Champions!
Congratulations to our Sunday Development team who secured the league title and promotion at home to Dartford on Sunday! #GoWildcats
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:
Match Reports:
1st XI v Folkestone
Chances of survival was low, morale was low, but the team still believed we could survive. It didn’t happen. With a trip to the coast always meaning chance of someone being late, the normal candidate Mike Parr arrived for toss time even when he was coming from just down the road. Skipper decided to win the toss and we were having a bat.
Andy relayed the new plan to go hard in powerplay and consolidate in the middle to be able to finish well without too much damage. It worked like a charm. Mike decided to run past a wide one leaving him stranded and out stumped without facing a ball and without a strike rate. Great Start. What followed was a quick flurry of wickets as newly promoted Cam Sanders was caught in front (4 off 15) and Koot got caught trying to go over mid off (9 off 16) leaving ODs 22-3. Joe East and Ben Webster arrived at the crease looking to steady the ship as per the plan. Joe had different ideas and decided to hit us out of trouble with some entertaining strokes while Ben battled to stay at the crease. Joe (43 off 36) and Ben (18 off 51) fell in quick succession leaving us in further trouble at 90-5. Ollie Jasper (13 off 33) and Andy Ainger (23 off 45) continued the consolidation before losing their wickets. Pip and Chris came in with plenty of overs and a chance to counterattack at 129-7. A good partnership begun with both players scoring freely. However, situation worsened when Chris (27 off 27) attempted a switch hit and was caught. Will East (0 off 7) thought that he would try the same shot to show he could do it better but just managed to hit onto his own stumps leaving just Pip and Nick left. Some powerful striking from Pip (44 off 35) allowed the innings to finish on 214 with others still left. Nick stranded on 7 not out. A total that can easily be defended.
Second innings started with Chris and Nick opening up praying for early wickets. The prayers were answered as Chris dismissed one of the openers cheaply as he sliced a catch to Ben at point who caught with ease. ODs on the charge meant the cordon was packed with 3 and a gully. Nick (10-1-38-0) bowled a tight line and length but without reward. Then the new batsmen decided to hit anything in his half and ruined the fun. Folkstone cruised along scoring runs at a quick pace before spin was brought on. The Folkstone batsmen forgot that there were other shots other than a slap down the ground and decided to hit to long on off Andy (10-2-55-1) where 1 of 2 boundary fielders were placed. The potential for a fight back was on with the score 64-2. However, the batsmen realised they had plenty of time and managed to get themselves in playing the spinners well without damage, Pip (7-0-37-0), Will (5-0-37-0) and Koot (2-0-9-0). A few chances went begging but the other opener took his chances and reached 3 figures with a pretty handy innings. The winning runs were struck off Chris (7.4-3-38-1) and the game was lost by 8 wickets. Unfortunately it meant relegation but we will just be back in a year.
DOD: Andy for medical reasons I refuse to say.
MOM: Pip handy runs and bowled well.
VPCOM: Chris because both nominations were pathetic.
Match report by Will East
2nd XI v Old Colfeians
Following an imperious recent run (8 wins from 9), the 2s retained a slim chance of promotion and needed to overcome winless Colfeians to maintain the pressure on Gravesend.
With intemperate weather around, ODs put Colfes into bat to try and control the pace of the game, which was reduced to 40 overs at the outset. Their Caribbean overseas initially got off to a flyer, but once we realised he had a mind only for boundaries and singles from the 6th ball, some tactical tweaks soon suppressed the rate, frustration grew and Kieran broke through with the score at 42-1 (11). At the other end, the oppo skipper was carrying on from where he’d left off earlier in the season, where he’d batted 45 overs for 45*. Finally, Andy Hall broke through, much to the delight of Bunners who had seen enough. Hally finished with two wickets and when Kieran snared another, Colfeians were 47-4 and in danger of a double-digit score.
Alas, some very rogue batting was bizarrely effective, and Colfes managed to establish some irritating partnerships, despite a good fielding performance and tidy bowling from Robin East (1-30), Alex Davison (0-29) and Liam Pooley (8-3-15-2). With the pitch playing tricks with uneven bounce, a score of 140 represented an awkward target.
