A tougher week for our men's sides saw only our 2nd XI victorious with a great victory at home against Bickley Park. This means that in the league, we are undefeated at the home of cricket still this season! Hopefully this can continue with our 1st XI game tomorrow against Folkestone.
Special shout out this week to Rahul Mehan, who took a 6fer in the 4th XI last Saturday. Its great to see colts emerging in adult cricket, and we hope a lot more come through and can have the same sort of impact as Rahul did last week!
The talent is certainly coming through, evident in a great U17 performance on Friday. Read all about that in the report below!
As ever, best of luck to our teams representing the club this week!
All the best,
Chris Webster
Club Captain
ODs TOUR to Norwich 2024
Tour this year will be held from 28th-31st July in Norwich with some great fixtures and entertainment promised for all!
In total, current estimates are:
£200 for a full tour
£150 for 2 nights
£80 for one night (Tour stash included)
If interested, please contact Chris Webster
Match Reports:
1st XI v Bexley 2s
Following last week’s close finish, the 1st XI were looking to go back to back, with an away fixture at Bexley. Andy won the toss and elected to bat. Despite a tentative start, the sidelines were growing in confidence as the opening pair had nearly survived the power play, with the score on 35/0 from 8 overs. A mere 60 minutes later, with the score on 70/6, the top and middle order were back on the sidelines ruing over a particularly soft set of dismissals. CDubz, the only man looking confident at the crease was continuing his form from the previous week, with anything under or over pitched finding itself over the rope. Simmsy joined him at the crease and was beginning to look comfortable, taking us through to drinks. Eager to bring some of Colesy’ birthday celebrations to Bexley, CDubz lightly hog roasted Simmsy, calling him through for an ambitious single. One umpire was eager to end Chris’ innings early on two occasions, but thanks to some honesty from the Bexley side, appeals were withdrawn for a run-out and bump ball catch. Sadly, a tidy low return catch brought an end to Chris’ innings, top scoring with 33, leaving us on 90/8. Some defiance from Andy and Weast helped us reach 123AO, a score which was going to be difficult to defend.
Without last week’s MOTM N. Worsley in the line-up, it was up to CDubz and D. Baylis to take the new ball. Bexley showed positive intent from the start, punishing anything loose, whilst also fortunate to find some aerial gaps through the ring. D. Baylis struck in the 4th over, with Koot taking the catch at fly slip. From here, the Bexley n.o 3 motored them to 72/1 from 12, before Andy took a sharp return catch to slow proceedings and earn himself VPCOM. Will cleaned up their remaining opener, taking our 3rd and final wicket of the innings. From here, the n.o 4 and 5 scratched around, gradually knocking off the required runs whilst Simmsy and DWebs were also given spells in the hope of a breakthrough. Andy bowled a very tight spell of 9-6-7-1 earning him MOTM, alongside his flurry of runs to end our innings.
The 7-wicket defeat was a fair reflection of our performance, with some room for improvement in the field and a Premier Inn of rooms for improvement with the bat. Roll on next week!
Match report by Cameron Sanders
2nd XI v Bickley Park
After the weekend prior against Bexley, Laurence Sanders’ side got back to winning ways with a comfortable victory against bottom placed Bickley Park.
Coming into the match just 16 points ahead of Bickley Park, OD’s knew this was a must-win and skipper Sanders won the toss - choosing to bat first.
With Sanders and Richard Loader opening the hosts knew they had a solid pairing upfront. However, Loader - who was playing with an injury - fell with the score at 13 before Gary Howarth departed to leave OD’s at 24-2.
But that wasn’t to dampen the spirits as Oscar Jasper and Sanders batted beautifully to ensure OD’s wouldn’t capitulate, steering them to a very respectable 73-2 before Jasper was eventually caught for 27.
That meant that Isaac Loader would feature for the first time this year scoring a very well made 32 not out. Ashwani Arora’s 17 - after Sander’s dismissal for a timely knock of 44 meant OD’s would guide themselves to a good score of 171 off of 45 overs.
Sanders’ and his troops knew that would be a tough ask for Bickley Park but the visitors started well and made 40 for the first wicket despite very tidy bowling from Andy Hall and Kai Bennett.
Jasper would enter the attack and picked up the first wicket and from there it looked like there was only one team that was going to win the match with OD’s very much in control.
Jasper finished on excellent figures of 3-26 off his 9 overs alongside two wickets apiece from Liam Pooley, Arora and Hall.
