heat. However, having looked good for 20 both players gave their wickets away and when Will Langmead came and went quickly we found ourselves 40 for 3.
Rich Ashton and Sam Langmead scored quickly, senior Langmead counter attacked with three maximums but then when Tom Cooper and Paddy Harman were bowled immediately after we were 80 for 6 after an hours play.
Copleston and Ashton rebuilt the innings and at lunch 130 for 6 gave us a little hope. The pair pushed on after lunch, but when Ashton( 28) skied a long hop and Eds (43) was caught in the covers the innings came to a quick conclusion, a meagre 191 all out.
We knew early wickets were needed to get ourselves into this game and Harman's left arm spin provided a much needed lift as he combined with Dan Chitty to leave the Ramblers 65 for 4 at tea. A couple more wickets would have put the OCCC in command, but five dropped catches and a couple of missed stumpings gave the Eton fifth-wicket pair their chance. They exploited our errors and Eton won by four wickets.
Not a good start on the pitch but a great day and thank you to Louise and Daisy for some fantastic food. Millfield tomorrow and a hopefully a better performance.
OCCC 221 for 4 (Scriven B 130) beat Old Millfieldians 220 (Caines 70, Gurney 64, Cooper 4-31, Scriven J 2-11) by six wickets
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On a day where the temperature rarely dipped below 30 degrees with a pitch showing a lot of give for spinners and seamers alike, the stage was set for a good game of cricket.
The OC side captained by Jack Scriven won the toss and bowled, opening up with Dan Chitty and Ed Cooper. The latter (having only left school days before and never bowling a ball in his first-team career, for reasons photographs soon made obvious) did a fine job, even with a very suspect action. With tight bowling from both sets of Cooper and Chitty brothers Millfield were struggling at 55 for 4 which led to the introduction of some more gentle OC bowling. Throughout the innings nine bowlers were used to good effect, with Millfield reaching 220 from 51 overs.
The Cranleigh innings was nearly 20 overs shorter. Brad Scriven made light work of the Millfield bowling, scoring an aggressive 130, including some terrific pull shots off Millfield’s Aussie overseas opening bowler. The highlight of the innings however was Will Howard being pinned in the ribs second ball of the innings to the balcony’s delight.
A mention must be given to Mike Chase who stuck around with Scriven for the majority of the innings with a less than fluid 30 not out. In all, a terrific OC performance where everyman had either a bowl or a bat, which provided a brilliant platform for the OC BBQ, fabulously hosted by the Williamsons.
Old Georgians 239 for 3 dec drew with OCCC 100 for 6
Traditionally this game has been a tough fixture for the OCCC as the morning after the Monday night BBQ is a struggle even for the athletes we had selected. In contrast to the last few away games at Weybridge we had 12 before the start and Eds won the toss and chose to insert St Georges on a cloudy miserable day. Gerald Waterfall appeared in suit with his wife thinking he was off for another hard days work, one does hope she is part of the global minority that doesnt read OCCC match reports. Ed Cooper and Jack Horsey bowled good lines early on, but the rain intervened twice and we went off for an early lunch after just 10 overs. In the knowledge that 5pm was going to be the end of this game, we didn't show an enormous amount of enthusiasm on the field. A total of five dropped catches after lunch allowed St Georges to play their shots in the knowledge most OCs were still seeing three balls. Thorpe and Cooper came on to take the pace off the ball in the air, although it disappeared far and wide - Thorpe especially taking some punishment as he went for 24 in one over. It was a case of how many we needed to chase and eventually St Georges declared on 239 for 3 off 34 overs. A fair declaration and we had an hour and 45 to chase them before the rain.
On paper we had a strong batting line up, but calamity struck as Chris Preece ran out his opening partner Jack Scriven in the 3rd over. Kent strode to the wicket full of energy after recovering from a recent "somehow transmitted disease" and chipped up to cover immediately, followed quickly by Thorpe and Preece, leaving us 40 for 4 and embarrassed. Clouds were getting darker and we just had to hang around for the storm. Ed Cooper was given out caught for 0 having hit the ground, but Sam Langmead was in counterattack mode. Sam hit four big maximums in a breezy 30 before being bowled - not the standard attitude in a "bat it out for the rain" innings but good to watch. Copleston and Waterfall were not out as the rain came and we walked off at 100 for 6 thanking the heavens.
