Awards Night

Oakley held their annual awards night on the 23rd July, it was a successful evening and great to see all the parents supporting the evening.

The awards went to the following players.

Best Newcomer
Alex Gray

98 Runs 4 Wkts 4 catches

Best fielder
Matt Vickers

Best bowler
Julian Worthington
22 wickets at 3.82 runs an over

Best Batsman
Sam Bulley
Average 21.8

All Rounder
George Lethaby
15 wickets 136 runs 5 catches

Players player (4 votes)
George Lethaby

Kingsclere Humbled

Oakley proved them selves as a real force for the future on Monday night after humbling champions Kingsclere in a victory unexpected by the home side but anticipated by the management of Oakley.

Kingsclere’s strong bowling line gave the openers at Oakley plenty of problems and the score board was moving slowly with wickets tumbling, but a flurry of fours and sixes from Sam Bulley (25) and Alex Gray (13) edged Oakley up to a respectable 103 giving the bowlers something to defend.

What followed was the best fielding and bowling seen all season from this Oakley side, Julian Worthington tore in to the Kingsclere attack, ripping through them in a devastating and terrorising fashion. Bowling at the other end new boy Jack Green was the unsung hero conceding just 8 runs in four overs and with several LBW appeals turned down, with Matt Vickers also bowling well and narrowly missing out on a hat-trick.

This left Alex Gray, Matt Clarke, and Jack Bmbridge to clean up the tail with more tight more bowling as Oakley kept Kingsclere to 83 to finish the season in style in joint second.

Well done to all associated with the club, a fantastic season.

M.O.M Julian Worthington 4-1-12-4 Outstanding stuff

Two Quick Wins Re-Ignite Oakley

Two wins in two days turned Oakley's season around this week with comprehensive victorys over Hatrley Wintney and Rowledge at Oakley Park. These wins came off the back of a major fielding readjustment in an emergency training session last Friday, and the response was overwhelming, the fielding was like watching a different team.

Teamwork: Oakley walk off after a job well done.



If these lessons had been learnt earlier in the season by both management and players, the quality of the individuals at Oakley could have brought a trophy, but silly losses to Basingstoke and Aldershot ended those hopes. That said, a return of 6 wins 3 defeats and one tie is not bad, and a win at champions Kingsclere on Monday would really make intentions clear for the seasons to come. Good times are ahead for Oakley CC that much is certain.

Fielding Crisis As Oakley Lose Again

An improved display with the bat was not enough for Oakley, as once again they crumbled in the field at Basingstoke. Most of the players got a decent scores, which is encouraging as seven or eight scores between 4 and 15 is more encouraging than one or two scoring thirty and the rest out for nothing. Matt Vickers came in late an hammered 11 of the last over to give Oakley a decent score of 108 to defend.

Matt Vickers hits out in the last over

However right from the start of their innings Basingstoke put pressure on Oakley by running quickly between the wickets, and too many mistakes by Oakley let the score run away too quickly. Some of the fielders will need to learn that you have to fight for your bowlers in cricket, there were a staggering amount of byes, edged fours and overthrows. This comes down to the mangement and captaincy as well, as maybe some fielders are not sure of their tasks. Either that or some players percieve that fielding is not as important as batting or bowling, when that perception, changes so will the results.

Batting
Coates caught 1
Bambridge Bowled 4
Worthington Caught 4
Lethaby LBW 9
Bulley LBW 7
Gray Bowled 12
Lancaster Bowled 13
Newcombe Not Out 6
Blackall Caught 1
Vickers Not Out 12

Bowling
Worthington 4-0-18-1
Vickers 4-0-29-1
Lethaby 4-0-34-1
Bambridge 2-0-13-1
Gray 1-0-5-0

MOM
Matt Vickers: Fine late attempt to get the score as high as possible

Weather Hot Oakley Not

Oakley wilted in the heat yesterday as some uncharacteristic poor batting, bowling and sloppy fielding let an average Aldershot side win comfortably at Oakley Park. Right from the off, the scoreboard was ticking quickly as wides and no balls became the highest scorers. Too often a good delivery was followed by a poor one, and the body language of the side was tired looking, courtesy of perhaps a few too many late nights and very humid weather conditions. Over half of the Aldershot total came in wides and no balls, that is very deflating, and it showed in the field at times.

