We Are The Champions

Finally, finally; the moment we have thought and dreamt about for most of the summer has arrived. No quips this week. Didcot are Cherwell Division 6 champions. Sounds good doesn't it.

We travelled to Thame knowing that a win would guarantee the title. I was more excited and nervous than normal on a Saturday, but confident that we would do it.

The Thame pitch had been soaked in a rain storm the day before and was begging to be bowled on. We have not done things easily this season so I decided to lose the toss just to be awkward. Batting first on this wicket was not easy, the ball stopped and came through slowly. Many of us got out driving too early.

What is important is that three of us made significant contributions to get us the right side of 200, just. Matt scored 30 odd and looked back in form until one stopped on him. Naughtie dabbed and nurdled to 39 (NOT OUT, WOULD YOU BELIEVE). Another extremely valuable knock in his specialist finishing position. The rock and spine of our innings came from Lord Brockett, batting at four he nearly carried his bat on the way to his maiden first XI half century. A superb watchful, mature knock with acceleration at the right moment. On a better pitch he would have made a ton. Well done Bris.

After what can only be described as a tea that suited the fielding side we started again knowing that 10 wickets were needed to take the title. We started well by dismissing danger man Steve Beard cheaply, our confidence was high. Lobster and The Don threatened but couldn't get the breakthrough. The pitch was dry now and playing like a dream and Thame's 14 year old opener was playing beautifully. 10 for 1 became 119 for two. With plenty of time left, we were struggling a bit. We had Laurel and Hardy on, who have often been so deadly in tandem this year. The Caretaker bowled well, but couldn't force the breakthrough, so time for a change. A bit of Pritch has changed games a number of times this year. His pace was searing but the ball constantly found the gaps.

What to do next? I considered the options and decided to give The Judge one more over. A superb catch from Lobster Jones at short midwicket meant that The Judge would get another over and that we were back in the game. If only we could get the opener we would be in charge again. We got the opener next over. Some late away swing (possibly) from Pritch and a brilliant salmon like leap from The Caretaker together with Inspector Gadget arms snared him. Game on now. Our body language changed, we were hunting as a pack now. Two wickets in an over from The Judge and Thame were 150 for 6.

A second spell from The Don brought instant results with two wickets in his two overs, catches from Brockett and Pritch taking care of things. Jules took his fifth and we were one wicket away from the title and Thame were 10 minutes from a draw.

The Judge hasn't turned a ball all season and relies on his charisma and guile to earn his wickets. Or so we thought. He floated up his last ball of the over, it looked no different to the rest. Pitching on middle and going straight on, that's what the batsman and the rest of us thought. It bit, it bounced, it fizzed, and it turned, from leg to off for heavens sake. He had bowled a leggie and pitched it perfectly. Off stump knocked back, we celebrated wildly. I thought about kissing The Judge. Bernard beat me to it and I didn't have the heart to interrupt their delicate embrace.

We drank warm champagne and sang our victory song.

What a fabulous day.

Didcot II V Dinton III

Dinton won the toss and elected to bat on a good batting wicket. Didcot bowlers did not have much impact on the visitors and they scored 241 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their 47 overs. Vishane Perera and Dave Allen took 2 wickets each, Henry Latimer one and one run out.

It did not seam to be impossible target to get on a very good batting track but as usual top order batting did not get to a good start and Didcot was on the back foot again! The only highlight was Connor Morrison’s unbeaten 86. Didcot was 174 for 7 at the end of play.

Dinton III 15 points Didcot II 8 points

After the cancellation against Oxford the previous week, the first victory was getting a team of 11 players on the pitch against Bicester. Our problems started when we realised that Bicester were seeking revenge for the game previous in the season where we had scored 304 against them thanks to Clive and Raj. Our team was virtually unrecognisable, with just Modi, Grain, Hall and Broughton remaining from that side. Whereas we had replaced the players with inexperienced U-13s and members doing the club, Bicester appeared to have called up their resources to ensure that they didn’t get the same treatment.

However, with such an inexperienced team, stand-in captain Hall was concerned that the game might be all over by 2:30 if we batted first, so inserted the opposition. This was mainly due to the whole raison d’être of the fourth team, to give the youngsters experience.

We started brightly, with Pritesh and Travis sharing the new ball, but once spinners Maha and Jack Broughton came on the openers were set and proceeded to hit the ball to all corners, or alternatively milked the singles if the field was set back. 51 from 9 became 73 from 12 and 96 from 14, before medium pacers from Alex Scanlan and Jonny Meardon put the brakes on the advance. Too little, too late, and both of the openers retired not out for centuries, Phil Warson (once Northants 2nds keeper) made 138 and James Head 105, both recorded as not outs. That brought in Megan Burton and a slowing of the scoring, and finally Pritesh, coming on for his second spell after injuring his shoulder earlier in the game, bowled Payne for 15 – the first legitimate wicket at 244. Late additions to the bowling line up Jonathan Meardon and Benji Faloona, however, showed why the fourth team is a good thing for the club, each bowling a spell of good medium pace. These two are both Under 13s, and given the right development could be challenging in higher teams in 3 or 4 years. The standout player, however, was Travis Green. Again an U-13. Given the responsibility of the new ball, and then also coming back for his remaining 4 overs at the end, he bowled line and length with pace and accuracy and was unlucky not to take any wickets. Figures of 8-1-37-0 were excellent in those circumstances.

After much nagging from Jack and Nick, Hall brought himself on to remind them again why he doesn’t bowl any more. The only time the ball went straight was when the hair was let down and he got angry with himself. Not a sight that should be witnessed by delicate personalities, and certainly against the spirit of Clubmark, if not common decency.

As for the rest of the bowling, Jack showed signs of the form from earlier in the season, and Pritesh shouldered the responsibility of being the senior seamer well, returning figures of 1-43 from 8 overs. Maha had the batsmen in trouble on occasions but could not get consistency.

Bicester struggled to pass Didcot’s 304 from the away match due to Travis and Ben conceding only singles from the 42^nd and 43^rd overs, but as soon as they passed the total they declared at the end of the over. Just enough time for Ben Faloona to take his first senior wicket, and for club colossus David Slade to take his final slip catch (although he doesn’t know that he’s playing next week as well…).

Didcot’s batting then lacked the adhesiveness that was required to fight out the draw. Hall opened in the absence of other candidates, and made his first duck of the league season, cutting a ball into the air. Form, form, why have thou deserted me. Oh, and decision making. Alex Scanlan was unlucky to be run out going for a second run that wasn’t there. Pritesh looked good for 10 before being given lbw, Nick and Jonny flattered to deceive. Hope then lay with Travis and John Brisland, both of whom played good shots in a 6^th wicket partnership that took us to a level of respectability, and laid the basis for getting past our previous low score. Indeed, two edged fours for Faloona and a driven 2 from Dave Slade took us past our second lowest score. Allout for 57 beats the 46 (Cumnor) and 54 (Chearsley) earlier in the season.

David was last out, bowed by Megan Burton, on the very ground that he started his senior career a few years back.

On the face of it, a thrashing. Losing by 253 runs is not easy and we were not competitive, but on a weekend when about 40 players were unavailable, I believe we showed that there are plenty of green shoots in the youth development of the club, and that from this exposure to senior cricket, confidence and skills will develop.

All part of the season in the fourths!

Back to Simon for the last two games.