Captain - Alex Duncan Vice Captain - David Newsome

16/04/11 - St Paul's School 1st XI vs OPCC 1st XI - Lost

The 1st XI game went to the final over, but Sam Cato saw the School to the target of 225, after a very mature opening partnership had broken the back of the target. Skipper and Manav both made 40s to get themselves into touch before holing out. Joe Harris made a belligerent 80, falling in the final overs in pursuit of what would have been a sparkling hundred.
 
In the field we couldn’t quite put them under enough pressure to start a panic in the ranks. Henry Dodd and Simon French threatened to do so for a while, but some great shots got the openers going again and they never looked back.

07/05/11 - OPCC 1st XI vs Ewhurst CC 1st XI (Cup) - Won

1st XI beat Ewhurst by 57 runs.
 
57 runs is a comfortable margin, but in reality we were kicking back in a hammock with a long glass of something refreshing for the last third of this game. It might have been different, but Joe Harris played a superlative innings of 108 off 59 balls which blew Ewhurst away.
 
We lost the toss (get used to it) on a green top and went in to bat. Dave played some cracking shots and the skipper nicked one over slips so that we got moving quickly. However, cometh the spinners (one decent overseas and one of the older, f(l)atter, ‘I really should be able to smash this out the park but I can’t seem to’ variety), cometh the disappointing dismissals and stagnating run rate. Joe came in at 5 with the score at 71-3 and more than half the overs gone. He smashed his first ball for 4, and after facing 12, was on 31. Tom Rigby played an assured and sensible knock around Joe, scoring more freely as the field started to spread, and rotating the strike well. His 58 would normally get more column inches, but there was only one star of this show. Joe’s century was brought up with consecutive 6s, off only 52 balls. Shot of the day was a straight 6, (he hit 6 in total), which was timed with a straight bat far over the top of the sight screen.
 
Debutants Michael O’Reilly and Cameron Moore got their first competitive runs for the club – the latter with the ultimate ‘Cameo’ innings of 4 off 1. We made 226, a decent score on the wicket, and especially from where we were at half time.
 
Ewhurst made a positive start. A couple of tough chances went down, and although Henry Dodd picked up a deserved wicket, the other opener kept scoring. Cam came on, and with Dave at the other end the game turned in our favour. Dave was causing lots of problems with turn and bounce. Cam got a few of them hopping about, and crucially had the opener caught by Duncan at slip via top edge and helmet. He also picked up 2 more wickets to rip out the Ewhurst middle order and pitch the hammock. Dave bowled his 9 overs for 2-20, and Ben Parker bowled a very well controlled spell of swing bowling for 2-19. Frustratingly, we couldn’t pick up the last wicket, despite trying various bowlers and some inventive field placings. Thankfully, it wasn’t a league game, so we got our well deserved victory.
 
Caterham away in the next round on Bank Holiday Monday. Win that, and we would book a quarter-final at Thames Ditton. One game at a time…

14/05/2011 - Weybridge Vandals CC 1st XI vs OPCC 1st XI  - Lost

OPCC Lost to Weybridge Vandals by 6 wickets

Not enough runs from the top order left us always behind in this game. Weybridge bowled pretty tidily early on on a wicket that offered them some assistance. Riggers got a good ball, but the rest of the top 4 were dismissed too softly. Things were looking bleak at 78-7, but we finally found a partnership to force some pressure back on Weybridge and do some damage to their bowling figures. Chris Wilson batted steadily at first, but the rust of 18 months started to fall off the hinges and he played with increasing fluency as his innings went on. He found a partner in Cam Moore who dealt forcefully with anything short or wide. As the runs racked up we started to set ourselves higher and higher targets, and Weybridge were getting rattled. It was a shame when Chris holed out for 41, as a few more overs of the two of them would have been fruitful. Cam whacked a couple more to finish on 35* off 34 balls, and we closed on 151.
Not a great total, but not a great batting wicket either, so if we could start well we might put some wind up the Vandals. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. One of the Vandal openers took a shine to anything vaguely short, smashing his way to 50 before the other opener had even got off the mark. Five 6s sailed over the ropes, and by the time Dave bowled him for 83, Vandals only needed 39 more. Tim Quayle picked up 2 wickets and Adrian 1 to gain us 1 bowling point, but Weybridge completed the chase without alarm.
One more partnership in our innings and an early wicket in theirs would have made this a very different game. No point whatsoever dwelling on the what ifs, as next week we play at home for the first time against what will be a strong Hampton Wick Royal side. Better performances all round are required.

21/05/2011 - OPCC 1st XI vs Hampton Wick Royal 1st XI  - Lost

This was a bad defeat, albeit to one of the better teams in the league. HWR played most of the positive cricket throughout the game and thoroughly deserved their victory. We won the toss and bowled, hoping to restrict them and chase with our long batting line up. From the off, though, HWR played aggressively, and with the score on 40 after 4 overs, we were on the back foot. Tom Rigby produced a brilliant bit of fielding to run out one of the openers for 30 off 20 balls. The scoring rate slowed, but they built a good partnership of 84, eventually broken by Dave, who took a second wicket too, which was to be our last success. The HWR skipper continued on his merry way with a fantastic, chanceless knock of 135 off just 119 balls. In truth we bowled too many bad balls ever to exert much pressure, but still, 135 is a top knock in anyone’s book.
 
If anything, 277 might have been too many for them to go to, but with still 53 overs left in the game there was likely to be a result. Dave and Riggers opened up (skipper nursing his thighs having kept (and conceded only 2 byes)), and produced a good partnership of 64 against some hostile opening bowling. Dave played some trademark aggressive shots in his 38; it was a crying shame when he holed out when the spinner came on. Worse was to follow as said spinner accounted for all the top 4 – Riggers a touch unlucky perhaps, but your correspondent played a dismal shot and Podge was out at mid-off again. For the second week in a row Chris Wilson provided the brightest ray of hope – his 43 got us to the 3rd batting point.
 
