Former player Nick Doubell was the driving force as Fair Oak slithered to defeat in the first match in their Southern Premier Division 1 programme, at the hands of newly promoted Langley Manor, at a dark and dismal Lapstone Park.
Fair Oak skipper Harry Reed played an important role in the early part of the match, compiling a patient 50 as Oaks stuttered to 113-5. But Doubell [left] took three wickets for 28, while Jack Campbell also caught the eye with 2-36. Matt White and Tom Clark then batted well, but were interrupted by a lengthy stoppage for rain that was to play a major part in deciding the match.
When they resumed, Oaks needed to press the accelerator. Clark made 35, White 23, and Lewis Goodyear chipped in with a useful 12 at the end as Fair Oak reached a decent total of 201-9 from their 50-over allocation.
Duckworth-Lewis deliberations during the interval produced a revised target of 154 for the Manor to chase in 28 overs. The Fair Oak opening attack of Ben Smith and Andy Mash displayed pace and hostility, but although Mash bowled Conor Browne for 11, sensible batting from Jack Budd (41) and South Australian left-hander Tejas Gill (36) kept Langley in touch with the required rate. At 78-1 the contest was tilting in their favour.
Doubell, who was joined by Campbell at 99-3, then took control. He smote three enormous sixes off of consecutive balls to bring his side victory at 155-3 in the 25th over, finishing 33 not out from just 19 balls. Campbell’s contribution was an unbeaten 24.
Fair Oak skipper Harry Reed played an important role in the early part of the match, compiling a patient 50 as Oaks stuttered to 113-5. But Doubell [left] took three wickets for 28, while Jack Campbell also caught the eye with 2-36. Matt White and Tom Clark then batted well, but were interrupted by a lengthy stoppage for rain that was to play a major part in deciding the match.
When they resumed, Oaks needed to press the accelerator. Clark made 35, White 23, and Lewis Goodyear chipped in with a useful 12 at the end as Fair Oak reached a decent total of 201-9 from their 50-over allocation.
Duckworth-Lewis deliberations during the interval produced a revised target of 154 for the Manor to chase in 28 overs. The Fair Oak opening attack of Ben Smith and Andy Mash displayed pace and hostility, but although Mash bowled Conor Browne for 11, sensible batting from Jack Budd (41) and South Australian left-hander Tejas Gill (36) kept Langley in touch with the required rate. At 78-1 the contest was tilting in their favour.
Doubell, who was joined by Campbell at 99-3, then took control. He smote three enormous sixes off of consecutive balls to bring his side victory at 155-3 in the 25th over, finishing 33 not out from just 19 balls. Campbell’s contribution was an unbeaten 24.