We will play better against Weybridge next year, as its at home and people can get an extra half an hours sleep. A wonderful lunch / tea and excellent to see Gordon Hewitt watching, last seen giving us all a speech in Malta! Butterflies tomorrow back on Jubilee as VC Tom Crump takes charge for the first time, a win and some sunshine hopefully
Grasshoppers 226 (Strachan 91) lost to OCCC 230-5 (Scriven J 61) by five
wickets
The toss was won by captain for the day, Tom Crump and Grasshoppers were inserted on what turned out to be a capricious pitch with the odd ball bouncing alarmingly from the slower bowlers. They never really got going, finally being bowled out for 226 which took them 67 overs.
Horsey and Chetwode had opened the bowling; Horsey controversially taking the top end and therefore having the benefit of wind and hill whilst the evergreen Chetwode toiled manfully in the opposite direction (so much so that he was last seen being offered the use of a zimmer frame by an octogenarian to help him walk down Cranleigh High Street). Wickets fell at regular intervals whilst the Grasshoppers made heavy weather of setting us a target. The wickets were shared between Horsey (3-39), Chetwode (3-51) and Cooper T (3-51) who showed a Bothamesque ability to take wickets with longhops and full tosses. Langmead and Kennedy made efforts to find their run ups before bowing out gracefully and Waters (1-25) bowled tidily.
In reply, we would have eventually received a maximum of 48 overs. A strong opening partnership of 86 between Jack Scriven (61) and Callum Kent (41) in 17 overs gave us an excellent platform but a position of 121-1 became 148-5. Oli Trower then offered a simple catch to mid-wicket which was shelled by substitute fielder Horsey (called up along with Kent when two of the Grasshopper young simply walked off the field without notice). Trower needed no second invitation and he (32*) and Sam Langmead (47*) batted with increasing fluency to put together a winning partnership of 82 and leave three and a half overs unused.
Another thoroughly enjoyable day and a good win.
Free Foresters 282 for 9 declared (Major 59, Godrich 51, Thorpe 3-96, Horsey 2-51, Broughton 2-55) lost to Old Cranleighans 285 for 7 by three wickets
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Following a terrific run chase the previous day, we were not too upset to lose the toss and be asked to field. Jack Horsey and Hill opened up the attack, following a long debate about who deserved to bowl down the hill. As has been the theme all week, a few edges were dropped and while we bowled well the Foresters openers were unchallenged until the drinks break.
The introduction of spin at both ends, with Nathan Thorpe and Bruno Broughton, changed the morning, Thorpe in particular was getting some turn and bounce. He took three quick wickets and although the Foresters continued to attack the lunchtime 110 for 4 was more respectable than it could have been. Thorpe carried on after the break - he completed a marathon 21-over spell - while Rory Kennedy had a mixed day with ball but did remove the danger man. Some late hitting game Free Foresters a chance to declare on 282 for 9, a big total on a wicket that was helpful for the bowlers.
Callum Kent and Ollie Trower opened up and when Kent was removed quickly, 280 looked a long way away. Broughton and Ollie Trower started slowly but gained momentum and Broughton especially began to play some electric cover drives. The pair took us to tea untroubled and then took charge of the game with a magnificent 244-run stand, beating the previous second-wicket record of 197 set back in 1991. Bruno reached a well deserved first hundred for the club off only 80 deliveries, eventually falling for a career-best 132.
He departed with Trower on 99, and a slight wobble followed. Rob Merry selflessly scarificed himself for a no-ball duck when Trower, indisposed throughout with a delicate buttock tear, called him for a daft single, and Sam Langmead followed lbw straight after. But Trower completed his second hundred for the club, finishing on an unbeaten 123 to see us home. It was an innings which he started shakily but then grew in confidence, unleashing some sublime drives and pulls.
We won with four overs to spare and claimed our first victory over Free Foresters since the fixture began. "This will have silenced the idiotic critics mumbling about results this season," said a diplomatic Eds.
Old Malvernians 271 for 6 declared (Price 103*, Stearn 3-44) lost to Old Cranleighans 275 for 7 (Scriven B 114, Howard 39, Copleston 33) by three wickets
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The final day of the week saw us entertain Malvern as again Eds lost the toss and wasn't too upset to be fielding, again, even if there was muttering in the ranks. Eds' excellent organisation wobbled briefly when three balls into the first over he realised he was a man light. A hasty phone call and Jack Horsey answered the SOS.
Malvern were in trouble early as Ed Cooper and Chris Stearn bowled some great lines to reduce them to 14 for 3. Horsey and Nathan Thorpe replaced them with less luck and Malvern began to take control, their 60-year-old No.5 Price especially, even baiting our unflappable keeper Will Howard at times. Kennedy came on and took some punishment before removing the Malvern big hitter, but we failed to capitalise and a declaration came on 271 for 6 after 50 overs. Special mention to Price who batted sensibly to make a deserved hundred.
