A lesson in patience and perseverance

Cricket is a game that teaches some important values. Watching the 2nd XI fielding in the rain on the Colts pitch on Saturday, with Oakham piling on the runs, it was, at times, hard to recall what those values are. Many probably felt the same way at ten to seven when, having played through rain and cold, and watching both sides rack up almost 500 runs between them, the result was a draw. Certainly, the Oakham member of staff, who arrived in shorts, was unconvinced as the merits of the result. But, after all that, with both sides putting together enormous innings, and neither side being bowled out, did either deserve to lose?

Kaamil Walilay won the toss and sent the visitors in to bat, uncertain what a good innings would be on the small Colts pitch. Despite an early gem of a ball from Ben Barwell which rattled the opener’s wickets, Oakham quickly got into their stride. The inclement weather paused proceedings, and for a while threatened to make our visitors get back on the bus early, but perseverance (and Mr Tovey’s offering to the deities who watch cricket matches) meant that we missed a quarter of an hour. Back on the field, a dropped catch meant their captain went on to score some runs, and two others reached 50 as Oakham took full advantage  of the nearness of the road to post a very large total of 238 after 30 overs. Indeed, they might have scored even more but for the good sense of Tom Winterton, whose spin bowling was compromised by the wet ball, when he switched to a rather impressive pace delivery. Ben Barwell bowled well too, and even Sam Bennett, normally a keeper, stepped up to bowl a few overs.

Going in late for drinks, it was clear that things were running late, and Bilton only came in a quarter to five. Edmund Krarup had been promoted to open the batting, and did so very well, keeping his end while Ben Barwell sent the Oakham fielders scurrying. Both ended up with half centuries, and saw their way through most of the overs, before Ben got a top edge and was well caught by a running wicket-keeper. The boys stayed close to the required run-rate, but never close enough, and the draw was always the most likely result, even with ten overs left. So it was.

The 2nd XI should feel pleased with their achievements with the bat over the last week, scoring nearly 400 runs for about ten wickets. The bowling has been steady too. It is in the field that the 2nd XI need to look to themselves; dropped catches, balls that pass between fielder’s feet and go on to the boundary and a general lethargy about walking in, being alert and making sharp decisions about where to throw the fielded ball means we have drawn two game we could have won.

Look to it, Twos.


Tags: Cricket, Prep, Sport