BPCC v Club Cricket Conference - Sponsored by Stuart Canvas

DAY FOUR:

Guildford CC in Surrey was the venue for the Club Cricket Conference fixture with light rain falling and the satellite forecast of a shower later. A delayed toss saw the Conference put BP in on a humid cloudy morning, with the captains reducing the game to 40 overs to help prevent future mathematics! The top of the order saw an opening stand of 64 between Will Evans 37 (5x4’s and 2x6’s) and Mick Martin 24 (5x4’s) both striking the ball well but unable to push on from a sound base. The score soon slumped to 77-3 with the loss of Barry Stewart (3) lbw. Ray Doyle (34) and Stewart Taylor (19) put on 59 before they both fell within 2 runs, the board showing 138-5. Another collapse saw the final score reach 180-8 after the 40 overs with skipper Russ Bryan marooned on 31 not out.

The Conference set about the BP attack with relish, the openers putting on 116 at 7 an over before Bilal was stumped by Will Evans off Richard Jackson. The momentum continued with another 60 added in just 4 overs for the 2nd wicket with Oakley held on the boundary by a delighted Barry Stewart again from Richard Jackson. Oakley had plundered BP for a magnificent 125 in 77 minutes from 159 balls, scoring 13x4’s and 8x6’s – exactly 100 from boundaries! The BP total was passed with 20 overs to spare. This was an 8 wicket trouncing!

The Stuart Canvas Man of the Match award was presented to Oakley by the newly appointed BP Vice Chairman Simon Cole (CC Leicestershire)