It is early days in the season, but with the exception of a few individuals so far we have been lacking in discipline with the ball and application with the bat. We have a big month coming up. Sanderstead away this Saturday – they have won 2 out of 2 so far – and Caterham away in the Cup on Monday. We then have 3 Home games in a row against beatable teams; we need to do so or we will be looking over our shoulder by mid-June.

28/05/11 - Sanderstead CC 1st XI vs OPCC 1st XI  - Lost

1st XI lost to Sanderstead by 151 runs
 
This week was always likely to be a struggle against a strong Sanderstead team. We arrived at their ground with several new faces in the team after availabilities forced 8 changes from last week. Under the stand-in skipper we naturally won the toss, and chose to have a bowl. Thinks started brightly with Cam and Henry bowling a good line and length, and getting the ball to do a bit off the deck. One of their openers didn't look like he fancied hanging around chipping two up in the air only for chances to be put down. Fortunately this didn't cost us, as he was bowled by Henry's slower one. This bought their overseas to the crease, and we know from past experience that he is a class act. Unfrtunately this proved to be the case. The batsmen ran well between the wickets and put the lose balls away. The other opener went aerial much of the time but always found the gaps, before we eventually got him for 70. Wickets fell at the other end but the overseas was rarely troubled, ending on a classy 111* as Sanderstead closed their innings on 231/5. We had bowled pretty well, and youngster Charlie Rogers showed promise on debut, although the Sanderstead batsmen showed how to build a score on a tricky wicket.
 
We never got going with the bat, and slumped to 30-7. There was too little application from the top order and too many lose strokes. Their opener bowled a good line at decent pace but we should have coped far better. Charlie and Cam provided us with something to cheer towards the end, and Charlie's nonchalant flick over midwicket would have been six anywhere else on the ground. Cam ended on 34* as we were eventually bowled out for 80, the lowest score I can remember.
 
So, another disappointing and humbling defeat for the 1's. We need to turn things around, starting with Byfleet next week to start a run of winnable home games. Next week is the Lord's test match, a weekend we often struggle for players. If you can make yourself available please reply to this email as we need to put out three strong teams and start winning games.

30/05/11 - Caterham CC 1st XI vs OPCC 1st XI  - Won

1st XI Beat Caterham by 69 runs
 
OPCC won the toss (anything you can do, VC) and batted. This turned out to be a very good decision. We lost Dave early, but skipper and Riggers rebuilt steadily. A few too many scoring opportunities went straight to fielders for skipper’s liking, but fortunately Riggers talked him down from the ledge on a few occasions, and slowly but surely the run rate started to creep up. We brought up the 100 with the partnership now flourishing thanks to some good running between the wickets, (I kid you not), and some welcome boundaries yielded by the 4th and 5th bowlers. Frustratingly, just as we were getting on top, both sides of the partnership succumbed in the 50s to the combination of a dobbler and a specialist slipper. We slid to a precarious 130-6 with some dismissals to rank deliveries along the way. The lower order threatened to wag without anyone quite going the whole hog, but 13s from Ian Bester and Time Denton and 11 from Dave Methuen at least enabled us to use all but a few balls of our 45 overs, and to make it to 176.
 
Not a great score, but a defendable one on a relatively true pitch. We started bowling, though, in a mizzle. The pitch took some water and juiced up a bit. Caterham were somewhat confused as to how to approach the innings – get ahead of the run rate and pray for an early conclusion and victory by TKO, or look to bat the 45 and surely overhaul the target? Our attitude was excellent, and this, I think, was half the reason why we won the game. Peter King produced a scarlet rag which was put to industrious use by Tim and Ian. We got on with the game, bowled accurately and aggressively, and supported our bowlers with good fielding. Jack Harrison bowled a very good spell with the new ball, exploiting the movement and bounce that the wicket afforded. He was unlucky only to take 1 wicket, but he certainly put the wind up a few of the Cats top order. Cam Moore also nipped one out in a probing spell. Tim Denton came on and made the key breakthrough, nipping one back through their skipper’s defences to end his aggressive innings on 27. Tim bowled a good spell of 9 overs on the bounce, always threatening, and taking 3 wickets, all bowled by balls nipping back. At the other end, Dave Newsome exploited the greasy wicket. Some balls turned, but it was the ones that slid straight on that did for them. Skipper took another catch behind, (albeit in front of) the wicket, rapidly moving to bat pad position, and Duncan took a sharp one at slip, but the other 3 of Dave’s 5 wickets were clean bowled. The final one wrapped the Caterham innings up at 107 in just 29 overs.
 
It was a very good team performance to which everyone contributed. Our spirit in the field was excellent – OK, easier to be chirpy when things are going your way, but we dealt with the conditions better than Caterham both mentally and technically.
 
We now play Horley in the quarter final on the 26th June!

04/06/11 - OPCC 1st XI vs Byfleet 1st XI  - Won

1st XI beat Byfleet by 7 wickets
 
Fuller’s Theory holds, (especially on the flatter decks such as TD), that you win the toss, bowl, restrict the oppo to something under 200 and chase it. Sounds simple, but many is the time we and others have come unstuck in pursuit of modest to par totals. Not so this week, as we gave a demonstration of the practical application of Fuller’s Theory. It does help when someone gets 6 wickets and a hundred…
 
Byfleet turned up to play the bottom of the league side with a spring in their step. They would be forgiven for a somewhat crestfallen attitude as the first ball fizzed past their opening bat as he completed his backlift, and thudded into Ollie’s gloves. Helmets were called for to combat Sabir Ali’s pace. The slip cordon thought about it, but manned up. Soon they were one down as Byfleet’s skipper walked away from a straight ball and was bowled. After that, though, they showed some guts, and managed some runs while we figured out that 3rd man is definitely required for our overseas pro at all times. Cam and Henry bowled tidily, but it was the advent of the spinners that did the damage. Dave Newsome was getting big turn and bounce, and he had 2 caught at slip / gully, one at point, another at cover and 2 LBWs. Dave Methuen followed an aggressive but unlucky 2nd spell from Sabir to immediately claim a victim. Byfleet had subsided to 112-7 and we thought 130 ao was on. Fair play to them, though, as 7 & 9 showed some real determination. It was probably a mistake born of caution to take Dave M off and bring Sabir back. Initially they couldn’t score, but then the nicks started flying in all the wrong places and the runs flowed. They added 71 for the 8th wicket and finished on 196 for their 52, much more than we had hoped; no longer a walk in the park, but gettable. Dave finished with 6-55.
 