In bright sunshine, Sanders and Loader began the chase, looking to establish a platform in case rain-beating fireworks would be required later on. Richard was caught behind for 14 with ODs 30-1 (10) before the first downpour. This took nearly 90 minutes out the game, meaning that on resumption, ODs only had 20 overs to chase the remaining 111 (no DLS here). After a pre-game net of hitting sumptuous on drives, Gary was distraught to play round a straight ball, but Kieran joined the skipper and after a tight run out shout, soon settled into his work. Lusty blows were struck towards the cottage and golf course, with Colfeians fielders soon scattering far and wide. Combined with some impetuous scampering between the wickets, ODs soon had the required rate under control, with only 40 more runs required from 9 overs and two set batsmen going well (Kieran 42* from 42 balls well ahead of Sanders on 36*). Alas, another heavy shower arrived and this wiped out any hopes of completing the game.
Promotion dreams finally snuffed out, ODs could console themselves with the knowledge that they had yet again put in a dominant performance, now unbeaten since the defeat to Chislehurst & West Kent 9 weeks ago. It is there we return on Saturday, with a free shot to try and spoil their unbeaten season and end the campaign on a high note.
Many thanks to H for umpiring (at both ends) and taking no nonsense from the (short-sleeve wearing) Colfes keeper who would be advised to read up on the lbw law and get himself onto the serious cricket website over the winter.
Match report by Laurence Sanders
3rd XI v Orpington Ocelots
Orpington 175 - 7 (40 overs) ODCC 143 - 7 (32 overs) Match abandoned. Despite two lengthy rain interruptions, a soaked pitch and a no result abandonment at 7.30 pm in approaching darkness this was a competitive and interesting game of cricket played in an excellent spirit by both teams. The Orpington captain commenting that it was the best game they had had all year! The game ended with OD’s chasing the 33 runs still required for victory, with 8 overs remaining and the Ocelots (why are they called that?) pursuing the last 3 wickets to give them victory. Craig Westmacott and Rakesh Posum were the 2 well set batsman on 22 and 15 not out respectively. But the 7.30 cut off is there for a reason and by this point it was getting dark and half the OD’s team needed to get off to work in vital places like hospitals or pubs! One or two even had a social life to attend to! Earlier in the OD’s innings Jack McCarthy hit an excellent 61 with 8 fours and one 6. Jack rescued the OD’s from a perilous 34-5. Hitting the bowling to all parts with fours through the covers and (in particular) the leg side sending the ball rapidly towards the South Circular. Not easy on a rain sodden outfield. Jack dominated the bowling and two partnerships with Ewan Laycock and Craig Westmacott. Earlier OD’s had lost Sherry, Abhishek, Rohan Bridges, Eashan and the pinch hitting (“I need to get to a BBQ”) Billy Ansar to some good Orpington seam bowling. With only Eashan Patel offering some nice shots and fluency. Earlier in the Orpington batting innings Howard Thomas, Billy Ansar, Rakesh Posum and Dan Hunter had all bowled excellently to contain Orpington to 117- 5 with about 6 overs to go. Then one or 2 bowling figures were rebalanced as the Orpington number 7 had other ideas - smashing 46 off 19 balls (at an IPL busting strike rate of 242) and sending Orpington to a very competitive 175-7 off their 40 overs. Much to the bowlers frustrations OD’s had dropped a few catches in the first half of the Orpington innings. But the umpire helped the bowlers out by not calling any wides unless the delivery was outside the white crease markings. Mind you he was on a break from the officiating team in the IPL (so I am told) and was entirely consistent with his wide calls for both teams all day. In the second half of the innings the OD’s recovered their catching form and special mention goes to Billy Ansar for two excellent catches in the deep - one whilst watching the boundary line and to Howard for juggling his 3 catches! Also Rakesh Posum for 3 good wickets - maintaining his flight against the late Orpington onslaught. All three results were possible when the game was abandoned and in the end after many fluctuations both sides weren’t disappointed with the 10 points each which despite the rough weather a lot of cricket was played. There was also the sight of a double rainbow brightening up Catford and batting in the rain with the sun setting right by the top of sight screen was a new batting experience for me!
Also well done to Abhishek for correctly predicting the weather changes and saving us all from getting even wetter!
