OECC 1s 226-7 (40) vs Petts Wood 75 ao (20.3)

Well of course he won the toss and batted first. A confident OEs 1st xi, coming off the back of 5 consecutive victories were looking to finish the season on a high against bottom of the table Petts Wood. From the moment that Keeran characteristically smashed a boundary off the first ball of the match, OEs were always ahead. Keeran’s brutal treatment of anything loose from the Petts Wood bowlers. By over number 6 the score had reached 43 and Keeran was ‘at peace with scoring 33 of those’ and decided that he needed to accelerate. His enormous swipe across the line missed and he was duly bowled, bringing Connor in to keep Irv company. By this stage Irv felt starved of the strike, but had soon moved on to a score of 9, which proved significant, as it was the score he ended up needing to claim the title of the Kent Regional League’s leading run scorer. Connor struck three excellent boundaries before kindly making way for Rikin after being bowled off his legs. As we have seen several times before this season, Rikin and Irvine and made for each other. This week, they put on 125 together, their 2nd century partnership of the season. This time, unlike the rest of the season, Rikin scored a half century. For a man who was averaging over 30 for the season, the lack of a fifty showed his consistency. This week, he powered towards the landmark thanks to three sixes. Disappointingly, his fine innings was brought to a close on 52, as we entered the 33rd over. Irv’s dismissal for 87 brought to an end a spectacular season with the bat for him, in which he, as previously mentioned, scored more runs than anyone in any of the 18 divisions of the Kent Regional League, passed 50 eight times and averaged over 50 for the whole season. Such was his generosity of spirit, that he actually walked having gloved one down the leg side to Petts Wood’s keeper. As the lower middle order tried to accelerate it became clear that the pitch was not straightforward and Bushy, Hammer, Jon and Vik all had trouble finishing the innings in the same explosive style it had started. 226 for 7 off 40 should be an unassailable score, though not quite the 300+ we carded a fortnight back we enjoyed tea confidently, knowing that the team was loaded with bowlers.
Petts Wood were always up against it given the form that Joe and James have shown in recent weeks opening the bowling. This week, James actually opened up with a maiden – perhaps the result of his extensive pre-game research into where to find a good length. Ending with figures of 6 overs 1 for 15 he bowled well, but nobody bowled as well as Joe did this week. A hostile, controlled and clever spell of rapid bowling saw him take 3 for 20 off his 8 overs and ripped the heart out of Petts Wood’s batting. Irv caught the first three wickets behind, whilst Joe’s third, which bowled Petts Wood’s number 5 clipping the top of off and subsequently flying in Jofra style, into the sightscreen on the full would later earn him the champagne moment award. Smithy came on for 2 overs at both ends (though not at the same time) and it was once he was on at the earthworks end that he took two for just four in that 2 over spell – we’ll miss him once he heads away from SE London. Petts Wood, by now, were 75 for 7 off 20. Brief discussion followed over whether to stop for drinks, but the decision to ploi8gh on proved wise. Jon, the team’s leading wicket taker for the season, had caused some problems in his first two overs, but, with the help of a galloping and leaping Rikin, dismissed Petts Wood’s number 3 with the first ball of the 21st. The next ball saw Joe take a good catch at square leg to snaffle Petts Wood’s Clooney, whilst the next ball saw Irv take one of those stumpings that occurs when the number 11 is unaware of the need to stand in the crease while batting. Jon himself was heard suggesting it may not have been the greatest of hat-tricks, but a hat-trick it was, securing OE’s victory by 151 runs.
Awards:
Man of match went to Joe for a superb spell of bowling with nominations for Jon and Irvine
DOD went to Joe, beating nominations for Rikin and Connor, for angrily complaining when Petts Wood’s batsmen snuck a 3 thanks to overthrows when we had been trying to give them a single so Joe could bowl at the new batsman.
JK Mani’s Sustained Period of Dominance award ended up going to the whole team for their performances over the past 5 weeks.
The JK Mani Breakthrough Moment of Success went to James Doyle, beating off competition from Joe and Keeran as he discovered after the game the ability to carry 11 beers and two soft drinks.
Champagne Moment was Joe’s dismissal of Petts Wood’s number 5, deemed more worthy of champagne than Jon hat-trick, the moment Irv was confirmed as the league’s leading run scorer and Rikin’s six over extra cover – it was that good a ball.
Hammer’s super supporter of the day went to Mrs Smith despite strong competition from Reyhan and 150 juniors and their parents.
The Mappy Magic Finger award went to Rikin for the speed with which he sent Hammer on his way.
The Reyna Tariq award for getting out of the way (sacrificing one’s own wicket to enable another batsman, in better form, to get in earlier) went to Connor
The Irvine Turner Ajill award (for extreme agility) went to Rikin.
Overall, it’s been a super season, which started slowly for the ones but the team have finished like a steam train, ploughing through the second half of the season with just one defeat and a series of ever more crushing victories. Availabilities for next year look promising (especially if Exeter University shuts down from April onwards) which should mean, given the 2s excellent season, that the senior section of the club goes from strength to strength, playing a brand of positive, fun cricket.