We started pretty confidently, Dave unfurling some lovely shots back past the bowler, and even skipper moving serenely to 17, before falling to a very good catch down the leg side. Riggers kept up the momentum, though, with 26 in good time. He added the second half-century partnership of the innings with Dave, before chipping to point. The feature of the innings was that Byfleet never got any momentum. Podge played really well at 4, positive without taking undue risk. All the while, Dave continued on his merry way. He was aggressive on anything to full or short, but it was all good cricket shots that took him past 50 and up into the 90s. He unleashed a mighty slog sweep high over the rope to bring up his 2nd league century and secure the MOM award (probably). Sadly he holed out just before the end. There was time for a 1st in my cricketing career, when the umpire awarded 5 penalty runs against us for running on the wicket. Somewhat odd given that only 4 were needed and Byfleet had already batted, but fortunately there was plenty of time left for a couple of lusty blows to finish it off.
 
A really good performance which only lifts us to 3rd bottom, but puts us back near the pack. We need to beat Thames Ditton at home next week to keep moving up.

11/06/11 - OPCC 1st XI vs Thames Ditton - Abandoned
 
The weather cut short what might have been a very good game. We won the toss and bowled – Sabir once again uprooted a stump, but otherwise many balls whistled frustratingly past outside edges. Tim and Serj bowled tidy spells, Serj unlucky to see an edge fly between keeper and slip. That was off their opener who was batting pretty well and aggressively, and when Sizzle dropped a tough c&b chance off him too, the heart started to sink as we thought it could be one of those days. Dave Methuen had other ideas, though, flighting one through his defences to bowl him for 51. Sizzle took 2 wickets, one clean bowled as no.3 attempted a rash dart down the wicket to an inswinger, and another caught by Podge at cover. Dave Newsome took one too to have TD on the edge at 140-5. From there, though, they played pretty well. Their skipper obviously decided once they were over 160, significant danger was past, and that the best policy was attack. It was a good plan and worked well – he smashed it at the end and they got to 241 off 47.5. Not our best performance with the ball or in the field, but Dave Methuen and Sabir could both have had more for their efforts.
 
We started well in pursuit, confident having chased 200 pretty comfortably last week. We were 51-0 off 11 when the rains came, and TD were very eager to get off the field. After an hour or so, our chance to win the game was gone (the total remained 241 but our overs were reducing every 3.5 minutes). We had a look at the wicket when the rain stopped, and although there were puddles on the adjacent wickets and 2 large wet patches on the wicket itself, TD now wanted to play (they already had 4 points from their innings and so had nothing to lose and potentially a couple of points to gain by playing). We didn’t want to play, since we were highly unlikely to boost our points total past 4 by batting another dozen overs or so. A sort of Mexican stand off ensued, which ensured that we were unable to get in the bar early and removed even that scant consolation for the curtailment of the game.

18/06/11 - OPCC 1st XI vs Caterham CC - Losing draw

We did very well to play at all on a day when several games were rained off, including locally at Long Ditton. We gained 6 points which is 2 more than we would have had for an abandonment. Much graft with the super-sopper was required to get the square into a state whereby play could take place, and we started at 3.15 having lost 30 overs from the game.
 
Losing the toss in such circumstances is very frustrating. We went out to bat for a maximum of 37 overs. It was difficult on a wet pitch, and nothing went for 4 unless carrying most of the way in the air. Turning for a second run was hazardous in the rare cases when the ball went far enough to contemplate it. Caterham had similar struggles in the field, but everyone got on with the game and made the best of it. After a slow start skipper went for 21 trying to push the score along. Podge fell in similar fashion, and Dave also for a well made 42 – all of which gave 3 wickets to a gruesome dibbly-dobbler who on a dry wicket would have been cannon fodder. Chris Wilson went out with instructions to get us to 160, and went about it very effectively, running well and punishing bad balls. Sabir joined him for his first knock for the club, and together got us over 140 and threatening the 3rd batting point. There was some crazy running at times, but somehow Chris wasn’t out and got to 33*. Sabir holed out for 41, and when next ball Joe was run out it looked like we might not make 160. So it proved – or so we thought – we finished on 158 according to the scoreboard but according to the book it was 160; mission accomplished.
 
We did not bowl well. At least, not from one end. Sabir was good, having learned that full and straight is the most likely way to get wickets. He bowled a 14 over spell from one end for 6-41. From the other end we bowled too short and were punished. Caterham were aggressive in pursuit of the target, and a couple of missed chances didn’t help. At the end Tim Quayle and Ben Parker bowled 3 overs each, both of them 2 good overs and 1 expensive one, but the 4 good overs were good enough to keep Caterham below the target. Ben’s wicket with his first ball was key as it removed the number 3 for 34, and he also took a wicket with the last ball of the game to have them 8 down.
 
All in all, the score looks like we were close to winning when in fact we weren’t really. Nevertheless, a decent game, but on a day when elsewhere winning scores were 138, 115 and 92, it was a shame we couldn’t make our 160 pay against a side we bowled out in the Cup.

