OCCC 184 for 9 (Bugler 41, M Crump 33, Meaker 24*, A Dewes 5-21) lost to Old Wellingtonians 187 for 8 (47.5 overs, A Lewis 56, Dahl 2-26, Thorpe 2-32, Meaker 2-47) by two wickets
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For the second year running our Cricketer Cup campaign ended in the quarter-finals, this time on a blisteringly hot day at Wellington College. It was a tight came that went down to the wire. We lost by two wickets with 13 balls remaining as our lack of a specialist fifth bowler proved crucial.
We won the toss and stuck the OWs in, the hot weather and some toffee-vodka induced hangovers helping the decision. Sufficed to say the returning old guard were primarily the culprits. After losing Brad Scriven (11) early – caught behind off a loose drive – Max Subba Row (33) and Sachin Shanmugaval (21) took the score to 65 off 17 overs steadily but without every really putting the bowlers on the back foot.
The game turned on a ten-over spell after the drinks interval when we lost six wickets for 17 runs to leave us contemplating an early finish as we collapsed to 83 for 7. Subba Row was the first to go four balls after the break, loosely clipping to backward square leg, and he was soon followed by Alan Cope (0), Angus Dahl (4), Shanmugaval, Tom Crump (5) and Nathan Thorpe (0).
At this point Sam Buglar (41), called in at short notice after Jack Scriven injured himself the day before, joined the recalled veteran Matt Crump (33). At first both looked ill at ease but gradually their confidence grew and their vital eighth-wicket stand of 81 in 20 overs at least gave us something to bowl at. Buglar eventually fell shortly after launching a straight six, and Crump was run out before Stuart Meaker (24*) enlivened the final two overs with three massive sixes.
Meaker then made an early breakthrough before Charlie Hill bowled Ben Curran (adding the scalp to brother Sam who he dismissed while at school), and when Dahl had E Young caught behind OWs were 47 for 3. The fourth-wicket stand between Lewis and P Young contained uneasy moments, especially against the spinners, but slowly seemed to be batting us out the game.
When Young skied Thorpe to Matt Crump at wide mid-off OWs were still in a good position, needing 74 off 20 overs. Wickets continued to fall although never quite quickly enough to cause the home side serious alarms. Dahl, Thorpe and Subba Row all bowled well, Dahl especially causing problems, and had we had Jack Scriven as another spin option then that may have been the decisive factor.
For the OWs, Lewis played a vital and ultimately match-winning innings. It was far from pretty – at times he seemed utterly perplexed by Dahl – and certainly helped the supporters drift off in the afternoon heat, but without him the result may well have gone the other way.
Meaker and Scriven took late wickets but we just lacked the firepower to see us home, and to be honest we lacked accuracy with the 22 wides we gifted a crucial factor in the result.
Thank to Michael Chetwode for scoring and also to the large contingent of OC support. And, again, to Brad Scriven for his persistence in raising and captaining sides.
