Club News:
End of Season Social - Stars in their Eyes - 8pm Saturday 2nd September
Following the conclusion of our final set of League games for the season, ODs will be hosting a "Stars in their Eyes" night.
This will consist of 8-10 solo or group acts on stage in front of our select panel of judges, singing their hearts out in order to win the big prize on the night. Following this, it will then be an open mic for other, non-scored Karaoke requests.
Performers (and all attendees!) are strongly encouraged to turn up in fancy dress as a famous music artist (and hopefully they sing as them!)
Pizzas will be available on the night. Use the form below to indicate any dietary requirements.
If you are interested in A) performing in the main show, or B) helping out on the evening, please get in contact through the form below:
200 Club Results:
The 2nd draw for the 200 club took place at the clubhouse at the weekend and was drawn by Baxter Brook
The winners are:
£200 Jamie Batten
£100 Julie Davison
£40 Gordon Coles
£40 Will Berry
Congratulations to the winners - Please contact, andyrouse3333@gmail.com or Pete White, petermwhite@hotmail.com to organize payment of winnings.
Representative Selection!
Congratulations to Jayveer Mehan on being selected for Kent U11's.
Match Reports:
1st XI v The Mote
Finally, the rain had let off. But there were still things falling. Players. After a couple late dropouts brought in the temerous Will East and the Bath cultural icon, Isaac Loader. Eager to help in the relegation dog fight.
However, the innings couldn’t have started in a worse fashion. Nick Worsley edged short of slip and just walked off. A rather invidious dismissal. With Pip France and Koot Pienaar at the crease, a counterattack was brewing. A concatenation of power and finesse saw a sharp increase in the scoring rate. Chris Webster carried on the assault with a classy 50 helping us past the hundred mark. The middle order struggled to differentiate whether there were boundary riders or not. Four of the top seven were dismissed caught on the leg side boundary. The lower order was tasked with finishing the innings well. Cameron Sanders paired some pristine cover drivers with his oxymoronic reverse sweeps. The candle on the cake was the array of shots from Andy Ainger and Will East that pushed us past the 200 mark.
Dan Webster got stuck in early. His opening partner bounding round at third man to take a fine diving effort. The big man then himself got into the action, cleaning up the number 3 with a ball that was “better than the ball of the century”. It was a good nut in fairness. From there the game ebbed and flowed. As soon as one team seemed to be on top, there was a shift of momentum. Chris picked up regular wickets, Pip and “the best mid-off in the country” combined and our offies, Will and Andy, continued their fine partnership with some tight middle overs. It all came down to the last ball. Five to win. A meticulously set field and Webster haring in. The batsman swings it towards deep square. The ball clattered into the boundary. A tie! This left no one happy but a day that showed we can compete at this level.
OD CUACO 235-8 of 50 overs - C.Webster 57, W.East 32*
The Mote 235-8 of 50 overs - N.Worsley 3-37, C.Webster 3-43
MoM: Chris Webster for this 50 and 3 wickets
VPCOM: Nick Worsley for a regulation catch he made look really hard by not moving for the first 5 seconds the ball was in the air (#Justice4Cam)
DoD: Joe East for unknowingly wearing his playing shirt inside out for the whole game
Match report by Joe East
2nd XI v Bickley Park
At last! A game of cricket that wasn’t going to be interrupted by this terrible English summer we’ve been enduring. In the absence of an umpire, Bickley had to concede the toss and ODs were batting.
We started slowly but sensibly, until the opening partnership was broken in the sixth over by an excellent reaction catch at slip to remove Bunners, the chance initially coming off the keeper’s gloves. In came Laurence at first drop, reuniting Richard with his usual opening partner. The score ticked over nicely to 89 until Loader snr. was bowled for a very solid 37. Next in was Gary who added 10 before being caught in front of the middle of middle. Boundaries were proving hard to come by on a lush outfield and a field with the rope set back so Kieran tried to accelerate the run rate. He was bowled by the oppo’s tyro fast bowler for 17 after a few lusty blows. Enter the bludgeoner Pete White who smashed 54 (30) and brilliantly assisted the anchor Laurence at the other end. Suddenly the rope was being found with regularity, Pete clearing it on one occasion for a memorable maximum, wielding his willow like Excalibur. However, both departed in the same over with Gaz being well caught at cow corner on 95 eyeing up his first ever six – what a way that would have been to go to three figures - and Pete was run out a couple of balls later after a mix up with OJ. Oscar and Phil Parke’s son finished off the innings with some superb running between the wickets, Juice almost lapping Sam going for a third. The key partnership of 95 quick runs between Laurence and Pete helped ODs reach 264/6 off their allotted 45 overs. Could we defend what looked like a very handy total?
