Survival? Possibly

OSCC 141 (Goord 31) beat Northampton Exiles 88 (Wiles 5-11) by 53 runs

Captain Dan's Crew enjoyed something of a novel experience as they won for the first time since May to move off the bottom of the table and offer hope of a great escape.

Ben Wiles led the way with a lethal burst of 5 for 11 as Offley stormed home by 53 runs.

For reasons known only to themselves Northampton won the toss and elected to bowl on a scorching hot day.

Perhaps the Northampton skipper had been reading Captain Dan's Captaincy Pamphlet.

Despite prolonging Darren Lunney's miserable run (2), the bowlers were thwarted by a succession of solid contributions from the Offley batters.

Captain Dan led the way with 31, Wiles made 24 and there were runs from Scott Boatwright, Josh Scott and Hassan as Offley mustered 141.

At one stage Offley looked destined for a more substantial score but a late flurry of wickets saw them slump from 140-7 to 141 all out.

Boatwright and Scott formed the bread in an Ali sandwich as he was run out without scoring in the middle of them both departing for 19.

If imitation is the greatest form of flattery, Northampton Exiles paid Offley a huge compliment by constructing a scorecard which featured just two scores in double figures.

Wiles cut through the top order to leave the visitors reeling on 11-3 before a double strike from Jamie Cummins reduced them to 26-5.

There was no way back and despite recovering to 88, the game ended with Wiles claiming his fifth wicket, his maiden Michelle (Pheiffer) for Offley.

The result leaves Captain Dan's Crew five points clear of cellar dwellars Kings Langley and a trifling 41 points behind Hatch End who travel to Offley on the last day of July.

Depending on how the trip to Bovingdon goes on Saturday, Offley's fate could yet be sealed before August comes around.

Or Captain Dan could yet engineer one of the all-time great escapes.

Comments

R Don Stiffs Offley

OSCC, 133-4, lost to Flamstead, 136-5, by five wickets Less than twenty-four hours after Scott Boatwright came within a single blow of a maiden century and Offley's fielders dissolved in the rain by dropping eight catches out of ten, the sun set on another season in the semi-finals of the Hertfordshire Village Trophy. A team bearing little resemblance to the one that had qualified for the last four, one that had been ripped apart by anniversaries, weddings and holidays, produced a spirited performance with a lineup held together by children's prayers and angels' kisses, relying on the presence of the Great Samdani to add a little stardust to proceedings. Following a delayed start due to heavy overnight rain, Ben Wiles inevitably lost the toss and Offley were asked to bat first on a green pitch tinged with green. Richie Barker and Dan Goord opened the batting, reprising the 2024 final where they shared an epic stand of 1 and were both back in the hutch within two overs. Aft...

Taylor Swift To The Rescue As Offley Edge Home

OSCC, 128-9, beat Kempston Hammers, 127 all out, by one wicket 24 hours after Syed Shah ran through London Colney like a dodgy kebab (kudos to the Kempston keeper for providing that one), Offley made it two from two in the Beds League as they staggered over the line at Kempston like Josh Scott finishing the London Marathon - coughing and spluttering but triumphant. Ben Wiles starred with bat and ball, Peter Gilkes carved the bowling to all parts with a match-turning innings, Matty Taylor dazzled in the field and Offley took the pitch with ten men before anyone realised they didn't have a wicketkeeper because Dan Goord hadn't arrived. The day began with Taylor answering a last-minute S.O.S. call. Matty would be one of the first names on the sheet if he wanted to be but he prefers to play hard to get, a bit like a fat girl coquettishly pretending to turn down a third cheeseburger, sheltering behind the facade that he doesn't like cricket. Like 10CC said, Matty doesn't...

Gubbed

OSCC, 117-9, lost to Sandridge, 121-2, by eight wickets 'Twas on the 21st of June To Lilley we did roam Some cunts had hired our ground out So we could not play at home Two of our players dropped out We prayed it wasn't so But one of them was Roger So 'twas not a mighty blow Bex and Gary saved us They answered the late call Though Gary looked uneasy Far from the bathroom stall The pessimists said, "Call it off!" They said we had no chance They said our odds were feeble Just like Johnny's batting stance It was the summer solstice The day that never ends Just like one of Jamie's overs Due to all the wides he sends The mercury hit thirty It was really fucking hot Just like dear old Bradders When he threw a punch at Scott Wardy was our captain He'd never won a game And when you're talking leadership That's not a claim to fame It goes without saying That Wardy lost the toss And soon we were out batting On a wicket full of moss The ball leapt round...

Search This Blog