Cricket News

by Ryan McMenamin

Benson do the double

RAF Benson 247-7 vs 82-8 RAF Odiham - 3 Aug 22

RAF Odiham’s first away game of their new setup ended in defeat at RAF Benson. Pallett hit fifteen fours on his way to 102*, ably assisted by Singh’s 69* which came with three sixes. In response, Oscar Fraser-Williams was the only Odiham batsman to dent the scoreboard as he hit 46, but the visitors were still some ways short.

Benson won the toss and opted to bat, an option very much vindicated as Andrews and Pallett raced to 70 before Dennison (3-40) had Andrews caught for 16 and quickly dismissed McCormick in a similar manner.

Smith (12) and Hearth (16) were there for a good time not a long time, before being bowled and caught respectively off the bowling of Pritchard and Dennison. Captain Pritchard, Odiham’s resident wicketkeeper, had removed the gloves for a spell with the ball and when he removed Danstan LBW it ensured he finished with figures of 2-38.

Having reduced Benson for 125-5, Odiham may have thought they had a chance of restricting their hosts to a competitive score. However, Singh and Pallett combined to put on 122 in the final twelve overs.

The only respite Odiham had was when Pallett retired having reached his ton, leaving them time to run out King and for Wilkins (1-14) to bowl Walsh.

With 35 overs permitted, Odiham required seven an over to win the game with only nine batsmen, but the top three falling for a combined four runs did nothing to help their cause.

Walsh (1-24) cleaned up Pritchard before Jeffs (1-13) trapped Maisey (1) in front and Moverley (3) was bowled by Danstan (1-15).

Fraser-Williams valiantly went after the Benson attack, managing five fours and three sixes.

Hearth (2-12) accounted for Wilkins and Bindine, meanwhile Dennison didn’t intend to go down without a scrap and hit an unbeaten 14.

Rawles was run out and Bailey (2-11) had Fraser-Williams and Warrener caught to seal Benson’s victory at the end of the 23rd over.

Odiham show no mercy to kickstart season

RAF Odiham 115-1 vs 111-7 RAF Wyton – 10 Aug 22

RAF Odiham breezed to their first win of the 2022 season with a 9-wicket victory over RAF Wyton. The wickets were shared out between the varied bowling attack before Ben Warner hit a half century in reply, aided by Chris Maisey. Wyton batted first at Odiham and Greywell CC, the driest ground in the country throughout July and August, as documented by Sky News and The Daily Mail amongst others. McMenamin opened up with a tight but unrewarded spell on a trampoline of a surface, zipping past Nash (16) and inviting an outside edge that flew to the Third Man rope. Fraser-Williams (2-13) was fizzing through to keeper Pritchard down the slope, but anything dropped too short would fly off the bat, Nash crashing a cut through Forward Point. The left-armer’s pace would be too much for Jordan (2), however, nicking to Pritchard in the fourth over. Kiru (21) would show the most promise with the bat for Wyton, he and Nash taking Dennison (2-37) for six boundaries in his first two overs including a full toss dispatched through Midwicket and a rasping straight drive. Moverley (2-3) castled Nash in his first over and had Kiru caught at Mid Off in his second, while Dennison recovered well to have Bromley caught straight and O’Grady (5) at Backward Point. Wilson (13) pulled Wilkins (1-15) through the leg side before slapping a full toss into the hands of McMenamin at Mid On. Abell (19) and Finden (11*) leathered a couple of boundaries each at the expense of CollyerPowell, before Fraser-Williams returned and dismissed Abell. In reply, Ben Warner hit nine boundaries and a huge six over Cow Corner on the way to retiring on 50*, having been dropped early on at Mid On. Meanwhile, Chris Maisey offered a pretty much chanceless 38* with six boundaries of his own including two merciless cuts through Point. Upon Warner’s retirement, Pritchard (5) managed to slap a four through Cover before being bowled by Able (1-10), with the only ball of the day to keep low. Maisey took Kiru over Mid On for four to seal the victory at the start of the 13th over.

London Area Cricket League 6’s Tournament

Ryan McMenamin with Flt Lt Rob Herrick

Venue: Odiham and Greywell Cricket Club Winners: RAF Odiham

On Wednesday 24th August the London Area Cricket League hosted a 6’s cricket tournament held at Odiham and Greywell Cricket Club. The teams included a variety of stations from the London area and competed for the coveted LACL 6’s trophy via 5-over format fixtures. The hot and dry summer continued into late August and the OGCC groundsman had worked extremely hard to provide the perfect setting for the day of cricket to follow. The tournament was held via a round robin format which saw every team play each other once with points awarded to the winner. The tournament saw the entry of 5 teams: two from RAF Odiham and one each from RAF Benson RAF Northolt and HQ Northwood. It was an extremely competitive tournament which saw each team win a minimum of one fixture, many of which were decided in the final few balls. In addition to the superb facilities provided, a cricket tea was also provided by OGCC which was gratefully received by the players with plenty to go around. Ultimately, however, there had to be a winner and much to their own surprise Odiham A came out the victors. Despite what can only be described as a thrashing by Benson in two separate fixtures earlier in the year, Odiham had learnt their lessons and put it into practice despite Benson pushing them all the way to the end. A fantastic day was had by all and all those involved left hoping to replicate the event on an annual basis. A special thanks must go to Sgt Tom Butcher who organised the event and ensured it was a great success.