Revitalised and refreshed following the splendid tea provided by our hosts, for which many thanks, out we came for our bowling effort, with me sharing the new ball with the ever-reliable, metronomic Beast. We made a breakthrough in the first over with their opener chipping up to Laurence, who, for once, wasn’t wearing the gloves. The Beast bowled a fantastic line and length and was rewarded with two wickets in his spell (2/31), all nine of his overs being bowled on the bounce, a truly impressive effort. On came Kieran who was bowling some decent wheels for a bloke with two knackered knees, the ball consistently thudding into Phil Parke’s son’s gloves until one was edged to gully and gobbled up by Richard. He was unfortunate not to be able to repeat the trick in my next over, but I’m not bitter! The mercurial Manc magician that is Steve Sawko was bowling up the hill and took a wicket with a rank long hop that was hit straight to Bunners in the covers, who jumped on it like a seagull on a chip having earlier been fuelled by my Mum’s pretzels (NOT a euphemism!) Steve, whose bowling action is an idiosyncratic mix of the balletic and the egg-bound exertions of a chicken, missed his length marginally with one delivery and was dispatched for a huge six by the opposition captain that landed on top of the pavilion.
The length of the hit was discussed for some time by the team after the game – the consensus being 120 metres plus! Part-time offy Oscar, who had earlier theatrically leapt out on the boundary to prevent what he thought was a definite six but was more accurately described by Kieran as a ‘dropped catch’, bowled some tight lines, building pressure and causing the required run rate to rise steadily. He finished with a commendable 2/33. Kieran (2/36) returned at the other end and got the dangerous Bickley Park captain with a toe-crushing yorker. With one over to go Laurence (bloody goal hanger!) decided to take the ball and his day got even better, taking the ninth wicket, a tidy catch for a caught and bowled which he later insisted no one else had fancied camping under. This was predicted by my Dad on the sideline and delighted Nikki Loader even more as Gaz is her fantasy captain. Pay the woman now and get this torment over, she’s obviously in league with Satan!
A great all-round team effort with everybody contributing and a comfortable win by 76 runs. Special thanks to Bobby for umpiring for us, to Robin for scoring our effort and to our travelling hooligan element who outnumbered the home supporters by a factor of five. Keep the pretzels coming.
Well played skip,
Match report by Alex Davison
3rd XI v Old Roan
The 3s set off in good spirits to play bottom of the league Old Roan 2s, keen to get back to winning ways after a narrow defeat to Petts Wood in the previous fixture.
The opposition hadn’t won all season, but those with longer memories remembered losing there on a cabbage patch of a wicket that had the kind of exaggerated movement that would tempt Broad out of retirement.
However, with a near endless batting line-up full of specialists and batting all-rounders, the skipper wasn’t disappointed to be asked to bat having lost the toss with the opportunity there to put pressure on the opposition.
The plan quickly swung into action with Sherry Gul going at more than 10 an over and the field spreading to all corners of the ground with barely an over gone, leaving the long line of batsmen wondering if they would get a bat at all.
They needn’t have worried.
Indeed there was such a rush to get on strike that both batsmen decided to run to the same end bringing to an end a swashbuckling cameo from Sherry for 37.
With Sherry gone, the true nature of the pitch became evident - slow and low and hard to score.
Despite the wealth of batting available the wickets tumbled regularly with Abhishek Patel battling his way to 25, C Colby going for 3, Rohan Patel chipping back to the bowler for 6 and Dan Brown going for a duck given caught behind by umpire Laycock when it seemed to only brush his leg with the bat raised well away from the ball.
In came Rakesh Posam who struck a powerful four and looked confident until mistiming one to mid-off for 5. Louis Boydon then strode to the crease after a ton in his last innings and picked out the same fielder with the same shot to depart for 7. Oh dear.
