Offley & Stopsley II's 146-7 Vs Codicote, 235-5 ; 7th June

OSCC Lost by 89 runs

On the day that veteran seamer Ray Counsel tripped the light fantastic down the pavilion steps – demonstrating a marked lack of bouncebackability on hitting the bottom – Offley slumped to a heavy defeat despite a sparkling maiden half-century from Marc Ward.

The visitors batted first and although Ward made an early breakthrough by dismissing Lucy without scoring, Clarke and Richards were soon on their way, racking up the runs and smashing the bowlers to all parts. Gary Chamberlain and Andrew Vanhoof were hit out of the attack before skipper Colin Keeley exerted a small measure of control by mixing sixes with wickets as he dismissed Richards for 60 and later took a return catch to dismiss the other Lucy for 26. However, Clarke made 57 and Smith hammered a swift unbeaten 56 to carry the visitors to an imposing total of 235-5. Amid the brutal damage inflicted upon various bowling figures, Counsel picked up a knee injury that kept him out of the attack.

Offley’s hopes of chasing down an improbable victory target were never particularly high and were rapidly reduced as a succession of batsmen contrived to get themselves caught in the vicinity of gully and backward point. Vanhoof was the first to go, slicing a drive before Dathan Sale popped up a regulation chance. Gary Law perished in similar circumstances to Vanhoof and when Keeley succeeded in guiding the ball to the waiting fielder Offley were effectively sunk at 59-4.

Chamberlain played some fine shots, hammering his first two sixes of the season, before he was unluckily bowled off his pads attempting a sweep. Debutant Symon Wardley fell for a single and at 65-6 it appeared very much to be a question of start the cars time. However, Ward and Paul Hum came together to share a stand of 81 to help Keeley’s men avoid embarrassment and humiliation if not defeat.

Batting with a composure that shamed some of his older teammates (his 41-year old skipper for example), the 16-year old Ward played some marvellous shots, striking six boundaries and bringing up his 50 in the penultimate over to become the youngest player to reach the milestone in club history. Hum also produced an impressive effort, benefitting from one or two strokes of good fortune to score 20 before he was dismissed off the final ball of the innings.

With defeat almost came tragedy as Counsel tumbled down the famous Keeley Steps like a rusty slinky. Fortunately the Mancunian seamer survived the fall and should be fit for the new season if not before.