A long day of watching the rain proved worthwhile for the 3rd XI, as the skies finally cleared at Oxford Downs and we bowled ourselves to 25 points.
Ali Noble and debutant Nathan Dales started brightly, adding 49 for the first wicket, before Nathan fell LBW, triggering a collapse of 4/20 and leaving Ben Clarke and me to balance rebuilding with maintaining the scoring rate.
I was lucky that cover shelled the full toss which I hit to him without scoring, but between rain delays we managed to add 51 without further loss, despite our best efforts to either hole out or run ourselves out, before the rain had its final say at 120/4 off 37.
A long period of rain watching then followed, as Andrew Cashman recited the rain rules verbatim and I tried to learn them. There was some changing room cricket as Jamie Bates caught up on Friday night’s (lack of) sleep, and finally, more in hope than expectation, we headed back out at 5.40 with Downs needing 121 in 31 overs.
Refreshed by his afternoon nap, Jamie cleaned up their opening bat first ball, and added another soon after, but numbers two and four remained up with the rate until Clarkey (4/29) took over, full and straight to skittle the middle order. Jamie kept himself in the game, offering helpful batting tips to their junior players and physiotherapy as Downs’ remaining top order bat cramped up.
Calvin Evans got in on the game, taking two wickets whilst Ed Curtis’ electric pace helped him effect a run out from fine leg.
61/4 had become 72/9 by the time we called for Tom Kitchin and it took just four balls for him to flush out the final wicket, courtesy of a tumbling catch (yes, really) from Cash at mid on to seal 25 points that were all the more important with three other games in the division rained out.
Thanks must go to 13-year-old Elliott Dales, promoted from scorer to player at the last minute and putting in an excellent shift with the pens and in the outfield.
TOP OF THE LEAGUE!
http://www.cherwellcricketleague.com/scorecard.php?Match_ID=5732