25/06/11 - Guildord City 1st XI vs OPCC 1st XI - Lost
 
Guildford City presented us with a total pudding of a wicket, and we failed to win the toss. From there it didn’t get any better. Not a lot went our way in our innings, and a fair bit went against us beyond our control. Dave and Podge were batting nicely, but when Podge went, we rapidly subsided from 45-2. Dave got 36 which was comfortably the top score, and we were all out for 88. Guildford’s leg spinner got 4 wickets and bowled well for them – we don’t have good pedigree against leg spinners. It was difficult conditions and we didn’t have any luck really, but 88 is never a good score. Dave and Sabir bowled well, tying them down early, but the wicket was still very slow, so neither of them was as effective as they might have been. Still, Dave got 2 wickets and Sabir 1, but a few swings of the bat from Guildford got them too close ever to struggle.
 
A game and day to forget. Next week will be a tough game against Battersea who are always a good side. They are another one whose wicket is not TD-like, (can’t be worse than Guildford’s offering though), so we will have to deal with that better than we did on Sat.

02/07/11 - Battersea Ironsides CC 1st XI vs OPCC 1st XI  - Losing Draw

Battersea is traditionally a results track. On arrival however, the deck looked dry and hard and a road compared to last week in Guildford. So, when we lost the toss and were asked to bat (the OPCC way) we were quietly confident of posting a decent score. We lost a couple of early wickets, but Riggers and Sabir batted well. They took the runs on offer, although scoring was difficult against an effective Battersea attack. Things threatened to get heated when Sabir broke his bat trying to fend off a throat high beamer, complicated by the barman/stand-in ump getting the ‘ump and refusing to stand any more. The non-spinning Battersea spin-twins kept our scoring rate low, although we got some release with an aggressive counter-attack from Sabir, smashing fours and one huge six down the ground. This got us up to 110-2, a good platform, but both Sabir and Tom went in the same over just as we were looking to accelerate. Chris Wilson and Sam played watchfully against some accurate bowling, both eventually holing out in the deep trying to up the rate. Debutant Mark Ackroyd looked good in his first outing for a year, smashing ten off two balls before being bowled. Tom Speller, and Chris’ Gardner and Berkett all scored quickly at the death to get us up to 180 (and maximum batting points) off the full 52 overs.
 
We would have liked 200, but 180 is a good score in any game. The pitch was deteriorating, with some uneven bounce and looking like it would take some spin. With plenty of bowling and Sabir primed after his Halal tea (courtesy of Kavita - thank you!) we were looking for 10 wickets and 20 points.
 
Sabir’s yorker is too good for most in the league, and their opening bat was no exception. 1-1. The second Battersea wicket was hard to come by. Jack found an edge but it flew over the slips, and the other opener kept out a series of shooters from Sabir very well. A double bowling change bought the wickets we were looking for, with Dave finding some turn and Chris Berkett bowling with good control. The Battersea middle order didn’t look comfortable against our attack, with Sabir castling numbers 5 and 6, leaving them 105-6. Battersea had saved some batting for their lower order however, and 7 and 8 played aggressively, trying to get them up to the winning draw target of 149. Chris came back for a second spell and picked up two more wickets, including a freak caught and bowled where the ball hit Dave’s wrist and was flicked up, over his head, into the waiting hands of the bowler. The bowlers tried hard but we couldn’t pick up the 9th wicket until the penultimate ball of the last over. Their number 11 came in with one ball to face, Battersea needing one run for the winning draw. We bought the field in looking for the run out, although it was not to be as he bravely heaved one over to top to take the winning draw away from us.
 
This result sees us sitting just out of the drop-zone. We have plenty of winnable games to come, starting with Wallington away next week.

09/07/11 - Wallington CC 1st XI vs OPCC 1st XI  - Lost

OPCC lost by 94 runs.

A game of two halves left OPCC feeling as sick as a parrot, as a decent performance in the field was undone by a devastating collapse. Alex won the toss and decided to bowl, which paid dividends with early wickets for Jack and Sabir. Chris Berkett picked up 2 scalps and Dave Newsome 3, Sabir finishing up with 6-42 as Wallington fought their way to 148 from 49.4 overs, either side of a rain delay, which according to Wallington’s own match report looked slightly below par.
 
In reply, wickets fell quickly and consistently, with only two batsmen getting to double figures. Sadly OPCC's batting lineup (admittedly short of some regulars) were bowled out for a paltry 54, with Wallington's openers bagging all ten wickets.

16/07/11 - OPCC 1st XI vs Kempton CC 1st XI  - Won

OPCC Beat Kempton by 8 wickets
 
This was a really big win for us which starts our climb away from trouble. It also shows the benefit of thinking positively in the rain rather than looking for a cancellation. Having spent most of the morning fending off calls from Kempton who were clearly keen not to travel, we arrived at TD to find a bone-dry wicket under covers and rain ceasing. We got the covers off, choosing not to heed advice from their umpire to leave the covers on until 3pm ‘just in case’. Kempton skipper was extracted from the bar, taken to the middle, defeated in the toss and start time was set for 2.30pm.
 
We started pretty well, with only 1 batsman able to score off Sabir and Jack. The other was eventually dispatched by a nip-backer from Sabir. Our old nemesis the dropped catch then started to rear its ugly head. Both batters were dropped, Chris Berkett unlucky on both occasions, and Kempton got to 67-1 at drinks. After drinks, the game turned. Dave Newsome cheered us up no end, banishing any ‘here we go again’ thoughts with 2 wickets in an over. Chris Berkett also took one, which was no more than he deserved for a well controlled spell of bowling, mixing his pace up well. Dave M came on and together the 2 spinners started to get some real control. Strangely, only 1 of their players really tried to score and put us under any pressure. He got 34, but Dave M trapped him in front, one of his 3 victims. Dave N got 5, including 2 stumpings by Ben P. We bowled them out for 133, leaving ourselves 38 overs to get them.
 