OD’s were vastly superior in the field and this showed with excellent catches from Loader, Howarth and Bennett which wrapped up the victory as Bickley Park finished on 101 all out in just 37 overs.
A good day at the office for the 2nd XI who march on.
Match report by Kai Bennett
3rd XI v Orpington Ocelots
Ah, June, the first day of summer when the sun emerges from its long hibernation and cricket pitches are bathed in sunshine and warmth… That was the idea at least, as OD 3s travelled to play Orpington Ocelots in Sevenoaks (obviously) on a bitterly cold windswept field.
We should have known all was not well with the world.
The pitch was grassy and spongy and if ever there was a win-toss-bowl day it was this one.
We lost the toss.
With Abhishek unwell, we needed a hero to ensure we had 11 players and Ian Walker stepped up keen to preserve his 100% ODs record.
Conscious to make a fast start and put pressure on the opposition we sent in pinch hitter Rakesh Posam fresh from his 30 in 30 last week. He soon departed for 1 to a good one from their opener leading to an earlier than expected bat for the skipper fresh from his 50 the week before. He too soon departed for 4 giving catching practice to cover misjudging the slow bounce, a fate matched by Rohan Bridges (5) and then by Jack McCarthy (0) leaving ODs in all sorts of trouble at 14-4.
Thankfully the apprentice became the master as Colby Junior dug in with a mature knock of 49 mixing patient defence with putting the bad balls away including a glorious six over cow to excited screams of catch presumably aimed at the hedgerow wildlife diving for cover.
Anmol Pasamolla also dug in for 20 as ODs finally built something resembling a partnership. Sadly, he also got a good one leading to another collapse as Billy Ansar went for 9, Mr Not Out (A Walker) out for 0 and Howard Thomas went for 0 after middling a sweet hit straight to mid wicket.
It was time for a hero as Ian Walker strode out to bat with instructions to bat for Olly and defend at all costs. He watched the last ball of the over sail past with admirable calm leaving Olly poised on 49 and about to grind out an impressive half-century.
In keeping with the general theme of the day it was not to be and he didn’t get hold of a filthy long hop and sent a catch up high and into mid-on’s grateful hands leaving Ian Walker stranded on 0 when looking well set for his maiden century.
ODs all out for 100 and with it all to do.
No matter, this was the team who barely gave Bickley Park a sniff the previous week as we ground them down with accurate bowling.
Sadly, with few runs to play with, we lost some of our usual accuracy and allowed Orpington a start with a mix of uncharacteristic full tosses and extras alongside some beauties from Howard Thomas (5.5-0-30-0) and Billy Ansar (5-1-17-0).
To be fair their openers played well and got through to 59 without too many scares.
Rakesh Posam finally got the breakthrough (9-2-24-1) as we looked to build some late pressure alongside Alex Walker (4-0-14-1) who bowled their number 3 with a certified nut. They were ably supported by Billy Rouse (4-0-17-2) who was swinging it around corners bowling their obdurate opener and forcing a slice to slips into the skipper’s grateful hands.
Unfortunately, it was all too little too late as Orpington reached the total with 12 overs to spare in a game in which ODs never really got going.
Match report by Chris Colby
4th XI v Bexley Park
We arrived at the club on a sunny Saturday morning ready for the 4th match of the season away at Bexley Park. The first thing we saw was the birthday boy Mark Coles proudly showing off his hog, looking eager for a quick match of cricket before coming back to dish it out.
In the car ride to the match, the plan was made simple by the skipper. Win toss bowl, bowl the opposition out for 4, chase it down in 2 overs and get back to the home of cricket by 3 o'clock. It sounded so simple at the time.
Arriving at the ground the signs were good, Rahul Mehan finally had some cricket shoes, Mark Coles’ hangover seemed to be fading and we had 11 players raring to go.
The skipper won the toss and we were bowling first, step one of the plan was complete. Steve Sawko and Rahul “New Wheels” Mehan opened the bowling, we got off to a decent start when Rahul bowled one of the openers early on for 1. 20-1, right on track I’m sure we’d all agree. Unfortunately, from here it wasn't quite as easy. With the exceptions of Rahul with an excellent 6fer and debutant Mani Saravanan, the bowling wasn't quite up to usual standards, and after a rather gruelling 40 overs we left the field having been set 231 to win.
