The Originals enjoyed a fantastic league win on Saturday defeating unbeaten league leaders Wantage at Marsh on Saturday. The league table suggested this was a top v bottom clash, however, Gibbon didn’t read the script as they produced some excellent cricket against a strong outfit to ease to victory by 5 wickets…….a fitting tribute a true ‘Marsh legend’ Grant ‘new bloke’ Cross, who celebrated his 300th game for the Originals.
After a very disappointing showing at Cairns Fudge the previous week, Marsh were without Tom Leonard, who was still struggling with his disease and fellow inbetweeners Sammy and Shippers, so the youthful look to our outfit was kept afloat by Will, who brought the average age down considerably, along with the returning Crouch and Stevie.
After a big downpour on Friday night, Stu won the toss and duly inserted the opposition, hoping to take advantage of the bowling conditions. With the ball seaming around nicely, Needham, despite a niggly hip, got the ball rolling as the opener nicked off behind. Stevie was beating the bat at will from the other end, and was unlucky not to end up with more than two wickets from a fantastic spell of bowling. Gibbon backed up their bowlers with some superb catching and ground fielding, as runs were hard to come by. Most notably, Jules, who took two excellent catches to muster 100 fantasy points, Matty, who produced a superb run out after a suicide run and Willo, who produced the biggest cheer of the day as the ball was nailed to him at square leg, taking a billiant catch which was greeted by the youngster being bundled by his delighted teammates. Satty again brought control and Crouchy and Timmo picked up handy wickets to restrict the visitors to 82 all out. A fantastic effort with the ball and in the field, which was particularly pleasing after a very lacklustre effort the previous week in all departments.
Gibbon faced a tough half hour before tea with the bat, as Wantage looked to attack, bowling well from the farm end in particular. Satty and Joe stood strong and really set the platform for victory as despite the small total, with Gibbon’s league position at the time, meaning there was still some nervousness around. Joe and Sat really battled hard to get the team to 28-0 at tea.
We retired for a fantastic tea by Amy….the homemade sausage rolls a particular savoury favourite, along with some very fine cakes! Joe and Satty again faced tough challenges after the break, before both were removed in quick succession……there efforts not to be underestimated. Jules continued their good work, using all his experience to push runs into the gaps to bring Gibbon closer to victory, but when both Matt and Will went without troubling the scorers, the boys were looking over their shoulders a little. Stu and Jules steadied the ship to guide Gibbon within 8 of victory, before Jules was caught for a very important 17, which was huge given the circumstances. Stu and Carlos got Gibbon over the line with Carlos smashing the winning runs through point to the boundary, to rapturous celebrations from a big crowd of our ever supportive band of followers.
Satty cranked up the music and the boys enjoyed a few celebratory changing room beers before retiring for fines. With both Satty and Granty on the case, there was going to be no escaping a full house of maximums for all, notably, Jules ‘adonis’ Chambers, who was spotted on Facebook doing Tom Daley impressions, Joe, for excessive PDA on matchday and new bloke, for a massive TFC!
The boys retired to the dog and then onto the Needy’s to sample a few more, whilst watching the England boys offer up their usual showing, accompanied by some delightful snap served up by Satty and Mrs V, which the boys were very grateful for.
All round a top effort and a great day, setting up a big few weeks for the team with important league games, including a local derby against Fringford on Saturday and a big cup quarter final the following week.
Great stuff boys.
Stu