Maybe it was the knowledge that last week we were poor chasing 140, but Kempton showed no reticence to get going after tea despite some rain falling. That suited us, and we made a decent start, mainly because Dave made a decent start. Kempton showed fallibility in the field, dropping both openers. Dave made them pay with some brutal hitting, especially to the shorter leg side boundary. When we went for 53 we were 77-1 and well on the way. Podge came in and played very well, scoring freely to take us towards the target. Skipper made one of the slower 27s to include a 6 (struck just after a call of ‘still in single figures after 18 overs lads’ – haha) that you will see, but by the time he went, the game was all but won.
 

23/07/11 - OPCC 1st XI vs Roehampton CC 1st XI  - Won

OPCC Beat Roehampton by 51 runs
 
A slow burner. We are starting to get some good wickets as the weather improves, and Roehampton made the expected decision to give us first use. Unexpectedly, skipper was the one pushing the score along as we made a decent start despite losing Dave, and Podge to a good delivery to leave us at a crossroads on 46-2. Matt and skipper put together a good partnership of 77 to progress us to a good platform. Matt played some fantastic shots in his 40, dominating their spinner in particular. The running was also good, maximising most scoring shots. Matt was disappointed to nick off when well set for a big one, as was skipper when doing similar for 81. 140-4 and we had still to break a resolute Roehampton team, who fought back well, removing Chris W and Sabir for ducks. 157-6 saw us hoping for 200+ rather than expecting it. Sam Cato played some good shots in his 31. With Ben Parker’s 11 we made it to 187 and were bowled out.
 
On the one hand we should have made 220, on the other hand, we had a good attack and maybe the extra overs we gained by being bowled out would prove invaluable. Early optimism took a dent, as sun-hatted RCC opener took a cudgel to anything outside off-stump towards a shortish boundary. Sabir cleaned him up, though, for 31; Chris Berkett and Dave Newsome got through some miserly overs, and we started to regain some control. The game changed when Chris had their skipper LBW for 40. It was neither the first, nor the last example of good sportsmanship in an umpire-less game. Chris got another wicket, but enough was enough and he was removed from the attack. Sam Cato bowled 3 overs for 3 runs, also clearly not good enough, so Dave Methuen took over. The game was going through a funny period, where RCC played themselves out of the ascendancy and under pressure through lack of ambition. Ambition seemed to return after a while, but Dave and the returning Chris B were too good. The smouldering embers of the game began to flame as Dave removed n.5 and then Chris took 2 in an over. Matt K then took an excellent catch running in from the boundary to give Dave his second; his 3rd followed quickly – to be honest that guy had no chance, it was an unfair contest. Do you remember Courtney Walsh vs Graham Thorpe and that slower ball yorker? Chris did that to bring up his five-fer. 7 balls to go and nerves jangling; Chris produced – trapping his adversary in front to complete a brilliant match-winning 6-24. The game ended with the last piece of sportsmanship as RCC player raised the finger, sparking jubilant scenes.
 
A great win which, although still not moving us up the table, puts us firmly into a pack of teams on 3 wins. We will quickly move up if we can keep this good form going.

30/07/11 - West End Esher CC 1st XI vs OPCC 1st XI  - Won

OPCC beat West End Esher by 8 wickets
 
WEE started the day 3rd from top, and OPCC 3rd from bottom, but we belied our league position with a thumping victory. OPCC inserted the home side on a dry and intricately patterned wicket. Sabir bowled with good pace, quickly removing 2 of WEE’s top order who nicked behind. From the other end Monkey made a welcome return to OPCC colours. Despite feeling his way back into some rhythm, Monkey still cuts an intimidating figure bearing down on the bowling crease. As so often, though, it took the arrival of the spinners to get our truck really rolling. WEE’s overseas pro played a brainless shot at Dave Newsome, and we remembered the other good reason for having Monkey in the side, which are those gargantuan and very safe hands. Sabir toyed with and then mercilessly despatched the opposition skipper, but it was in Dave’s next over that the fun really started. He cleaned up one hapless victim, and trapped another on the back leg next ball. That was end of over. In his next, Dave squared up to WEE’s last remaining hope – ‘Boobi’ Dutta, on 55 and holding the innings together. (If you will permit a digression at this moment of tension, it was interesting to note that Boobi knew Sabir from back home. Strange to travel half way around the globe to a village green in Esher and find yourself up against the same bloke you last faced in Calcutta, but it’s a small world I suppose. Sabir was the better player, and should have had him twice, had a certain D Newsome clung on at 2nd slip.) Returning to our story – Dave begins his run up for the hat-trick ball. The fielders steel themselves for a potential hat-trick catch. Boobi swings the ball goes up, 10 people thank God it’s not them, Matt runs back and to his left, and takes an excellent pressure catch to complete the hat-trick. Dave has now taken 2 of them in OP cricket. It didn’t take very long for Dave and Sabir to wrap up the innings for 108, having taken 5 wickets each.
 
The umpires decided that we should have to bat for 45 minutes before tea, which meant 2 opportunities for WEE to get in amongst us from the off. They started with spinners, one of whom (the overseas of the brainless shot) was extracting some vicious turn and bounce from the dry wicket. After Dave went early, Podge and skipper ground it out to tea, wearing a couple from the aggressive spinner, and playing some good shots when given the chance. During the tea interval (perfectly timed as it turned out), we watched Stuart Broad repeat Dave Newsome’s feat. On resumption, only a collapse could deny us. Podge added a few more but fell for 26. Matt came in and played extremely fluently, despite also having to wear one from the spinner, who was more dangerous than any seamer we have faced this year. We got home with 4 byes conceded by a quick bouncer that skipper and the poor keeper both ducked. Matt finished on 29 from only 32, and skipper on 37.
 
20 points to nil – perfect game.

