Round 2 of the DCCL Div 1 season saw OG host Woodley, a team strongly fancied to be in the mix for honours this year, so the OG lads were well up for the game and took to the field aiming to restrict the visitors to a sub 200 total after a successful toss by skipper Rob Adderley.
The track had seen some rain during the week but was drying out rapidly and the OG openers, Rob and Ellis, were extracting some pace at both ends.
Woodley survived a couple of very close calls early on and the OG ground fielding was good in the main but a couple of lapses of concentration cost a few runs which ultimately would be rued in the final reckoning.
Ellis Walsh struck first, removing Gibson LBW for 28, leaving Woodley 62 for 1 and with their skipper, Danny Kay, not out on 33 and looking solid at the crease, whilst punishing anything loose of line or length.
Rob bowled well for no reward in his initial spell and with a smart caught behind from Ben, Ellis picked up another wicket to complete his 12 overs (2 for 47), Woodley now 80 odd for 2 and Kay having moved ominously to 44 not out.
Lenny and Flicker replaced the openers and both enjoyed success with 1 and 3 wickets respectively.
Flicker's three victims included a smart stumping by Ben to remove the other Kay brother, all the while seeing Danny Kay close in on his ton.
He was granted a life with a spilled catch but eventually cut for three to complete his century and the generous applause of all present.
Rob returned to claim the wicket of Kay and after their 45 overs, Woodley registered 191 for 7, Kay contributing 102, and the OG lads thinking they could chase that total down with the right approach.
The track had by now, dried out and was hard and true and this allowed OG off to a flyer with both Josh and Adam scoring boundaries and OG were 50 for 0 in no time.
More boundaries followed before the first wicket fell, Josh for a quick fire 34 off 25 deliveries, OG 70 for 1.
Adam was looking confident at the crease and continued to score freely with Jehrome now at the other end looking to keep the strike rotated but after adding a further 25 run partnership, both fell to leave OG 96 for 2, then 98 for 3.
A further 20 odd run partnership between Rob and Dane moved OG towards the Woodley total but another two wickets fell in quick succession with Rob harshly adjudged LBW to Jamie Kay, but the very next ball saw Ben clean bowled by the same bowler and the visitors were now on top, OG 120 for 5.
This soon became 125 for 6 with Dane bowled through the gate.
AK and Mark Allen surveyed the damage and tried to consolidate but a rusty shot saw AK nick off to the slips.
140 for 7 and another 50 odd still needed to win.
Mally and Lenny then put on 30 with Mally taking the lead to drag OG back into it.
The watching crowd were certainly being entertained and the nerves on the balcony were shredded with no one allowed to move from their seats in usual cricket superstition style.
Each run was cheered by the OG faithful with the home team now closing in on 150 but then another wicket fell, Lenny, to bring Flicker to join Mally.
Nerves were jangling as the pair combined to take the score to 176 for 9 before Flicker was out for a useful 13, leaving Mally and Ellis as the last pair and within 16 of victory.
A great little partnership followed and, in truth, probably deserved to take us to the win, as the score moved towards the required 192, as the overs ticked away and we then found ourselves in the last over of the game needing just a few runs for victory.
The watching balcony prayed for a full toss which duly followed but, agonisingly, only went for a single, and a further single was scrambled leaving OG 190 for 9 and just two runs shy of the win.
The tension was palpable before the heartache which followed for OG, with a mix up leading to a run out and Woodley claimed the win with OG 190 all out.
Losing by a single run is a harsh lesson to look back on every piece of fielding, dropped catches, wides, no balls etc. but ultimately the OG lads move onto their next fixture knowing that the result could easily have gone their way on another day and the fact being that they do belong and will compete in Div 1 this season.
Hard to award a MOM this week in that close defeat.
Both Josh and Adam got us off to a flyer with their 34 and 36 respectively but for his 27 and almost seeing us home, Mark Allen gets the nod.
Tintwistle away next up in Round 3 in an eagerly awaited local derby.
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