ESB: 95 ALL OUT off 26.5 overs
Batting: Vikas 21 Ramhat 20 W.Barr 11
Bowling: Asif 2-6-1 Baajee 3-13-1 Ramhat 3-10-0 Vikhas 5-20-0
W.Barr 3-13-0 K.Ray 2-12-0 T.Connell 1-6-0 Vinad 1-10-0
OAKS: 96 for 2 off 20.4 overs
Batting: A.Pandey 45* K.Hodson 24 R.Greene 15* (*not out)
Bowling: D.Drumm 3.5-9-3 K.Hodson 4-11-2** P.Carroll 3-14-2 J.Kirby 4-9-1 ** Abhi 3-12-1 G.O’Shea 3-15-1 A. Barber 5-12-2 (** 1 maiden)
Three matches in a row without defeat for The Oaks: quite a shock, but on current form they are looking good to pylon the runs in the remaining fixtures (OK, that’s enough ESB puns). It was our first ever game against the ESB who finally fielded a team, after a lot ins and outs and whirling them abouts, inclusive of our Stuart Hayes and latest Halverstown signing Kiran Ray. Some old (and I mean old) faces were there such as Tony Connell of Civil Service and Willie (“Five Teams”) Barr - a nickname I gave him years ago and which is now well outdated: he tells me it should be “Fourteen Teams” Barr. He loves playing in Halverstown, but he may like it just a little less after this decisive defeat of ESB by an Oaks team that bowled and fielded superbly to hold them to 95 and then knocked off the win in 20 overs for the loss of just 2 wickets.
Initially ESB looked dangerous, especially the 3rd wicket partnership of Ramhat and Vikas, which put on 32 runs. The wet outfield probably saved a few runs, which was why I chose to field. But after that the wickets tumbled regularly until Stuart and Willie put up some resistance (sorry, couldn’t help it) at the end. Everyone bowled and fielded amazingly. My own 3 for 9 was satisfying (particularly bowling Willie!) whilst Paddy Carroll’s two bowled wickets for 14 were probably the highlight of a great afternoon in the field. There were catches galore: Terry Gayle, Richard Greene, Kevin Hodson, a very special caught-bowled from Ger O’Shea and catch of the day by Andy Barber at square leg from Kevin, who well deserved his 2 for 11.
Our batting has tended to come up short (oops, another) at times, but an excellent opening partnership of 60 in 14 overs by Abhi and Kevin left no doubt of the win. Kevin switched off (sorry!) and was bowled by captain Baajee, who had a very good spell. Asif took their only other wicket before Abhi carried his bat to a very fine 45 not out, partnered by the ever elegant Richard Greene. The rest of us are hardly needed when Abhi powers on (last one) like this, earning Man of the Match award from ESB, with Vikas getting our award. Thanks to Stuart Conroy for his great Covid work and his scoring- and Paddy and Ger for completing it.
Written by Des Drumm