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On the face of it, there was little to play for when third placed Langley Manor hosted Fair Oak in the final round of Southern Premnier Division 2 matches - but it didn't prevent the Knellers Lane faithful from being serviedup with a 19-wicket low scoring thriller.
James Gradwell, with his fast medium swing, and Sam Reed were the key players in Fair Oak's one-wicket win.
Early on it was James Gradwell [top left] who took the lead role. The fast-medium swing bowler, who started the season in Fair Oak’s 2nd XI but has now nailed down a place at the top table, took five wickets for just 14 in his ten overs to leave the Manor reeling at 43-6.
The spinners completed the job, Monty McKenzie bagging 3 for 16 and Gregor McKenzie and Lewis Goodyear a wicket apiece as the hosts struggled to 88 all out in the 33rd over. Only three Langley batsmen reached double figures – Steve Harris (16), Fair Oak old boy Nick Doubell (14) and Charlie Lount (18).
Oaks, in turn, were also in deep trouble at 31-4 (Ben Morgan 3-26) when Harry Reed was joined by his younger brother Sam. They added 19 for the fifth wicket before the elder sibling was caught off trainee gasman Toby Green for 16. Left-armer Green took 4-31 and fellow spinner, little Tommy Spencer 1-13 as the Manor applied the brakes.
At 68-5 Oaks were definitely in the driving seat – and then three wickets in a Green over enabled Langley to wrest the initiative back. But the younger Reed stood firm, quietly mixing watchful defence with punishing back foot stroke play.
The ninth wicket fell at 71, and Manor skipper Spencer brought back his quicker bowlers in an attempt to polish Oaks off. But added pace brought with it more opportunities to score, and Ben Smith, who has opened the innings on occasion, showed he was far better than his number eleven status would suggest.
Smith was unbeaten on five when Reed cracked his fifth boundary to win the match and complete his innings on 39 not out, by far the highest score of the match. Oaks’ winning total of 89 for 9 was reached in the 33rd over.
James Gradwell, with his fast medium swing, and Sam Reed were the key players in Fair Oak's one-wicket win.
Early on it was James Gradwell [top left] who took the lead role. The fast-medium swing bowler, who started the season in Fair Oak’s 2nd XI but has now nailed down a place at the top table, took five wickets for just 14 in his ten overs to leave the Manor reeling at 43-6.
The spinners completed the job, Monty McKenzie bagging 3 for 16 and Gregor McKenzie and Lewis Goodyear a wicket apiece as the hosts struggled to 88 all out in the 33rd over. Only three Langley batsmen reached double figures – Steve Harris (16), Fair Oak old boy Nick Doubell (14) and Charlie Lount (18).
Oaks, in turn, were also in deep trouble at 31-4 (Ben Morgan 3-26) when Harry Reed was joined by his younger brother Sam. They added 19 for the fifth wicket before the elder sibling was caught off trainee gasman Toby Green for 16. Left-armer Green took 4-31 and fellow spinner, little Tommy Spencer 1-13 as the Manor applied the brakes.
At 68-5 Oaks were definitely in the driving seat – and then three wickets in a Green over enabled Langley to wrest the initiative back. But the younger Reed stood firm, quietly mixing watchful defence with punishing back foot stroke play.
The ninth wicket fell at 71, and Manor skipper Spencer brought back his quicker bowlers in an attempt to polish Oaks off. But added pace brought with it more opportunities to score, and Ben Smith, who has opened the innings on occasion, showed he was far better than his number eleven status would suggest.
Smith was unbeaten on five when Reed cracked his fifth boundary to win the match and complete his innings on 39 not out, by far the highest score of the match. Oaks’ winning total of 89 for 9 was reached in the 33rd over.
