Gaieties 6 August 2019

Manager Alex Wildman

Lost by 7 wickets

SOA 183 for 7 dec (Ben Ling 61 not out, Ed Wildman 27 not out)

Gaieties 184 for 3 (Ed Wildman 2-26, T Lurcock 1-23)

The Gaieties match is a much enjoyed staple of the SOA season and playing the game as a part of the 2019 Oxford Festival of Wandering Clubs was an appropriate celebration of this fixture.

The forecast was poor and as dark clouds circled to the West, SOA batted first having won the toss. Max and Johnny Sutton opened, facing disciplined and controlled bowling from Kelleher and Khalique. The Gaieties tight bowling was proving difficult to get away on a pitch offering some variable bounce and when both father and son's wickets had fallen SOA were 32-2 after 17 overs. Coming to the crease at number 4, Ben Ling hit a fine 61 not out which was the mainstay of the SOA innings, and he accelerated his strike rate superbly as his innings developed. A key 58 run unbroken partnership between Ben and Ed Wildman, who drove the ball hard to finish on 27 not out, enabled a rain influenced declaration after 37 overs leaving Gaieties needing 184 from approximately 34 overs left available.

Colin Allen and Ed Wildman opened the bowling and both shaped the ball well with Ed dismissing both Gaieties' openers. Canny field placement masterminded by Dan Hawes had kept the run rate in check and with the Gaieties score on 44-2 the game was on. However, despite some Lurcock magic to remove Lethbridge for 54, the Gaieties were seen home by Hughes' unbeaten 91, an excellent risk free knock.

Our thanks to Gaieties for an excellent game and to Bob Belcher and Andrew Moss for umpiring and scoring for us.

Both teams were grateful to the Queens groundsman Martin who had made it clear that he was happy for us to play through the showers as needed, ahead of his superb barbeque to end the day.