ODs were looking down at the barrel at 80-7 and Old Roan sensed their first win of the season.
Keen to avoid Dan Brown’s evil stares, Ewan Laycock (19) decided it was safer to stay in the middle and put together a superb partnership with Olly Colby (59*) who had watched the carnage unfold from the other end.
Not for the first time this season, the two Langley Boys calmed things down with sensible stroke play and positive running and ground their way back into the game with a big partnership as first 100 was safely passed, then 150 came and went until Ewan played around a straight one.
Olly then decided he’d had enough of batting sensibly and proceeded to smash the Old Roan attack to all parts of the boundary as 200 loomed into view.
With Billy Ansar (5*) joining in the fun with a classy straight drive for 4, ODs had somehow got themselves to an imposing 194-8 leaving Old Roan with it all to do.
Having seen the benefit of bowling straight on a wicket where it was hard to time the ball, the combination of Billy Ansar’s (9-0-14-1) miserly inswingers and Howard Thomas’ (7-0-31-1) outswingers proved too much for the Old Roan openers who crawled along at barely 2 an over.
The scoreboard pressure soon began to tell as Old Roan regularly lost wickets through a combination of accurate bowling, poor running with two Dan Brown run outs and superb keeping from Louis Boydon channelling Jack Russell by standing up to the seamers and attempting leg-side stumpings - a tactic aided by some rusty overs from Ewan (5-0-30-1) back from holiday but surprising their key bat with a straight one.
We were even treated to a bizarre moment of village cricket as the batsmen turned down a run and the non-striker strolled back towards his crease unaware that an arrow-like throw from Olly Colby was heading straight for the stumps. He calmly stood just outside his crease as the ball crashed into his stumps. Gone! Only he would have been if the umpire wasn’t daydreaming and looking the other way.
The spin twins of Rakesh Posam (9-0-27-2) and Chris Colby (2.1-0-3-3) then ripped through the tail with the highlight being the number 11 not walking after being clean bowled by the skipper’s flipper.
All done and dusted for 109 all out to give ODs a win by 85 runs.
Match report by Chris Colby
4th XI v Wickham Park
A home game at Hartley against Wickham Park was a must win game for ODs but we came up well short against our mid table local neighbours. Some late drop out from higher teams meant skipper Coles has to bring in some late replacements, but the XI looked as if it had enough in it in terms of bowling and batting to get something out of the game. The meeting earlier in the season had produced a cracking game that saw over 500 runs scored and at first glance the pitch this time around looked a decent batting wicket.
Despite this, the opposition skipper won the toss and put ODs into bat hinting that he felt his side didn’t have much batting in it. A bluff? ODs opening pair of D Fox and O. Bennett began well until Fox had to retire feeling unwell. McCarthy and Boyden came and went without adding much to the total and some tight bowling had slowed the scoring rate down to a concerning rate by the time Rouse came to the crease. Recognising the score needed to be pushed on Rouse played positively ( even with a dodgy hamstring) before being caught at slip. At the other end Bennett continued to play sensibly but was also looking to score more quickly and was eventually out for 30. Luke Colby played some strong shots before being caught at slip having survived a big appeal from the wicket keeper the ball before. Debutant Charlie Barton added an important 25 lower down the order and a few from the skipper and Rahul Mehan got the total to 138.
Tea was a time for all to agree that ODs were probably 40 or so runs shy of where we needed to be but with a good bowling line up available there was room for some optimism. So, with the plan of tight bowling backed up by top notch fielding the feeling was we were still in the game. However, to paraphrase the over used Mike Tyson quote, everyone has a plan until someone hits you all over the park. The No 3 for Wickham Park took the game away from ODs with a mixture of very good drives, brave over the top shots, slices of luck and missed catches. Along with the No 1 bat who also scored a more patient 50 the oppo chased down the 138 with 7 wickets to spare. All the bowlers stuck to their task with wickets for Barton and Bennett but with too small a total to defend and perhaps fielding that needed to be a little sharper to back them up, it was not their day.
A gloomy day in all, but at least Cosley remembered to press the hot water switch for the showers. Small mercies.
Match report by Mick Boyden
Sunday Development XI v Bromley Common
As the boys rocked up to the pitch for a 12:30 meet it was clear to see Will East had one too many the night before as he turned up late in the 25°C heat and lost toss so we were in to bowl. About as popular of an outcome as could be expected. A heartfelt rendition of high school musical 2 in the changing room lifted the mood and we were out to field.
