Oakley left bowled over

KV's fifty sees the visitors home...

The second of a summer weekend double-header saw Waverley return to meet an Oakley side that had beaten them just two weeks previously. Looking to set the record straight were Marcus Carmichael ("MC"), Russ Golding ("Raoul"), Simon Brewer ("KV"), Jamie Harris ("DJ Teabag"), Adam Carmichael ("AC"), Sam Tempest ("Troy"), Peter Brewer ("Mr B"), Matt Du Gay ("Doogs"), Laura Brewer ("Loz"), Bob Moxham ("Sponge Bob") and David Stockwell ("Stockrates").

With AC winning the toss on a green pitch the home side were inserted and grumpy quicks Teabag and Doogs were given the new ball, which started swinging like a banana despite the clear overhead conditions. Doogs struck early on, the ball finding the edge and being snaffled by KV behind the stumps. Meanwhile, Teabag bowled with his usual aggression and was unlucky not to have a wicket to his name. He did, however, generate a run-out when the batsmen decided to try and run a suicidal single to Troy in the covers. Stockrates was introduced to take the pace off the ball and once he found his line and length he too got in amongst the wickets, the ball being chipped to AC at mid-off. The very next delivery saw a sharp stumping from KV and the chance of a hat-trick. Stockrates resisted the urge to jug evade by bowling outside the off stump, but the ball didn't find the edge on its way through to the keeper.

With Doogs completing his economical eight over spell, Mr B was brought into the attack and kept the pressure on the home side with an economical spell of his own. Waverley continued to take wickets at regular intervals thanks to an excellent diving catch from Troy in the covers off Mr B, while AC bagged a second catch and a third wicket for Stockrates. When AC pouched another catch off the bowling of Mr B, Waverley looked firmly in control. Further bowling changes saw the introduction of the spinning Sponge - whose F & G was unrewarded - while Troy took over at the other end. Troy used the swing of the ball to great effect, cleaning up two batsmen in successive deliveries to set up another hat-trick chance (this one blocked out safely into mid-wicket). Waverley didn't have to wait too much longer for the final wicket, with Troy striking in his next over thanks to a catch from Teabag to leave the home side all out for 137.

With 138 to win and 40 overs to do it in, a positive start was needed from the visitors. Despite an early set-back when Raoul had his stumps shattered, MC and KV started reeling in the total without much incident. Both batsmen ran hard between the wickets and both were looking well settled, Loz even commenting at one point that MC looked set for a new personal best score. Duly cursed, MC was bowled the very next ball but KV remained at the crease and swatted his way to 50 not long afterwards. Teabag chipped in with some useful runs but returned to the pavilion when he too was bowled. With not many required, AC decided to mow across the line and was out for a duck. But in truth the visitors were comfortable, KV and Troy bringing up the winning run in due course to secure a six wicket victory.

Despite some excellent performances with the ball, the Man of the Match Hat went to KV for a knock of 73 that guided Waverley to victory. The *Anchor Hat went to Stockrates for reminded anyone who would listen, at any given opportunity, that he'd taken three wickets. In a joint award, both Teabag and Raoul were awarded the Supporters' Egyptian Hieroglyph Pink T-shirt for knowing (and singing) the lyrics to Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)". The Pink T-shirt found its way to Raoul for copious reasons, but mainly his incessant complaining throughout the match and challenging Stockrates to "a yard of squash" competition (during which he seemed to get more of the squash down his front than anything else). There was also a raffle courtesy of the home side, which resulted in Mrs B winning a bottle of wine courtesy of a ticket picked out of the hat by KV. An official enquiry is expected to follow in due course.