The target seemed fair and Horsey was sent out with Howard to open up the reply as both had early evening "engagements" in London. It was a tactically sound move as the pair saw off the new ball in style and 60 for 1 at tea with Horsey on the road already, we were well set. Brad Scriven looked solid early on except for one drop in the slips, but when Howard (35)was lbw, quickly followed by Kennedy and Sam Langmead we were wobbling at 90 for 4. Malvern, however, had a lack of bowling other than their brisk openers and that allowed Eds Copleston and Brad Scriven to counter attack with aggression. The Malvern spinners proved less effective and more wayward, allowing Scriven and Copleston to take control, leaving us needing 110 off the last 20.
The next three overs produced 50 runs and the pair made hay with some maximums in front of a vocal golden oldies crowd. Scriven's hundred was followed by some more big hitting only for him and Copleston to fall in consecutive deliveries, but by then we only needed 28 from nine overs.
To their credit, Malvern found their second wind and made us work for the runs but Cooper and Thorpe saw us home.
Four wins, a draw and a loss in cricket week ... an enjoyable week, underpinned by terrific lunches and teas from our superstar Louise. OCCC cricket week is indeed alive and well, looking forward to next year already.
OCCC 191 lost to Eton Ramblers 192 for 6 by four wickets
Click here for photos
Rich Ashton and Sam Langmead scored quickly, senior Langmead counter attacked with three maximums but then when Tom Cooper and Paddy Harman were bowled immediately after we were 80 for 6 after an hours play.
Copleston and Ashton rebuilt the innings and at lunch 130 for 6 gave us a little hope. The pair pushed on after lunch, but when Ashton( 28) skied a long hop and Eds (43) was caught in the covers the innings came to a quick conclusion, a meagre 191 all out.
Not a good start on the pitch but a great day and thank you to Louise and Daisy for some fantastic food. Millfield tomorrow and a hopefully a better performance.
OCCC 221 for 4 (Scriven B 130) beat Old Millfieldians 220 (Caines 70, Gurney 64, Cooper 4-31, Scriven J 2-11) by six wickets
Click here for photos
On a day where the temperature rarely dipped below 30 degrees with a pitch showing a lot of give for spinners and seamers alike, the stage was set for a good game of cricket.
The Cranleigh innings was nearly 20 overs shorter. Brad Scriven made light work of the Millfield bowling, scoring an aggressive 130, including some terrific pull shots off Millfield’s Aussie overseas opening bowler. The highlight of the innings however was Will Howard being pinned in the ribs second ball of the innings to the balcony’s delight.
Old Georgians 239 for 3 dec drew with OCCC 100 for 6
Traditionally this game has been a tough fixture for the OCCC as the morning after the Monday night BBQ is a struggle even for the athletes we had selected. In contrast to the last few away games at Weybridge we had 12 before the start and Eds won the toss and chose to insert St Georges on a cloudy miserable day. Gerald Waterfall appeared in suit with his wife thinking he was off for another hard days work, one does hope she is part of the global minority that doesnt read OCCC match reports. Ed Cooper and Jack Horsey bowled good lines early on, but the rain intervened twice and we went off for an early lunch after just 10 overs. In the knowledge that 5pm was going to be the end of this game, we didn't show an enormous amount of enthusiasm on the field. A total of five dropped catches after lunch allowed St Georges to play their shots in the knowledge most OCs were still seeing three balls. Thorpe and Cooper came on to take the pace off the ball in the air, although it disappeared far and wide - Thorpe especially taking some punishment as he went for 24 in one over. It was a case of how many we needed to chase and eventually St Georges declared on 239 for 3 off 34 overs. A fair declaration and we had an hour and 45 to chase them before the rain.
On paper we had a strong batting line up, but calamity struck as Chris Preece ran out his opening partner Jack Scriven in the 3rd over. Kent strode to the wicket full of energy after recovering from a recent "somehow transmitted disease" and chipped up to cover immediately, followed quickly by Thorpe and Preece, leaving us 40 for 4 and embarrassed. Clouds were getting darker and we just had to hang around for the storm. Ed Cooper was given out caught for 0 having hit the ground, but Sam Langmead was in counterattack mode. Sam hit four big maximums in a breezy 30 before being bowled - not the standard attitude in a "bat it out for the rain" innings but good to watch. Copleston and Waterfall were not out as the rain came and we walked off at 100 for 6 thanking the heavens.