On a deck as flat as the M1 it was going to be a tough day for the bowlers. Oli Bennet started up the hill and bowled a quality spell but sadly wasn’t rewarded with a wicket. Billy created a chance for a regulation catch in the slips but Chris Webster did his best impression of of a block of Swiss cheese and let the opener, who went on to score 88, off for free. Lucas was brought on from the bottom end for a largely unspectacular trundle bar hitting Harry Roberts in the box much to the enjoyment of the ex-Langley cohort filling the team. Then Oscar Jasper, the part-time spinner, came on to get the breakthrough with a Will East catch at long on taking the oppo to 158-1. Isaac Loader was brought on and was turning it round corners from the off, eventually getting his reward as Louis Boyden held on to a light edge from the batsman. The new batsman on 2* at the time then bbq’d the opener Billy Wisbey who left with 54 on the day. A few more runs trickled on and they ended 235 from their 40 overs, a great fight back from the boys.
The benefit of bowling first is the freedom at the teas. A great spread of sandwiches, chicken wings and cakes was enjoyed but the clear MVP of the spread was the watermelon slices.
With full belly’s and full belief, Bunners and Boyden headed out to the square. No hanging about had both of the boys churning runs. After a flurry of boundaries in the over, a swing too many saw Louis Boyden caught out on 29. In came Rohan and starting off his innings in fine form clapped the bowler through the offside on his first ball for a 4. Bunners hit his 50 and even with the dodgy scorebox antics throughout the game Jane East confirmed the feat and the bat was raised to rapturous applause. Rohan was bowled by a lovely ball from their opener and Colbatron walked in. After checking his bank account at drinks Bunners got caught out on 93 for some jug avoidance. In came Chris and after Colby swiftly reached his 50 at a rate much faster than usual owing to the fact “I only thought we were playing 30 overs” - Colby, we were within touching distance. Chris hit a nice boundary back over the bowlers head and after an Alan Shearer impression from the fielder we had won the game.
After a lovely victory we headed back to the club just in time to see the Sunday Friendly team secure a win. A rogue suggestion of a curry had the team and co heading to Diwana for a celebratory curry. And from a cobra deep we started with a highlight of the night I’ve dubbed Kai’s Claims which included but is not limited to:
Run a 1km faster than eat a naan bread - when tested on the theory he did a naan bread in 2:50 and still believed he was correct.
Run a marathon in 4h30 with no training - for reference Dan Webster did it in about 3h30 with copious training. Clearly beating Laurence in a 30m race has gone to Kai’s head.
Match report by Lucas MacKenzie
Sunday Friendly XI v Catford and Cyphers
ODCC Sunday XI entertained Catford Cyphers at the home of cricket.
Batting first first on a fine day at St Dunston’s the OD’s found the wicket and Catford bowling to their liking rattling up 252 in their 35 overs with 50’s from Ben Webster, Koot Pienaar and Chris Colby. Supported by 38 from Craig Westmacott, 25 from Anmol Pasamolla and 16 from Mick Boyden. With not outs from Tom Fox and Rahul Mehan completing the set.
The interval was enjoyed with an excellent Jo Colby tea. The high quality tea may have affected the bowling thereafter! However Oli Arratoon stood out bowling an excellent line and length and was well deserving of figures of 7-2-13-2. Supported by Tom Dyer, Tom Fox, Rahul Mehan and Calum Hider. The later finally got his wicket after a rock paper scissors competition for the last over!
Catford struck a few lusty blows in the last 5 overs but finished well short on 192.
A good days entertainment for all!
Match report by Craig Westmacott
Fantasy Cricket Standings
The top 10 is very close! See the full breakdown of teams and player performance here:
Training times
The following times are designated for club training sessions. Nets will be available to use for club members outside of these times, and if there is no game on the main square.
Group | Day | Time |
Senior Nets | Wednesday | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
Additional 1st XI squad nets | Tuesday | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
U15-U17 | Tuesday | 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm |
Under 11 and below | Sunday | 10:00 am - 11:15 am |
Under U11s to Under 13s | Sunday | 11:15 am - 12:30 pm |
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