OE’s Get Off The Canvas For Exciting Win

On a day close to resembling summer, OE’s were buoyed by their previous week’s victory in the rain against Bushey as they hosted Totteridge Millhillians 2’s for a local derby in Division 2B.

A team containing 3 changes from the previous week (Brad, Dom and Tushar on debut) were again leading from the front prior to the start of the match, as the third team looked on at the warm up taking place, and soon replicated it on the nearby second pitch.

Captain Nav continued his unlucky streak, as he lost another toss, which in 27 degree heat made the decision to bat first an almost foregone conclusion.

Still the boys took to the field with a strong confidence following 2 wins in 3 games so far, and off the back of the T20 win on Sunday.

The returning POTY, Dom Goring and Charlie Busby got things underway and began to trouble one of the Totteridge openers both on the outside edge and with straight deliveries. Busby was unlucky not to pick up the opener in a quick opening spell as a chance at slip went begging, but despite no wickets in the first ten overs, with the score at only 35 the boys were happy with their disciplined start.

Pricey coming on from his first bowl of the season soon settled into the rhythm we all know and love to watch, and Fitzy, (who was quite stunning behind the stumps as the regular keeper was busy watching some other sport) always felt in the game as the ball began to talk. And soon the breakthrough came as Mohammed was caught by Braddles at midwicket.

Totteridge were happy to build the scoreboard without taking many risks, which was also due to some very disciplined bowling and excellent fielding from the boys. With the score at 160 -1 off 40 overs, and OE’s happy with their performance thus far, they were aware that with wickets in hand the opposition could begin to play freely.

In the 42nd over, Jimmy took a great catch off the bowling of captain Nav, over his shoulder to remove the number 3 for a well-played 40. Captain Nav was once again very economical with his 10 costing 34 runs.

Then the reintroduction of Goring and Busby with pace on the ball was a critical time of the match. But the OE’s boys stood up and were counted here. Goring first bowled an over which took out the number 4’s off pole and then bowled 5 dot balls including the final ball being a run out, as the 43rd over of the match was a brilliant maiden. A blinding catch in the outfield from Kappa in Goring’s following over saw the big man finish with 2-32 from his 10.

Busby closed up from the other end, and his pace was too much for one of the batsman as the stumps ended all over the place.

Totteridge’s innings was held together throughout by their 18 year old overseas star Elijah Eales who batted for 50 overs in a virtually chanceless innings as he scored 124* in a total of 212-6.

At half time, the OE’s boys were very much the happier and ready to set about chasing this total with a positive mind set. A wonderful tea surely helped the mood of some of the boys.

It was decided that there was to be a shuffle around at the top of the order which saw Fitzy join last week’s hero, Pricey at the top with Jimmy at 3. Fair to say this was a move which yielded minimal success as the three of them were removed to leave the score 9-3 and OE’s completely behind the game.

Captain Nav and Kappa began to settle in, and see off the impressive Eales, who also opened the bowling after batting 50 overs! Then followed 2 lapses of concentration which saw both of the set batsman head back to the pavilion with only 50 on the board.

Tushy on debut, and with a sore head, must have wondered what was going on! But he produced a key innings, and the contributions from Goring and Busby showed quite how strong the OE’s Colts Development Programme really is.
Goring first was brutal in hitting 52 from 48 balls, where no one else scored at a run a ball on a two paced surface. His strop following being dropped behind Holland earlier in the season seems to be somewhat justified here. But when he was out, bowled by a floaty full toss, there was still a lot of work to do.

The resulting overs proved to be far more exciting than some other sport on TV that afternoon.

Busby, with a fan base unlike any seen at Gypsy Lane before (at one point there was a horde of 6 Busby fans (this obviously includes Mrs Franzini)) began to show his skills and striking ability, as he moved his way up the OE’s six hitting league with two lusty blows, losing a ball in the process. At the other end, Tushy was accumulating smartly and not giving any chances as he and Busby put on the final 68 runs with consummate ease to see OE’s through to victory.

Tushy with a wonderful 51 not out on debut to win the game was a particular highlight of the day, and Busby finishing with 45 not out will go a long way to pleasing his fan base!

A brilliant team win, with a wonderful song afterwards, sees OE’s sitting second in the table, with a game vs Berkhamsted next weekend as the two promoted teams go head to head.