Oaks 78-4 off 20 overs

H. Beaumont 19*, D. Drumm 11, B. McAllister 10, S. Conroy 6*, J. Hodgson 6*

M.Power 2-1-2-1, M.Ford 2-0-6-1, M.Ralli 2-0-8-1, S. Curry 2-0-10-1

Cavaliers 87-6 off 20 overs

M. Ford 20*. C. Meehan 20*, R.Swift 14*

B. McAllister 2-0-4-1, A.Barber 2-0-4-1, G. O’Shea 2-0-5-1, J.Hodgson 2-0-5-1, D.Drumm 2-0-6-1, J.Kirby 2-0-9-1

It may not have been as dramatic as some of the encounters with the Theatrical Cavaliers over the years but the 2022 outing on a beautiful sunny evening on the banks of the Liffey was no less enjoyable – especially after a start to the season that had been so persistently interrupted by rain.

The Oaks were looking to win the Des & Jeanette Drumm Trophy. The scene was set.

The first Act saw the Cavaliers bat. Tight fielding and economic bowling meant the scoring rate was slow. Opener Ronan Swift managed to anchor the Cavaliers’ innings, facing 38 of their 120 balls before retiring on 14. Waiting in the wings were Cyril Meehan and the Cav’s leading man Michael Ford. Both came in and scored unbeaten 20s before the final 6 batters collectively added 19 runs to the total – including a painful injury to Simon O’Gorman that saw him retire hurt.

A wicket apiece for Brian McAllister, Andy Barber, Gerard O’Shea, Jim Hodgson, Des Drumm and Jon Kirby meant the Cavaliers had been restricted to 87 runs.

After the interval, the Second Act saw the Oaks attempt to chase down what was a very manageable target. Unfortunately, we found the going every bit as tough. After a solid start we had scored 12 off the first 2 overs – a run a ball well ahead of the necessary rate. Unfortunately, by the time we had doubled that score, we were midway through the 9th over.

In this captain-heavy Oaks team, Des Drumm had set us on our way with 11 off 23 balls and Hubert Beaumount in the middle order with his 19 off 26 tried to claw us back to close to an achievable run rate. After that Brian McAllister, Jim Hodgson and Matt Hodgson tried to up the pace a little combining for 19 off 19 balls but it was just too late for us to press on and close the gap.

88 runs to win was a modest objective, and one that was achievable, but which on this occasion the Oaks fell 10 short of. The match lacked the thrilling final denouement and climax the setting deserved, and as the curtain fell on another evening of Oaks cricket, on this occasion the trophy remained in the hands of the Cavaliers.

Until next year….

Written by Gerard O'Shea.