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Ashley vs Oakmere Date: 13th September 2008 Venue: Oakmere Toss won by: OakmereBatted First: |
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Ashley travelled to promotion chasing Oakmere for the last game of the 2008 season with an outside chance of finishing as high as 4th, but after a bright start to the game were thoroughly outplayed and had to settle for 3 points and 7th place. After weeks of rain the Oakmere ground was in remarkably good condition although the wicket was green and appeared to have something in it for the bowlers.
Gary Tyms continued his good form at the top of the Ashley order, this week he needed two sighters before he got off the mark with the days biggest hit. He managed to stay at the crease for over an hour as firstly with Knight(12) he added 42 for the 1st wicket and another 20 with Baythorpe before he was out in the 20th over, by this time he had run 11 singles and this was clearly too much for him, he finished the season with a strike rate of exactly 100. From 42 for none off 20 overs the Ashley innings collapsed to 115 all out in the 43rd over, a pattern that had haunted the side through the season. Only skipper Barber reached double figures in his 54 minutes at the crease, this should have been much longer but after a mid wicket chat with Logan about the importance of remaining calm and occupy the crease he charged out of his to be stumped by Owen who took his 3rd easy dismissal of the game.
With teas being gently warmed up the players returned to the field at 3pm and just under 90 minutes later Oakmere were promoted to the County League as runners up with both Eatons unbeaten at the crease. Earlier Yearsley reached the mid twenties before upsetting his father the Oakmere scorer by getting himself out with the score on 55 and Hutchinson fell to Deans cunningly disguised full bunger shortly afterwards.
Good luck to Oakmere in their debut season in the County League, Brooklands as you know have already booked and paid for their promotion, everyone at Ashley wishes Oakmere the very best of luck. They may have to do without the influential Stuart Eaton who maybe moving down south.
For Ashley this was another step in the right direction, up three places from last year and without a recognised strike bowler nor an overseas player. Maybe the standard of the league has slipped a little.
The end of season drink took place in Manchester once again at the City Arms, although Zak Power had started before us and was acting like a two pot screamer before 9pm. He was celebrating the fact that he was leaving the Tescos uniform and Cereals, Museli and Long Life Milk behind to go and work in a local grease factory. We continued onto the Chop House and the Rising Sun before catching the last tram home and eschewing the night club or late curry; a sign of advancing years perhaps and too many of us wearing cardigans to get into any club in Manchester.
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FIRST INNINGS |
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SECOND INNINGS |
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Result: Oakmere won by 8 wickets |
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