Audley Ducks CC
Back Row l-r:
Kneeling l-r:
SpecialEffect Tigers CC
Back row l-r: Ed Juszczak, Chris Grain (Capt), Baz Floyd, Nelly Hayes, James Monks, Stuart Duff, Dan Raymond-Barker
Kneeling l-r: Huw Neyroud, Pete Bartlett, James Hayes, Tony Winstone
No, I don't know why I chose a culinary headline for this week's match report but the Duck and orange seemed to go together. Just humour me, eh?
Right, so onto Wednesday night's first competitive game for the Tigers in the West Oxfordshire Midweek League. Undefeated since June 2012 and with the prospect of playing our first midweek game against our old mates from Audley Travel, the Tigers appeared well up for this one.
However, less than 36 hours before the first ball was bowled, no less than four of the Tigers withdrew from the Ambush leaving us desperately short of players.
Happily, Robbie Mills of Witney Rugby Club stepped in to save the day by providing us with Tony 'Postie' Winstone and James 'Monksy' Monks. And when the Badgers offered up a couple of Brocks from the Hayes Clan (young James and Nelly) to pitch in with the Ambush, we celebrated getting eleven in the field. The four Tigers mentioned above were joined by two more debutants, Pete Bartlett and Dan Raymond-Barker, to give us an incredible six Tigers earning their first stripes.
Chris Grain, back as Tigers' league skipper, won the toss and duly elected to bat sending the heavy artillery of Witney RFC in to open. Postie looked comfortable whilst Monksy immediately set about attacking the Ducks' strike bowlers. As the excellent Henry Southall combined pace with a good line and length from the Burford Road End, Huw Owen struggled a little and was duly despatched for 12 from his first over. Ducks' skipper, Dave Singleton, sensing Owen was having an off day immediately replaced him with the equally Welsh-sounding Glenn Evans. Great captaincy as the run tide was immediately held back.
Postie flicks one through to midwicket
It was the dangerous Southall who drew first Tiger blood however as Postie mistimed his shot and Jus Saleem held his catch to send the opener back to the pavilion. As Baz Floyd joined Monksy at the crease, both Tigers looked to hit big in an effort to get some runs on the board quickly. But the Ducks were having none of it. The Tigers big-hitters were tied down to taking their runs where they could get them until a frustrated Monksy finally tried one big hit too many and skied Charlie Read to Huw Owen. Huw made no mistake with a fine catch and the Tigers were suddenly struggling. Monksy gone for 14.
Tigers' skipper Chris Grain misses that one as it goes through to Jus Saleem
Floyd became Read's second Tiger-skin rug of the evening as he moved across the line of a tempting full toss only to mistime his hoik through midwicket to be trapped leg before wicket. Read and Floyd bowler to batsman relationship is now something akin to the kid at school who points at your tie and clouts your nose as you look down. The gullible Floyd seems to be falling for Read's trickery every time.
With plenty of batting still to go, Tigers skipper Chris Grain now in the middle started to chisel out an innings. However, his partnership with Badgers' danger man Nelly Hayes lasted just the one ball as Hayes uncharacteristically chipped Read to a grateful Wallis.
Tigers reliable young keeper Huw Neyroud joined Grain in the middle and slowly began a repair job until Grain became Charlie Read's fourth victim of the night, bowled with 12 to his name. Neyroud was left to top score for the Tigers with 21 before being removed from the middle by having his stumps splayed by Wallis.
Huw Neyroud takes the fight to the Ducks with 21
Ed Juszczak and Dan Raymond-Barker saw out the Tigers innings adding seven each before running out of overs. The Tigers finished on 88-6 from 20 overs. Would it be enough against the 2012 WOML Champions?
Well, the simple answer to that one is no.
The Tigers strike bowlers managed to pin down Ducks' openers Herbert and Jacobs for a while. And, as Jacobs was bizarrely run out for 4 from a no ball that left the Tigers debating whether or not to withdraw the appeal, there was even a little glimmer of hope. However the Tigers bowlers had very few runs to play with and Ducks number 3, Ward, in aggressive mood the Tigers' 88 runs started looking frail. Supported by Herbert, Ward showed the Tigers what a 20/20 innings should look like as he helped himself to four 4's and a brace of 6's. The bowling wasn't bad but Ward was obviously on a mission to get a pint and he wasn't about to let Tigers' bowlers Duff and Juszczak get in his way.
Stuart Duff did have some success before he was through as he combined with Monksy to have Herbert caught for 14. He had a smashing time trying for a run out from long on too, finding umpire Charlie Read's half filled pint glass tucked behind the middle stump at which he'd thrown and sending shards of glass all over the place.
But Ward and Evans completed what turned out to be a straightforward win for the Ducks as they floated in with 89-2 from 14.4 overs.
A good start to the Ducks' defence of their champions crown. And, as players from both teams met for a pint after the game, the Tigers weren't too despondent either. A good performance from both sides and some learning for the Tigers too.
Thanks to Charlie, Dave and all the Audley Ducks CC for an enjoyable game played in great spirit.
Click on the image for Tigers batting and Ducks bowling
And here for Ducks batting and Tigers bowling
Tigers Debutants and Roll-of Honour Numbers
Tony 'Postie' Winstone (54)
James 'Monksy' Monks (55)
Neale 'Nelly' Hayes (56)
Dan Raymond-Barker (57)
James Hayes (58)
Pete Bartlett (59)
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