Match report by Neil Megson
What an outstanding game of cricket played on a wonderful cricket wicket at Ermont Way, there really was something for everyone…The 3rds managed to beat Kingston Bagpuize 1sts by 5 runs in a thriller..Baggies won the toss and asked us to bat.. What a nightmare start, Lee Marland out first ball of the game, quickly followed by Ian Bryan and Kieren Churchill as we were in all sorts of bother at 9-3, Will Woodley superb for Kingston …old lag Craig Haupt and U15 Will Marland then put on 90 in even time in a brilliant partnership.. Haupt out for a solid 48..Marland went on to make 74, his first league 50 in a breakthrough innings for him.. Great composure and some wonderful stroke play, the first 50 of many he will score… He was ably supported by Andy Cross 14 and a superb cameo by Mikey Brown, his innings of 32 was top notch which got us to an excellent 219…
In reply like we did when we batted we started poorly,Kingston raced to 70 from 10 indifferent overs, we mixed lots of short stuff and way to many wides and once again we were staring down the barrel..Enter swing bowlers Andy Cross and Mikey Brown, both bowled superbly and changed the game, Cross finished with 4-37 and Brown 2-23 in wonderful spells.. Youngster Tom Lewis Lyon dug in and like Will earlier batted really well as Kingston chipped away on the excellent pitch,a wicket for Kieren Churchill kept us just in front, a good run out from Brown/Haupt an outstanding catch too from Will Marland as we turned the screw, two tidy catches for Ian Bryan(incredibly he has taken the most outfield catches in the league) .
As Lewis Lyon carried on we just couldn’t quite get it right,we bowled 3 no balls and 39 wides, it’s a problem we have had most of the season.. To say its a frustrating would be the understatement of the season.. I juggled our bowlers, 7 had been used until I called on the old boys Craig and Lee to try and get us home, this the did as we held our nerve with a stumping in the last over in a superb game of cricket.. Can’t remember the last time I used 9 bowlers, if ever… Didcot away to finish the season.. Onwards…