I never got to ask Orpington why they chose the Ocelot - but I did Google Ocelot to find that they are a medium sized wild cat not unlike a small Leopard. Normally native to Central America and the Caribbean Islands! Nocturnal and picky eaters.
Match report by Craig Westmacott
4th XI v LESSA Christ Church
The 4s arrived at the EDF Sports ground , and were surprised to find quite a picturesque few acres, nestled between the A2 and the A20 . The retired gangsters in the bar eyed us suspiciously as we wondered towards the square, to then realize the full reality of the grounds reputation. The square was very green , no covers, not been cut for a few days , and the profile was reminiscent of the Brecon Beacons.
It looked like it could be a bit spicy. So when the oppo skipper turned up at five to one , Rousey informed him that he had forfeited the toss .. and ODs would have a bowl.
It was spicy, but unfortunately the pace and accuracy of our bowling early on couldn’t really exploit the conditions, although we did keep the run rate down and were unlucky with a few mishits landing in spaces and some wild bat swinging amounting to not much. A few wickets fell .... and then , so did the rain.
After a half our rain break, we returned , and strangely the wicket was a lot more passive. Once their no6 came in, we were delivered some hefty blows including 3 towering 6s and 3 lost balls. A couple of catching opportunities were missed , but eventually Steve Sawko took a good one on the boundary to get rid of him. As they scrambled few the last few overs some good bowling kept the runs down and created some chances and wickets, Oliver Aratoon eventually picking up 3 for his efforts, Max Morgan unlucky to get some returns for his 8 overs for 27.
So, we were ready to chase down 200( 30 above par) but it rained and rained .
Some of us had a drink with the geezers in the bar and contemplated next year, where I believe this group of youngsters can really make an impression and hopefully will be a force to be reckoned with.
Match report by Andy Rouse
Sunday Development XI v Dartford
In a thrilling encounter at Park Langley, OD CUACO - Sunday 1st.XI emerged victorious over Dartford CC - Sunday 2nd XI, winning the league as a result. Dartford won the toss and elected to bat, but their innings was met with stiff resistance from the OD CUACO bowlers.
Dartford struggled right from the start, losing wickets at regular intervals. Thomas Lowrie was the first to depart, caught and bowled by Alex Davison for 8 runs. Steve Hirst showed some promise, but he too fell prey to Davison, caught by Cameron Sanders after contributing 21 runs, including a boundary and two sixes. The wickets continued to tumble as Freddie Turner (16) and Izyan Bashiruddin (6) were both dismissed by Nicholas Worsley.
Worsley turned out to be the chief destroyer of the Dartford innings, claiming a total of 6 wickets for just 3 runs in his 6 overs. Vatsal Rajesh, Charlie Foord, Ayaan Bashiruddin, and George Le Mon all fell victim to his relentless bowling. Dartford managed to score just 73 runs in 23.2 overs before being bowled out.
OD CUACO's bowlers put on a commendable display with Alex Davison taking 2 wickets, and Oliver Jasper and Henry Hamilton claiming one each. The Dartford innings never gained any momentum, and they were all out with just 73 runs on the board.
In response, OD CUACO faced a modest target, but they too faced early setbacks. Louis Boyden was trapped lbw by Luke May for just 1 run, and Henry Hamilton was run out with only 3 runs to his name. Rohan Bridges contributed 13 runs before being caught by Freddie Turner off Luke May's bowling.
However, Cameron Sanders played a pivotal role in the chase, remaining unbeaten with 35 runs, which included two boundaries and three sixes. He anchored the innings and ensured his team reached the target with four wickets in hand. Joseph East (9 not out) provided valuable support.
Luke May took 2 wickets for Dartford, while Ayaan Bashiruddin claimed 1. Despite their efforts, OD CUACO reached the target in 12.1 overs, scoring 74 runs.
OD CUACO - Sunday 1st.XI secured the victory with 4 wickets in hand, earning 4 league points. Dartford CC - Sunday 2nd XI, on the other hand, failed to secure any points from this encounter.
It was a day of remarkable bowling performances and tight fielding from OD CUACO, who now look forward to Division 1 next year having won this title!
Fantasy Cricket Standings
The top 10 is very close! See the full breakdown of teams and player performance here:
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