It was a warm, sticky day, and Andy won the toss. After some deliberation, he opted to put Brooklands in to bat first—a decision that raised a few eyebrows given the ominous weather.

Andy turned to the experienced duo of Jonny Litler (10-0-77-0) and Adrian Lascu (10-1-53-2) to open the bowling. It didn’t take long for Lascu to make his mark, breaking his drought from last week with a crucial LBW dismissal of Todd Walker (20) on the final ball of the 8th over. Brooklands had an early setback but found some stability with Ben Cunliffe (28) and Raheem Tariq (79) at the crease.

Danny Leech’s sharp catch at first slip off Andy Dufty (10-1-46-2) sent Cunliffe packing in the 18th over, leaving Brooklands at 68/2—a promising start for OP. However, Tariq and Sudanshu Rajshetty (22) dug in, frustrating the fielders and adding 44 runs before Rajshetty was trapped LBW by Dufty.

When Kevin Carroll (35), Brooklands’ skipper, strode to the middle, memories of his ton in a previous outing at OP loomed large. True to form, Carroll smashed some trademark big hits before Litler’s catch at mid-wicket off Lascu brought his innings to an end. But not before the partnership had inflicted some damage. At 176/4 after 34 overs, Brooklands had the upper hand.

Enter Jim Hugall, who played a sensational knock. Hugall’s unbeaten 92, paired with Tariq’s 79, pushed Brooklands to a daunting 327/6. Despite valiant efforts from Danny Leech (4-0-32-2) and Adrian Lascu, Brooklands’ middle order piled on the runs, exploiting gaps in the field and finding the boundary with ease.

Chasing 327: A Mountain Too High

The run chase began with a glimmer of hope. Danny Leech (30) and Andy Dufty (1) looked comfortable early on, but Charlie Mitchell (6-0-41-2) struck twice, dismissing Dufty and Farrington (11) to leave OP at 40/2.

Tom Lett (6-1-27-2) further dented OP’s hopes, removing Leech and Jonny Litler (11) in quick succession. At 49/4, the task grew even more challenging. Adrian Lascu (15) showed some resistance, but the lower order couldn’t provide the support needed.

Brooklands’ bowlers, led by Kevin Carroll (3-0-15-3) and Rob Leach (3.2-2-8-0), tightened the screws, and OP was bowled out for just 91 in the 19th over—a humbling defeat.

Looking Ahead

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the team, but there’s still time to turn things around. With two away matches remaining—first against Cheadle and then against 2nd-placed Lindow—the squad has an opportunity to regroup, recover from injuries, and finish the season on a high note.

We’ve shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, and with the right mindset, we can get back to playing our best cricket. Let’s take this one on the chin, learn from it, and come back stronger.