31/07/11 - OPCC 1st XI vs Kempton CC 1st XI (Cup Semi-final) - Won

OPCC beat Kempton CC by 126 runs
 
Flush with confidence, and with a few butterflies, we arrived at TD for our semi-final. To the victor, a place in the Final, and the Kempton Cup; to the loser, a sad drive home. We won the toss again and this time did what you are supposed to do in these situations, ie bat first. We made a decent start against the Kempton bowlers who were sweating out the alcohol following the wedding of one of their members the previous evening. To their credit, they stuck to the task and Dave was removed with a good yorker. The pitch was true and the outfield fast, but we couldn’t get a real head of steam up against some determined, straight bowling. Podge and skipper continued their good graft from the previous day, refusing to throw wickets away, slowly building the scoring rate. A feature of the partnership and the innings was very good, aggressive running between the wickets. We stole many runs and forced Kempton into more overthrows than I have ever seen in one game. Podge played one big shot for six off the spinner (who was extracting good turn), but otherwise almost everything was along the ground for four, or as many as we could get. It was hot work. Podge went for 55 trying to whip a ball to leg, a shame because there was a big score out there. Matt came in, played briefly beautifully, and then somewhat unluckily blocked a ball without enough purpose and the ball rolled back on his stumps. Riggers was LBW sweeping, and all of a sudden from sitting pretty we were starting to slip from our perch. Sam also only got 7, but during this period which on paper looks like a collapse, we were still putting together little 15-20 run partnerships with good running and some increasing freedom of shot from skipper. Sadly, when within sight of a hundred, some slightly over eager running was his downfall as he got stuck mid pitch on 96. By that time we were 195, though, and with 4 overs left looking to push towards 225. Tom Speller played very well to almost get us there. He scored off most balls faced and hit a couple of cracking shots for 19 in only 13 balls. We finished on 219, which could easily have been 239, but nevertheless is good runs to have on the board in a pressure game.
 

We thought that Kempton would rely quite heavily on a few key players. It was therefore a boost when Adrian removed one of them clean bowled in the 3rd over. Sizzling Sam then took 2 in the next – trapping their skipper in front with a hooper, and boomeranging one through the defences of number 4. We could scent blood now, and Adrian removed another with a beauty of a nip-backer, leaving KCC reeling on 36-4. Jehan came on and bowled his usual excellent line and length. It was a big plus for us that both Adrian and Jehan who have not played for a few weeks settled straight into their work. Serj got a dangerous looking leftie caught behind, then a big one. The last KCC big guns had hidden themselves in the middle order. By the time they came out, the pressure was really on, too much for one whose leading edge went high and was boldly caught by a decisive Ben Parker. Riggers took another excellent catch running in from long on to give Serj his 3rd. From there, it was all over bar the shouting. Tom Speller effected an excellent direct hit run out, and Dave N mopped up the tail.  A famous victory. We play Putney in the final on September the 4th (day after last league games). Put it in your diary – it would be great to have some travelling support. The final is at...Kempton.

06/08/11 - OPCC 1st XI vs Frimley CC 1st XI  - Won

Frimley are bottom and fighting for their Division 1 lives. It showed, in that when inserted, Frimley openers battled hard against good bowling from Sabir and Jack. A few edges got lucky, some brave shots were played, and Sabir had another slip catch dropped (they come quick, OK?). 55-0 was a good start, but then Serj induced a false shot which was well caught by a jogging, juggling, aeroplane Podge. Dave got a 1st over wicket Swann style – 55-2. Number 4 announced himself with a straight 6 over Dave’s head, and, while we retrieved the ball, began to regale Marc with his career history. In between chapters, he played some belligerent shots. No-one, including Sabir, could completely becalm him. A dogged 40 from Frimley’s erstwhile skipper eventually came to an end, but by then 180 was on the board. Number 4 brought up a very good hundred, and just before Marc was forced to concede defeat and retreat from standing up to a safe distance from his chat, holed out to skipper on the extra-cover boundary. We chipped away, Dave with another 2, Serj 1 and Riggers with a run out. Frimley closed at 253 off 47; an imposing score.
 
We made a decent start, but skipper went weakly for 9. Dave, though, was in determined mood. He played some typically powerful shots while Podge played himself in. Little by little the score advanced, always keeping in touch with the rate. Once we got to 3 figures, Frimley must have been all too aware that OPCC had this 250 in them. Dave smote boundaries over the bowlers’ heads, over cow, behind square. Podge was growing in confidence and freedom of shot too; the 100 partnership came up, then the 150 partnership… It ain’t as easy as it looks belting balls over yonder you know – it’s heavy work. Dave eventually went to a tired shot for 126, made from only 120 balls. Together with Podge, the partnership for the 2nd wicket was 152, of which Dave made 109. A seriously impressive innings. Which puts the scale of the target into context – still, after all the carnage, 72 were needed at a run a ball. While Matt rotated the strike, Podge took over responsibility for the scoring rate, passing his 50. He went in similar fashion to Dave for 66, and yet still 35 were needed, with 2 relatively new batsmen at the crease. The rate crept up to 7s with 4 overs to go. Squeaky bum time; a huge amount of sweat and skill had gone in to our chase, far too much to be denied by a handful of runs. Matt took matters into his own hands; first with a slightly ugly boundary, then a 2nd, classier one, and two more good shots for doubles. It was the good over we needed. In the next, Matt continued in the same vein, so much so that he finished the chase with a boundary to finish with 40* from just 29 balls, and 2 whole overs to spare.
 
I cannot remember a bigger chase in all my years with OPCC. Dave’s innings was more than memorable, but it was a team effort; characterised by positive strokeplay, cool heads, and good aggressive running, which has in recent weeks become our trademark. 5 wins on the bounce, 4 in the league, and we are up to 9th.

13/08/11 - Chobham CC 1st XI vs OPCC 1st XI  - Won

OPCC Beat Chobham by 6 wickets
 
The form of the two teams coming into this game was in stark contrast. Chobham were on a 3 game losing streak and sinking towards the drop zone, while we have spent the last month winning games and powering away from danger. Our incredible run of coin toss success continued, meaning Chobham were required to bat first on a green but dry wicket. The hosts accepted this fate with no flicker of frustration, determination, or anything to suggest that they might have the wherewithal to scrap their way out of trouble. To be fair, they started well, playing Sabir’s first over confidently. But it didn’t last – Tom took a solid catch in the gully as the opener steered Adrian’s delivery in his direction. Sabir castled the Chobham skipper, but it was Adrian who made the key breakthrough in the next over. Chobham’s weapon is their overseas pro, who has over 500 runs and 55 wickets. Adrian got one to lift at him from a length, taking the glove and forcing its way through to his wicket. The rest of the Chobham line up essentially subsided, with one exception, but Adrian had him LBW for 28. The innings was most notable for the first 2 slip catches off Sabir this season, taken by skipper and then Dave, who chested the ball down nicely before plucking it, denying skipper a Geraint Jones style diving grab. Chobham’s number 11 managed to embarrass himself with some behaviour that would have been understandable, maybe, from someone a third of his age. Judging by the state of his face, he didn’t win the last fight he started; but maybe he felt more secure wearing a helmet and holding a bat. Anyway, Chris came on and knocked his off stump out first ball. 6-28 for Sabir was his best bowling for OPCC in his final game for us before he returns home.
 
The only way we were not going to get 58 was if that overseas pro did something remarkable. Chobham didn’t seem to think it would happen, and we were cruising at 31-1 after Dave’s early departure. All of a sudden, though, a good delivery flicked Podge’s off bail. The next nipped back at Matt, hitting the stumps somewhat harder. The next hit Rigger’s pad, the umpire umm’ed and ahh’ed before Oh go on thenning, and the hat trick was complete. It could have been 4 in 4, but Joe kept out a yorker. Oddly, though there was a bit of aggression from the fielding side, belief was clearly still not there. We finished the game a few overs later.
 
6 wins on the bounce now, and next week we go to Haslemere, who are looking to swap places with Chobham at the bottom, and making a decent fist of their attempt to do so having won twice in 3 weeks. For our part, we must keep the momentum going into the Cup final, and we have a good chance to post our highest Div 1 points total this millennium.

20/08/11 - Haslemere CC 1st XI vs OPCC 1st XI  - Losing draw

The winning streak came to an end against a decent Haslemere side who really shouldn’t be second bottom. Some better catching and one or two 30s turned into 70s would have seen us home.
 
After 6 overs had been lost to rain, Monkey started bowling with the pace and aggression of old, exploiting a wicket that was liable to explode off a length. Serj bowled steadily at the other end and was unlucky not to take a wicket. Monkey profited, removing both openers, firstly thanks to a very good catch by Jack at mid-off, then with a slower ball which led Chris Berkett to sue for breach of copyright. Haslemere’s middle order put together a partnership uncharacteristic of their season so far, putting on over 100 for the third wicket, which eventually fell deservedly to Jack. Sam Cato came on and immediately found some turn and bounce. Unfortunately, Haslemere’s umpire was keen to display to the world his impressive grasp of the more obscure laws of cricket. He took issue with Sam’s back foot, which was too close for comfort to the return crease. Sam’s protestations that said crease was too narrow (to the stumps) and too wide (in thickness), only stiffened the umpire’s resolve. It was some overs before the official won the battle of wills, by which time a wicket had been taken off a no-ball, and 2 other catches dropped including the easiest one skipper has ever dropped, ever. In short, the wheels were in danger of coming off. Monkey came back though and bowled another good spell through the exhaustion barrier, taking 2 more wickets to finish with 4-63. Sam got one too, deservedly. There was no stopping K Gray, though, who made 115* and allowed Haslemere to make a positive declaration on 214 after 43 overs, leaving us 46.
 
Catastrophe almost struck immediately as skipper’s tickle down leg side was dropped, and the next ball a full blooded drive landed a foot short of Haslemere’s skipper who was standing at deep first slip. Riggers would have been delighted after his first baller last week to get a juicy full toss first up, also delighted to make solid contact, less so to see it fly to point, mighty relieved to see it dropped. 0-2 wouldn’t have been good, but thanks to our hosts’ profligacy we made it to 73-2. Sadly Riggers went for 24 and skipper for 34 when both had set good platforms. Podge was batting well, having been reprieved when an edge landed a foot short of Haslemere’s skipper who was standing at deep first slip. Sam Cato joined him and immediately scored freely. His 35 from only 28 balls threatened to take the game away from the relegation-threatened side, but unfortunately he was trapped in front by a slightly low ball, and Marc went first nut. Podge was the last of the top 5 and we needed him to go big if we were going to make it, but as the required rate climbed he holed out for 35. There began an Indian-style collapse, and despite another edge landing a foot short of Haslemere’s skipper who was standing at deep first slip (some people are stubborn), we found ourselves 161-9 still with several overs to see out. Jehan ‘The Wall’ Sherjan did his part, and Monkey saw off the final over with bat, and failing that, his face.  Both were solid (especially the face), and we held out.

27/08/11 - OPCC 1st XI vs Shepperton CC 1st XI  - Winning draw

A young OPCC side came up just short in a run chase on a sticky TD wicket. With neither side playing for promotion or survival, warms ups consisted of cover shunting, hog shuttling, stump drilling and pooper scooping on the OPCC side, while our visitors enjoyed a couple of Peronis. Play got underway a little late, due to the rain, but Shepperton showed few ill effects from the Peroni as they progressed gently to 39, before Serj took a well deserved wicket, well caught by Joe standing up. Further success came straight away as Chris Berkett got one to nip back through the gate of number 3. Shepperton’s skipper is a dangerous player, as he proved by easing his first delivery through cover for 4. Debutant AJ Foster came on, a little out of practice, and immediately found Jimmy Anderson style swing both ways. Jimmy controls it a little better, admittedly, but AJ has a priceless golden arm. The dangerous skipper was well caught by Chris Berkett at deepish extra cover, and Manav took an equally important one at mid off to remove the other opener for 36. 81-4 and we thought we were well in, especially with number 5 unhappy against the stopping, popping, turning ball. Seeing an opportunity to relieve some pressure, he eagerly whacked an, ahem, long hop from Kiran. Unfortunately, he had failed to check the field, and found Manav, cunningly positioned at deep backward square, who took a comfortable catch. Kiran took another to make his first over a double wicket maiden. It looked like we were in, but Shepperton rallied, playing some good shots and showing resilience on what was still a difficult track. Podge came on for a now rare spell at the death, removing half the partnership to a catch at long off by skipper, still cursing himself for shelling the same player off Chris the previous over. Chris got his wicket in the next, again caught by skipper at long off (2 out of 3 ain’t bad), ending a decent knock of 54 from number 6. ‘Shep’ didn’t have a lot more. They wasted a few balls and then declared on 165 off 47.5, leaving us 40.
 
