The U3A’s Cricket XI had a return fixture against the Ormskirk Occasionals on a (mostly) sunny Bank Holiday Monday, 30th May on the pleasant pitch at the rear of Ormskirk Cricket Club.
Advertised as a 20 overs match, we discovered it was in fact a 75 overs match, with the home side batting first and limited to a maximum of 40 overs; the visiting side would then bat for the remainder of the 75 overs.
Ormskirk Occasionals’ innings
The Occasionals got off to a fairly brisk start, reaching 14 off the first 3 overs before Izzett made the breakthrough having Thornton caught by Jones for 7. The Occasionals steadied themselves but with Cookson tying down one end, Izzett struck again to remove Rogers, caught behind, before he could really get going: 27 for 2. The home side had to do something, and accelerated to 48 before their opener, Graham, was magnificently caught in the deep by Izzett off the bowling of Cookson. With only 3 more runs on the board, Carver was stopped in his tracks, caught behind by Littler, off captain Evans with only his second ball.
The score of 51-4 from the opening 14 overs was on the low side, but another 22 run partnership took the Occasionals to a respectable 72 before Hughes was clean bowled by Jones. A further 29 run partnership saw the home side reach the 100 mark, before hard-hitting Irving ‘retired’ on 30. However, 3 cheap wickets for the visitors (2 clean bowled by Cookson, 1 caught Evans, bowled Forster) forced the Occasionals to take a more cautious approach, adding just 17 runs in 6 overs before Halton was out bowled Trigwell. With the score at 121 for 9 off 30 overs, Irving was forced to return to the crease. Taking pity on them (!), the visitors gave Lloyd and Nolan the chance to finish off the innings; however, Irving simply hit the ball even harder. Finally, after he and Griffiths had put on 35 runs for the highest partnership of the innings, Irving eventually fell for 56 to a very smart stumping off Evans.
With ‘Extras’ being the second highest scorer, the Occasionals had reached a decent total of 156 from 33 overs, setting the U3A side a stretching but achievable target in the remaining 42 overs.
The tea interval was welcomed by both sides, and we were treated to a variety of sandwiches, pies, scones and cakes. All very much appreciated!
U3A’s run chase!
Carlton and Nolan opened the U3A batting, if you can call it that, by roaring away to a total of 5 after 5 overs! It seemed the purpose was to tire out the opening bowlers, so they would lose line and length. Responding to groans and jeers from the crowd, Nolan suddenly unleashed a mighty straight drive over the bowler which was a certain boundary until it landed in the long grass. [Captain, can we call for the mower on the outfield between innings next year?] At least it wasn’t just a single, and the very next ball did make it all the way to the boundary. 12 without loss off 6 overs moved steadily to 35 without loss off 15, before Nolan’s exuberance took its toll and he had to retire hurt with a pulled calf muscle. Still, 22 not out was 3 times his previous highest score, which was about 50 years ago!
Two quick wickets (Forster 1, Carlton 13, all in singles – did I mention that the outfield was covered in long grass?) brought the need for some discipline, and to be honest, for some proper batting talent.
It was Barry Littler who came to the rescue. He was assisted first by Critchley, and then by the superb Trigwell in a stand of 82 before Trigwell was caught off Rogers for 21. At 132 for 4 (5 if Nolan was unfit to resume), the visitors had wickets in hand, but could they keep up the run rate? By this time Littler was seeing the ball as though it were a football, and joined by Evans, they added the required 22 runs in just 3 overs.
So, in spite of no team practice since last year’s match, we won!
I think it would be fair to say Littler was man of the match – with an unbeaten 85 runs, 2 catches and a stumping no one else came close.
Many thanks to the Ormskirk Occasionals for their hospitality and their willingness to give us a game, and we hope to see you next year.
Thanks also to the small band of loyal supporters who came along and braved the rather chill wind at times.
The Winning Team against Ormskirk Occasionals, May 2016
Match against ‘Ormskirk Occasionals’, May 2015
Last Updated on January 18, 2017