During the tea break it was hard to ignore Colesy furiously knocking in his new bat, still keen to knock these runs off as quickly as possible. Rousy Snr and Chris Sharp went out to open the batting. They got off to a quick start with Chris Sharp hitting 4 early boundaries, in the end he played one shot too many and was out for a well made 17. It was tough for the middle order on a slightly dying pitch but Kev Harding managed to stick around and make some key runs that gave us important bonus points. In the end we finished our 40 overs 78 short of the target.
Some of the key stats for the day:
Rahul Mehan: 9-3-28-6
Mani Saravanan(Debut): 8-0-30-1
Kevan Harding: 39 runs
Mark Coles: 50*(years old), 65% of match attended
Pigs eaten: 0.5
Match report by Tom Fox
Under 17s v Old Elthamians
A second match in half term week and a second win!
Once again, the weather was looking unsettled all day but the OE groundsman gave the go-ahead, game on! With exams looming and people away for half term we called on Reeyan Ganatra and Barnaby West to make their U17 debuts, and both rose to the occasion.
Big Al lost the toss and the team were asked to bat while the spectators shivered in the wintry conditions! Luckily the bar was open.
The opening bowlers for OE’s contrasted in style. One medium pace, accurate and getting lots of swing. The other a bit of a slinger and somewhat erratic. Rohan struggled to get bat on ball at one end while Rahul was scoring freely at the other. Rohan was bowled for 1 with the score on 27 after 5 overs. Rahul went on to make a fine 32 off 30 before falling LBW. Tom came in at 3 and was the top batter again. He played a lovely innings, finishing 42 not out. Alex (14) supported him well, but when he fell on 83 at the start of the 16th over, the team were looking unlikely to reach 100, but with help from Ollie Arratoon and Mark Walker, Tom led the acceleration, including a towering 6 in the last over, so we made 118-5.
Based on the old adage, catches win matches, we thought we were onto a loser as we missed four in the first 5 overs. Eventually Max held on to one, albeit with a little juggle, to give Ollie Arratoon his first wicket of the match. Ed Hornby bamboozled the number 3 bat into missing a slow straight one. Then it was Rohan’s juggled catch in the deep that gave Barnaby West his first U17 wicket. Alex, who bowled spin for his first over, came back as a seamer and got a wicket courtesy of a non-juggled catch from Ollie and OE’s were 69-4 with most of their best batters out. Batter 1, was in the 30’s but not getting much strike and was getting frustrated. He had had 2 or 3 lives by now, then holed out to Rahul to give Reeyan his first U17 wicket. Ollie Arratoon bowled another and then the run rate required started creeping up, with the OE tail trying to reach the 119 target. It got predictably frantic in the last couple of overs with a couple of run-outs and OE’s falling 5 runs short.
A tight match and a victory for OD’s, for the second time in a week! Thanks to Kiran Bridges for umpiring - maybe he’ll be playing for OD’s next season?
Colts Results
Picture of the Week
Fantasy Cricket
Welcome to the 2024 edition of OD CUACO CC Fantasy Cricket!
Here you are able to make the decisions and choices that you want to make. Who are your big hitters going to be? Who are you going to trust to be your team's captain? Will you make the correct choice when selecting your all important all rounder? The answers will soon be clear in the coming weeks.
Every single adult match played on a Saturday will count towards the points tally so use your talent spotting to select their best possible 11 from a budget of £55 million.
Cost of entry per team is just £6, payment must be made via this website when you set your team up. You can enter as many sides as you like. There will be prize money available (details TBC).
Good luck and thanks for playing!
Communications - OD CUACO WhatsApp Announcements Group
Join our ODs WhatsApp Announcements group! By scanning the below from a mobile phone / tablet etc. you will be asking to join our newly formed members information group. The administrators of the group will provide amongst club updates, news of social/ cricket events, and any quick one line information bulletins considered useful to members. This will be an information only group and will not be a chat. Newsletters with more in-depth information will continue to be sent.
200 Club
The 200 club is a monthly raffle that occurs throughout the season giving members the opportunity to win up to £200. Entry is just £20 per ticket for the year.
Its not long until the first draw for the season, so if you would like to join, details can be found here along with the payment link.
Ball and Match Sponsorship
We are still looking for ball and match sponsorships for our games this year. These come at just at £25. This is a very important way for us to raise funds for various projects at the club, not covered in our normal budget. The link for this is below.
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 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 12s - U13s | Sunday | 11:15 am - 12:30 pm |
Comments