Regular 3s captain is using the half term break to holiday with his family, odd behaviour in the cricket seasons but to each their own. This left Matt Warne in charge of the 3s for their trip to College Meadows. After an impromptu tailgate party (one of the American readers) the OEs groundsman let us in and the pre-game warm up, mucking around with a rugby ball begun. Warnie who always looks resplendent (it’s the blue boots) but lacking a blazer lost the toss and Hayes were invited to field.
OE’s two openers Turner and Parikh looked to impose themselves on the game and used their feet to great effect against the Hayes openers on a reasonable, if slightly slow batting deck. Just when it looked like OEs were starting to take the game away Steet struck. Parikh hit one to Marlow at fine leg. His account was that he took a stunning catch sliding along the ground, most other observers felt he made a meal of a simple chance, nevertheless the wicket was taken, and Hayes had their breakthrough. Turner carried on with his positive intent, but the Hayes bowlers had wrestled back the initiative.
Marlow geed on by his catch produced a spell of hostile fast bowling producing two quick wickets, both caught behind, Howard-Bond 9 who looped one up and Rajendran who gloved one going for a hook shot. Howard-Bond, in particular, being a good scalp as he had earlier this season hit 100* for OEs u17 side. Despite the breakthroughs the ever-dangerous Turner remained at the crease and there was a feeling if he went big there would be a large total to chase.
Enter, Raghav Kumar on his 3rd XI debut. He came into the attack and despite Turner in particular looking to use his feet against him was unphased and trapped the OEs captain in front for 40. He also produced arguably the ball of the day to bowl Taraq for a duck, leaving OEs 83-5. At the other end ‘Naughty’ Tom Davis had been plugging away and bowling miserly lines, he was rewarded when a ball got a bit of extra lift wrong footed the batter and who stumbled out of his ground to be sharply stumped for 10 and OEs at 85-6.
OEs started to have a recovery and had crept over 100 and looked to be accelerating when Johnny Wilkie pushed through his second delivery flatter and quicker and drew an edge off Doyle that was gratefully snaffled up by the Hayes gloveman. A few overs later Wilkie struck again another fine edge into the keeper’s gloves, giving Millard his first 5fer behind the sticks (4 catches and 1 stumping) much to his delight and everyone else’s slight bemusement as to why the 8th wicket had him celebrating so excitedly. OEs tail had a little wag but smart catches from Humphreys and Verma off Wilkie ended their innings 143 AO.
With Greenway also away on holiday, Bradshaw again partnered Warne at the top for Hayes. Unluckily for him, he was caught out a little by the pace of the pitch and looped up a catch from a leading edge which was well held by Howard-Bond. Hayes 1-1 Verma arrived at the crease looking to repeat last weeks heroics. He and Warne worked the ball around patiently looking to capitalise on loose balls and seeing off the good. Verma was bowled by the OEs captain Turner for 19, leaving them 5 shy of a 50 partnership. Warne fell shortly after also to Turner. Bringing Winchester College’s premier leg spinning all rounder Sam Humphreys to the crease, fresh off of signing an overseas deal in Australia for the winter. However, dreams of Bondi Beach had to be put on hold as captain Turner knocked Humphreys over leaving Hayes 55-4 and at risk of wasting a good opportunity created by a disciplined bowling and fielding performance.
Kumar joined Thistleton at the crease and looked comfortable in the environment despite his young age, but Turner being the skilful bowler he is induced not one but two modes of dismissal in the same ball to get rid of Kumar: the lesser spotted hit wicket and caught. (Umpiring aficionados and Hayes CC umpire Mark Bradshaw will tell you hit wicket was the correct call, as it had been given before the ball was caught, making the ball dead, otherwise the laws state caught would be the correct decision.)
With Hayes in a spot of bother Millard buoyed by his glovework joined Thistleton at the crease. Thistleton batted with maturity beyond his years, timing his aggression perfectly and looked to work the ball into gaps. Millard took advantage of OEs defensive field setting and look to milk singles where possible. The pair put on 67 for the 6th wicket, before Millard, recovering from a chest infection and running low on steam, took a dicey single to get Thistleton on strike and failed to make his ground for a score of 26. In the interim Thistleton had passed 50 but vice-captain on the day Tom Davis took the wise decision to not tell him until after the run chase.
Wilkie came out to join Thistleton and crunched a 4 before being caught on the last ball of the penultimate over leaving Marlow to come in finish the job. A special mention should also go to the OEs opening bowlers Raman and Kumar who bowled incredibly tightly at the start of the innings and really put the squeeze on.
No ‘pressos’ again due to a function in the bar/hall but we did have a team huddle after the game. Much discussion from Warnie over the player of the match candidates. But having narrowed it down to two Warnie rightfully awarded it to Thistleton who off the back of his Sunday 2s 100 earlier in the season played arguably his most mature and sensibly league innings ever seeing the 3s over the line for the big 20 points. Next week the 3s are back on the Meadow hosting Beckenham 4th XI in another mouth-watering clash between teams near the top of the table.
Notable Performances:
H(K)CC:
OECC:
