Concorde v 54th OCA

Match Report

After various misunderstandings in team selection during the week combined with a lack of availability, we took the field on Sunday with 10 men but with a strong team nevertheless. After harsh words by the writer last week regarding the poor standard of fielding and catching, a criticism from which the writer himself was not exempt, the standard this week was of the highest order with only one blemish, of which more later!

Captain Ash won the toss and as is his preference, elected to bat. A superb opening partnership between Nick Freeman and John Wilson set us on the way in the best possible style almost bringing up a century opening stand before being parted with the score on 98.

Nick was as pugnacious as ever, though respecting the good ball, and John played some lovely drives through the covers and mid off though some excellent fielding robbed him of many runs. Nick fell for 54 and was followed soon after by John for 41, both to very good catches that, on another day, could easily have been missed.

Ish kept the momentum going with 22 and debutant Ross Ferguson looked a good bat whilst making 19. It is probably fair to say, however, that a bit of momentum had gone out of the innings, albeit on a tricky wicket, and in spite of useful contributions from Rob Symondson (15) Ash (9) and Jerry Wright (12no) our final total of 202 looked a little light.

It is a shame to report that during the final over of the innings, there was some controversy and some harsh words exchanged and a rather unpleasant atmosphere pervaded the rest of the match.

Ross and Ashley opened the bowling and whilst both bowled well, Ross looked a real handful once he had sorted out his line. bowling with pace and bounce from a very high arm and with 4-38 from 7 overs he ripped the heart out of the OCA batting and with Ash picking up 2-38 from his 5 overs, OCA were 59 for 6 and looking down and out. However, some determined batting in the middle order brought some respectability to the score and with Gary Cunningham at the wicket, anything was possible.

However, the introduction of Jerry Wright brought 2 wickets including the prized one of Gary Cunningham for 28 and with John Wilson nipping in with a caught and bowled to finish the innings, OCA were all out for 149.

The Concorde catching was almost perfect throughout with a some sharp chance being taken, notably by Justin behind the wicket and by Ish, John Wilson and Captain Ash in the field. Justin also achieved a stumping although in slightly comic circumstances! Indeed, the only chance that was missed was a fairly straightforward caught and bowled by Jerry Wright, for the second week in a row, and who suffered some well deserved derision from his team mates following last weeks match report!