We will play better against Weybridge next year, as its at home and people can get an extra half an hours sleep. A wonderful lunch / tea and excellent to see Gordon Hewitt watching, last seen giving us all a speech in Malta! Butterflies tomorrow back on Jubilee as VC Tom Crump takes charge for the first time, a win and some sunshine hopefully
Grasshoppers 226 (Strachan 91) lost to OCCC 230-5 (Scriven J 61) by five
wickets
The toss was won by captain for the day, Tom Crump and Grasshoppers were inserted on what turned out to be a capricious pitch with the odd ball bouncing alarmingly from the slower bowlers. They never really got going, finally being bowled out for 226 which took them 67 overs.
Horsey and Chetwode had opened the bowling; Horsey controversially taking the top end and therefore having the benefit of wind and hill whilst the evergreen Chetwode toiled manfully in the opposite direction (so much so that he was last seen being offered the use of a zimmer frame by an octogenarian to help him walk down Cranleigh High Street). Wickets fell at regular intervals whilst the Grasshoppers made heavy weather of setting us a target. The wickets were shared between Horsey (3-39), Chetwode (3-51) and Cooper T (3-51) who showed a Bothamesque ability to take wickets with longhops and full tosses. Langmead and Kennedy made efforts to find their run ups before bowing out gracefully and Waters (1-25) bowled tidily.
In reply, we would have eventually received a maximum of 48 overs. A strong opening partnership of 86 between Jack Scriven (61) and Callum Kent (41) in 17 overs gave us an excellent platform but a position of 121-1 became 148-5. Oli Trower then offered a simple catch to mid-wicket which was shelled by substitute fielder Horsey (called up along with Kent when two of the Grasshopper young simply walked off the field without notice). Trower needed no second invitation and he (32*) and Sam Langmead (47*) batted with increasing fluency to put together a winning partnership of 82 and leave three and a half overs unused.
Another thoroughly enjoyable day and a good win.
Free Foresters 282 for 9 declared (Major 59, Godrich 51, Thorpe 3-96, Horsey 2-51, Broughton 2-55) lost to Old Cranleighans 285 for 7 by three wickets
Click here for match photos
The introduction of spin at both ends, with Nathan Thorpe and Bruno Broughton, changed the morning, Thorpe in particular was getting some turn and bounce. He took three quick wickets and although the Foresters continued to attack the lunchtime 110 for 4 was more respectable than it could have been. Thorpe carried on after the break - he completed a marathon 21-over spell - while Rory Kennedy had a mixed day with ball but did remove the danger man. Some late hitting game Free Foresters a chance to declare on 282 for 9, a big total on a wicket that was helpful for the bowlers.
He departed with Trower on 99, and a slight wobble followed. Rob Merry selflessly scarificed himself for a no-ball duck when Trower, indisposed throughout with a delicate buttock tear, called him for a daft single, and Sam Langmead followed lbw straight after. But Trower completed his second hundred for the club, finishing on an unbeaten 123 to see us home. It was an innings which he started shakily but then grew in confidence, unleashing some sublime drives and pulls.
We won with four overs to spare and claimed our first victory over Free Foresters since the fixture began. "This will have silenced the idiotic critics mumbling about results this season," said a diplomatic Eds.
Old Malvernians 271 for 6 declared (Price 103*, Stearn 3-44) lost to Old Cranleighans 275 for 7 (Scriven B 114, Howard 39, Copleston 33) by three wickets
Click here for match photos
Malvern were in trouble early as Ed Cooper and Chris Stearn bowled some great lines to reduce them to 14 for 3. Horsey and Nathan Thorpe replaced them with less luck and Malvern began to take control, their 60-year-old No.5 Price especially, even baiting our unflappable keeper Will Howard at times. Kennedy came on and took some punishment before removing the Malvern big hitter, but we failed to capitalise and a declaration came on 271 for 6 after 50 overs. Special mention to Price who batted sensibly to make a deserved hundred.
The target seemed fair and Horsey was sent out with Howard to open up the reply as both had early evening "engagements" in London. It was a tactically sound move as the pair saw off the new ball in style and 60 for 1 at tea with Horsey on the road already, we were well set. Brad Scriven looked solid early on except for one drop in the slips, but when Howard (35)was lbw, quickly followed by Kennedy and Sam Langmead we were wobbling at 90 for 4. Malvern, however, had a lack of bowling other than their brisk openers and that allowed Eds Copleston and Brad Scriven to counter attack with aggression. The Malvern spinners proved less effective and more wayward, allowing Scriven and Copleston to take control, leaving us needing 110 off the last 20.
To their credit, Malvern found their second wind and made us work for the runs but Cooper and Thorpe saw us home.
Four wins, a draw and a loss in cricket week ... an enjoyable week, underpinned by terrific lunches and teas from our superstar Louise. OCCC cricket week is indeed alive and well, looking forward to next year already.
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