The pitch was still soft, and difficult to build any momentum on. Skipper found himself in the unfamiliar role of chief aggressor, building a partnership first with Riggers, who went to a stunning one-handed catch in the gully, then with Podge, who made 25 before offering catching practice to slip. The score then was 108-2, and the rate around 6. We needed another little partnership to get us within striking distance, but it didn’t happen. We kept losing wickets as the run rate edged higher. Skipper chased a slow turner which brushed a glove, and he was well taken behind for 74. Manav and Joe put on 20 with some at times good and at other times comedic running between the wickets. Joe was LBW for 12, Kiran played a couple of good shots but was stumped, as was Serj, swinging for glory. AJ was bowled, and Chris Berkett faced 2 balls, making 5, but then had to watch from the other end as we slipped towards a shock defeat. Debutant James Goodfellow ensured that didn’t happen by seeing off the final 4 deliveries.
 
A typical OP chase, in a way, as a good position went begging for want of one decent partnership. In fairness, it was a difficult pitch, and we comfortably beat the winning draw total. We finish the league campaign next week away to Ripley.

03/09/2011 - Ripley CC 1st XI vs OPCC 1st XI  - Lost

A bit of a damp squib before the big day. With nothing riding on the game, Ripley chose to bat on a beautiful day. The first over from Henry Dodd was a bit loose and got the treatment - bad omen. However, from there Tim Quayle and Henry bowled much better and got control back. Henry removed both openers clean bowled - the second was a superb slower ball which completely deceived the batsman and flicked off the off bail. He trapped number 3 in front, and Tim nipped one back to claim his first victim. All of a sudden a rapid start had been hauled right back in and we had them 43-4. From there, though, Ripley batted well; sensibly but aggressively where possible. Number 5 made 49 before Dave tempted him down and Joe Harris gleefully whipped off the bails. Number 6 did make his 50, before chipping a full toss to skipper at mid off fromthe bowling of Mike O'Reilly. He didn't like the adjudication that the ball was not over waist height, but he had to go. Henry returned, cleaned up another, and set about his five-fer. He got it, finally finding the full and straight one to castle number 11, ending the innings on 172. 5-38 was an excellent return on a good deck against a decnt batting line up - and all of them bowled or LBW.

We started badly, skipper LBW to an Aussie chinaman. Dave and Podge put together a little partnership, but Dave went for 24. It was becoming clear that the chinamen were more than useful. Podge played some absolute purlers very watchfully, but the spinner accounted for Joe, and then Kieran - not bowling this time but with a stunning one handed catch in the gully. Podge desperately needed support, but it didn't come. He was 9th out for 52. We just made it to 100.

We finished 10th in the League, which considering our appaling start wasn't bad. Our points total was higher than last year, but not by much. We proved that when we have our best team out consistently, we can go on championship winning runs - 6 wins out of 6 in mid season - but it didn't happen often enough (in the League anyway).

04/09/2011 - OPCC 1st XI vs Putney CC 1st XI  - Won

CUP FINAL

The day dawned expectant and stormy. Twitter feeds kept OPs as far away as Jordan and Brisbane apprised of events. The wires were as abuzz as some nerves amongst the 11 selected for duty. So it was somewhat of a disappointment that as we eventually crossed the white line, we turned round and came back again. The rain fell persistently, eventually reducing the game to 25 overs per side. The shorter match perhaps gave Division 2 underdogs Putney an advantage, but we were determined, league form having improved such that we weren't doing a Birmingham City, not to do an Arsenal either. Skipper and Dave Newsome put on 102 for the first wicket, Dave unluckily falling for 49. Tom Peters kept the momentum going but was stumped. We had a good platform, and just needed an injection of impetus to finish strongly. Sam Cato provided it – having faced just 3 deliveries, he took 22 off a single over, including 2 mighty sixes over the helpless bowler’s head. Skipper heard him in deperation seek the wisdom of his captain; "What do you want me to do now?" Whatever the hastily agreed plan was, it didn't work. Sam’s 40 off only 18 balls was just what we needed – Alex was out to the penultimate ball for 76, and Tom Rigby hit the final ball for 4 to give us a boost going into the break. We made 189 from our 25 overs - an imposing score.

Putney obviously decided they weren’t going to die wondering. They came out all guns blazing and were well ahead of the rate for the first few overs. A couple of tough catches went down, a couple of players went down to injuries, and all of a sudden we were sweating and a little ragged. Jehan bowled a very controlled spell and took a vital wicket, caught by Sam Cato, to drag us back into it, but spin changed the game completely. Dave Newsome took a wicket, again caught by the unflappable Sam, and then David Methuen took 4 for only 9 runs, ruthlessly targeting the stumps with his slider. Adrian wrapped up Putney’s innings for only 90, and we celebrated in some style.

In addition to the Cup itself, the Club wins £500 to put towards equipment, so we will be able to further improve the excellent facilities at TD.
Let’s hope that the win will be a spur to bigger and better things next year. It was certainly an extremely enjoyable campaign to be involved in. Here’s to a successful defence of the title…