B.O.C.C.

Score Card    Match Report

Score card:

Match Report:

Editor's Disclaimer:  These are Ollie's personal recollections and views, not those of the Club - any complaints, corrections, or abuse should be addressed to him !!

 On an overcast day, Barnes collapsed Australia-like in a chase for a small total.

But thanks to intelligent batting from emergency opener Martin Lawrence (29) and a stoic near strokeless partnership from the last pair of Ollie Hogg (1 not out) and Ian Haddow (0 not out) Barnes made it home by one wicket with just nineteen overs and four balls to spare.

It all started so promisingly with Open University's openers struggling a bit for a footing against the swing of Hogg down the hill and against the breeze, and the wile of Seed. Three unsightly heaves over straightish cover saw Open off the mark as Collins moved inexorably to six not out. Following two maidens from Hogg, Tom Hunter made his intentions plain, slashing a goodish ball over straightish mid-wicket for six. The innings was underway and Open moved easily to 22 with little sign of the alarms that were to follow.

Suddenly Open were 29 – 4, with two wickets each for Hogg and Seed. Tom Hunter bowled playing across the line (a slash over straightish mid-wicket) Collins bowled by a straight one which might've wibbled. A back foot "lbw" which kept low and David Hunter perishing to a faint edge caught behind. He'd already had a life when Lichfield put down an easy chance at mid on off the bowling of Hogg. But Seed got him flashing outside off stump.

Mick Hunter at number six had joined Frail in the middle and from here a little re-establishing took place. Frail scratched around unable to get the ball away, but Hunter struck the ball agriculturally for four here and there. Frail was first to go pushing outside off from Hogg and a feather edge to Price behind the sticks.

Tagg replaced Seed up the hill and bowled an over of dross, which Hunter plundered for 12. But in his next over a very strange thing happened indeed. Tagg cramped Hunter for room, he popped one up and the fleet footed Haddow plucked the ball out of the air. For Marsh and Lillee read Haddow and Tagg (truly a deadly combination.)

A couple of bowling changes later, a few lusty hits from a guest New Zealander - who seemed fairly intent on running to first base every time he connected - and it was all over. Mundy bought himself on for the final rites and then applied them with his fourth and fifth balls. Suffice to say the next ball he bowls will be a "hat-trick" ball.

Open all out for 72 forty minutes before tea, surely nothing can go wrong.

For a few overs nothing went wrong, then the flying fickle finger of fate from umpire (Matt Krevs - he of the fourth place in the batting order) rose to dismiss Price, well forward and "lbw" apparently to the bowling of David Hunter.

Barnes were nineteen for one. In came Mark Lichfield to make his highest score of the season (4) and at 27 for two Barnes took tea. Lawrence and Krevs at the crease, surely nothing can go wrong.

Krevs played the first ball after tea into the recesses of David Hunters' stomach at gully and the alarm bells prepared to chime. Richard Bell in his first game for Barnes came and went for 0. Out went Keith Seed with license to bore.

Flash flash bowled. Seed back in the hutch for one. Pettitt flash, thunk, squirt, flash, bowled for five.

Skipper Mundy came out to right the ship and in a magnificent partnership of 17, of which he made two, Barnes came to 20 short of victory. At 53, Mundy left the scene, to be replaced by Tagg. Lawrence began to hit out but at 63 he was caught off a leading edge at mid-on.

Oliver Hogg averaging 2 came to the crease, Tagg smote a four and a two off the fast bowler, and Barnes needed four to win.

Then Tagg was out bowled and one ball was left in the over. Haddow took his vorpal blade in hand and galumphed into the middle. Mick Hunter bowled outside off stump. Barnes were in tact.

Tom Hunter, from the road end, bowled a wayward over at Hogg.   The only straight ball kept a bit low, but Hogg got the full face of the bat on that one.   Then crucially on the sixth ball a slash into the covers for a single pinched him the strike for an over of fast stuff from the Mick at the top end.

Two reasonably straight ones kept out, then a wide outside off (not given) and a leg side wide (not given) then two more whistling just outside off, both of which Hogg played at, but failed to get an edge.

Still three runs were needed and Haddow on strike.   The first ball from Tom Hunter was outside off, the second ball hit Haddow on the upper thigh and evaded the ‘keeper, and Lawrence and Hogg ran a bye (briefly thought about the threat to Barnes victory hopes, leaving Haddow on strike) and then ran a second.

Can't lose now, can tie, but can’t lose. Hunter ran in and bowled a wide. Umpire Price signalled the winning run.

And everyone trooped off the pitch. Barnes had a hat trick of victories and Mundy an impressive record of skippered two, won two.

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