In reply Bradley Coates continued his return to form and tore into the Aldershot attack before a careless run out saw him depart for 16. From then on it all fell apart with all the opening batsmen going cheaply in a dramatic collapse, with Julian Worthington and Henry Newcombe the only other batsmen at the crease for any real amount of time. Some needless back biting and finger pointing left a bad taste in the mouth, but that’s sport, and Oakley must now come back a stronger team unit. The fact that there was a lot of emotion flying around at the end of the game shows that parent’s and children care about losing, a very positive sign from a bad day at the office.

A massive game versus Basingstoke next week is maybe what the players need.

Batting (oh dear)

Coates LBW 16
Bulley caught 0
Lancaster bowled 0
Worthington NO 19
Lethaby Bowled 0
Vickers Bowled 0
Blackall Bowled 0
Vickers Bowled 0
Van Dyke Caught 0
Grey Bowled 1
Newcombe Bowled 8
Rowley Bowled 0

Bowling

Worthington 4-0-18-2
Lancaster 2-0-18-0
Vickers 4-0-24-2
Lethaby 4-0-12-0
Bulley 2-0-16-0
Rowley 1-0-11-0
Grey 2-0-6-2
Newcombe 1-0-7-0

Tied Match Halts Oakley's Winning Run

Oakley will now have to rely on others faltering if their title challenge is going to continue after drawing an enthralling game against Fleet that went down to the last ball.

The home side started very well, and opening bowlers kept two very good batsmen and bay, with Worthington impressive again with 2 vital wickets. However in last few overs some sloppy fielding and too many wides allowed Fleet to progress to a slightly flattering score of 121.

In response Bradley Coates found his form and confidence again with a blistering 31 of 21 balls as Oakley set about the total. However, unlike Oakley, Fleet were not giving away wides and no balls, making the run race that bit harder.

Fetch that:Bradley Coates hits a huge six as Oakley chase 121

After Brad Coates retired,Bulley, Worthington, and Lethaby all got in and got out again when looking well set for big scores. This left the job to Gray and Newcombe, who both batted superbly to edge Oakley ever closer to the target, but needing six of the last two balls Gray hit a crunching four, but just fell short with a single off the last.

Oakley will be annoyed that they hit 11 more runs than Fleet and didn't win, tighter bowling and backing up in the field, and the game was there for the taking.

M.O.M Brad Coates with a crunching 31 not out

Batting

Bulley LBW 10
Coates Ret 31
Worthington C&B 15
Lethaby Bowled 9
Vickers LBW 2
Bambrige Caught 6
Blackall Bowled 0
Gray Not out 18
Newcombe Caught 10
Clarke Not Out 0

Bowling

Worthington 4-0-16-2
Lethaby 4-0-19-0
Vickers 4-0-19-0
Bambridge 2-0-14-1
Clarke 2-0-8-1
Gray 2-0-19-0
Newcombe 2-0-15-0

Oakley Bandwagon Keeps Rolling

Oakley U13's kept the pressure on the league leaders with a superb team performance against a spirited but inexperienced Yateley at Sean Devereuax Park. Captain Matt Vickers opted to bat first and despite losing in form opener Sam Bully early on, a superb partnership of 55 from Julian Worthinton (24) and George Lethaby (32 ret) put Oakley in control, with cameo roles from Alex Gray, Alex Blackall and Henry Newcombe taking the total to a decent 103 on a big pitch.


George Lethaby hits out during his knock of 32 retired

Defending the total Oakley bowled and fielded superbly with all seven bowlers taking at least one wicket demonstrating the depth of bowling, and it was particulary pleasing to see the first wickets of the season from Newcombe and Gray to add to those of Worthington (2) Vickers (2) Lethaby (2) Bambridge (1) Clark (1).

Batting

Bulley Bowled 2
Worthington Bowled 24
Lethaby Retired 32
Gray LBW 8
Newcombe Not Out 4
Blackall Not out 2

Bowling

Worthington 4-0-11-2
Vickers 4-0-24-2
Gray 3-0-7-1
Lethaby 4-0-15-2
Bambridge 2-0-5-1
Clark 1-0-2-1
Newcombe 1-0-4-1

M.O.M
George Lethaby 32 ret, 2 catches, 2 wickets, and a fat lip from an inexplicable tumble.