LAOIS: 144 off 30 overs
Batting: N.Case 85* K.Marchbank 23 J.Morgan 12 *Not Out
Bowling: J.Depass 5-26-2 S.Saunderson 4-12-1 ** Morris 3-15-1 S.Beard 5-19-0
G.O’Shea 4-27-0 J.Morgan 2-26-0 N.Case 2-26-0 ** one maiden
OAKS: 147 for 4 off 25 overs
Batting: P.Rosa 93* H.Beaumont 22*
Bowling: M.Case 4-9-2** A. Barber 5-12-2 Abhi 5-31-1 D.Drumm 5-16-0 S.Hayes 4-26-0 P.Rosa 4-27-0 T.Case 3-24-0
Although only a recent fixture ,The Oaks v Laois Lions games already have an epic sweep to them. I described the 2020 game as one of legend, where Hubert took a single on the penultimate ball to give us at least a draw, leaving young Mark Case to face the final ball- which he despatched for 4 for a glorious win. On Sunday it again looked like the game had slipped away from us when along came Hubert again to help set up Paolo’s wonderful innings to clinch a win with 5 overs to spare.
Adrian Tudor won the toss for Laois and opted to bat. Our opening duo of Andy Barber and Mark Case had them under pressure from the start and after 8 overs they were 16 for 4, Mark and Andy bowling one apiece, Mark also with an LBW and keeper Stuart Hayes taking a nice catch from Andy. There we stalled as Keith Marchbank supported Neville Case’s (yes, our Neville!) 85 not out. Keith fell to Abhi eventually after a stand of 91, only to be replaced by an equally obdurate Morgan. A fine big-hitting innings by Neville gave them a good total of 144 for us to chase.
Our confidence was shaken when Ashley Jackson’s wicket fell in the 1st over and Abhi’s in the 2nd. Terrence Case and Paolo Rosa settled the team and the nerves for a while before Terrence lost out to the accurate Depass. David McConaghy was going well before being stumped by Mark Shakespeare – a bit of a tragedy; he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, but not his crease unfortunately. That brought Hubert to the wicket at 33 for 4 after almost 10 overs- ahead of Laois, but could we accelerate after 20 overs like them? Yes, as long as Paolo stayed there! The key was the 22nd over; we were 107 when Paolo hit 25 off poor Neville in an over that included 3 no balls and three 6s. After that it was a stroll for the two batsmen, bringing us comfortably home for what had earlier seemed an unlikely victory. Depass, Saunderson and Beard had kept our run rate down early on- and our own Ger O’Shea, another loan player, also did well to hold back the run surge late on- but no-one could deny Paulo the glory of winning with a magnificent 93 and Hubert his share in it with his undefeated partnership of 114 with Paolo.
Written by Des Drumm