Match Report
Sunday 25 July -v- Oxted at Master Park
For the second consecutive week we encountered new oppo, as we spread our wings across the Kent/Surrey border to the picturesque town of Oxted. On a ground, that had been recently used by Surrey II’s, the skip found several of his charge, looking shell-shocked as to what the hell we were doing at this classy looking joint. Things like sight-screens and scoreboards and pitches that looked like the ones on the telly, plus an actual pavilion, left several Crusaders in stunned silence. Another toss lost, gave Spud further cause for worry, as Oxted gave us the benefit of first knock on an idyllic looking track. Whilst we were still somewhat in awe of the consequences of defending about twenty runs, our opponents had regrouped in their dressing room for a team-talk. All Nob’s major worries appeared closer to realisation, as Mark chose the wrong ball to practice his 'Atherton' leave shot and returned bemoaning his luck and the fact that he never outlasts Rhino when they bat together. Tubby Clark joined Steve in the middle, for what proved to be a most profitable partnership. Both played exceptionally well and straight to bowling that was naggingly accurate, if not particularly penetrative. When Neil departed their followed a succession of rapid wickets, culminating in Rhino, 'walking' to a bat handle catch for a top scoring 44.The innings was nailed back together by a fluent partnership of sixty runs, between Softy and Spud, that remained intact through to the close. Our final total was 150 for 7 from our allotted 46 overs; Why 46 overs? Their skip was a Kiwi!
Silver Fox and Chris set us on our way with accurate spells that netted each a victim, but fell short of the necessary inroads we would need to make if we were to win the game. Slack and The Nob joined forces, this time with the ball, in a combined twelve over spell that reduced Oxted from comfortable composure to complete disarray. Spud started the rot, with two wickets in his third over, before Timmo displayed his intimate knowledge of little boys, by removing the entire middle order of Surrey U-15s in ten balls. With Spud mopping up the tail (more bunnies), Oxted completed a memorable Crusader style demise from 70-2 to 86 all out. A victory that for most of the day had appeared unlikely was finally achieved with some margin to spare; Gordon even got two overs. Hospitality was not their strong point, as most of them had to go home to bed, but we stayed and hopefully cemented the fixture with some good humoured banter with their skipper. The Fines Committee had afield day at the expense of Timmo, after his complaint at ‘having to do the donkey work and running uphill into the wind’, was thrown out of court. Simply was docked for contravening local noise pollution bye laws with his ‘Oi’ shouting and Billy and Darkie were treated with great leniency for drops off the skip, which could have cost us the game.
