OCCC 274 for 9 (50 overs, Ealham 115*, Cope 74) beat Marlborough Blues 270 for 8 (50 overs, Corbett 55, Wheeler 3-50)
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Jubilee and a good crowd witnessed another exciting finish in late afternoon sun on Sunday in the first round of the Nicholsons Gin Cricketer Cup, OCCC winning by one
wicket off the last ball.
The standout performance was George Ealham’s masterful 115* which included shots all round the wicket. Most impressive was his planning and game management. When the sixth wicket fell with 49 still required, five and a half overs left and all our other experience gone, George took complete control. Of the last 36 balls which included two wides and a no ball (the free hit was missed), George faced 33, lost three partners, and made 49 of the 53 runs scored.
Earlier, we took the field having lost the toss with youth and experience but not much in between. Five were making their debuts in the competition including Ollie Read who was fished out of Exeter University at 10pm the night before to play against his brother. We didn’t bowl or field as well as we would have hoped. Stuart Meaker and Matt Crump allowed the umpires to stretch their arms a few too many times but Tom Wheeler (3-40) bowled very well. Copey just about managed to keep the scoring in check although 270 was a challenging total.
Our innings began badly with Alex Bovill being run out going for a second by a direct hit from long leg in the first over. Cope (74) then batted stylishly and fluently in his first innings of the summer and was accompanied by Morrogh (17) in a stand of 60. When Cope was bowled to leave us 122 for 3 scoring became more difficult as Marlborough applied pressure. The left arm spin of Highton (3-30) proving especially difficult to get away but Marlborough weren’t helped by their opening bowler doing a hammy just before he came on to bowl his final three overs.
Ten were eventually required off the final over with Ealham hammering four through extra cover off the last ball to seal the win. This was an excellent game, played in mostly great spirit and there was a good buzz around the team. As usual, the school provided excellent catering which as always was much appreciated by both teams and spectators and the ground staff produced another excellent pitch. We are drawn to meet Haileybury next on Jubilee on 30 th June.
