Otterden

Match Report

Otterden is a timeless venue, with a backdrop of cattle under parkland trees and the big house. And Theo set about the Otterden attack with a nonchalant elegance that belonged in another age. Flicking boundaries off his legs at will, he moved serenely to his century. Partners came and went, contributing modestly, and when he was out for 113 with the total on 187 in the 29th over, the scene was set for some late innings agricultural brutality from Simon and Eliot. A declaration at 238 for 7 laid down the gauntlet.

Otterden had plenty of time to chase, and set off with a degree of prudent caution against the furious pace of Finn Hulbert, who was rewarded with an explosion of stumps. Jasper picked up 2 in an over, as the rate slowed further, but this brought together Ben Bowles (who had scored heavily for the Stragglers in May) and Jamie Henderson. These two picked up singles at will, having correctly identified a certain lack of agility in the field (only partly age related, as the ‘boys’ all seemed to have picked up early season rugby injuries as well). Just as the acceleration began to look ominous, both fell to false shots, and for the next 15 overs, the game swung back and forth, as momentum grew only to be pegged back by another catch, the Master brewer putting the rest of his body on the line to hang on to one at long off. The red ball disappeared in the increasing gloom, as forty from 6 became thirty eight from 4, but the last recognised batsmen hang on for the draw at 218 for 7.