OT’s lost the toss for the ninth consecutive game this season and were asked to bat first in their Southern Premier League Division 2 game against Langley Manor on July 8.

In bowler-friendly conditions with the ball nipping and seaming the Langley Manor opening bowlers Ben Morgan and Tom Spencer reduced OT’s to 21 for 6 with all the top order batsmen back in the pavilion. Seventh wicket pair Vikram Dawson and Hakim Peruzi slowly started to rebuild as conditions improved against the Langley Manor change bowlers. Scoring slowly at first the pair gradually increased the scoring rate and they took advantage of any loose bowling. The seventh wicket partnership was finally broken with the score on 142 when Vikram was clean bowled by Steve Harris for 30. Hakim departed 6 runs later dismissed by the same bowler for a game changing 68 from 100 deliveries with ten fours.

Useful later order runs were added by Tom George with 25 not out and Max Costley who chipped in with a useful 22. The final total of of 206 from 50 overs was helped by the addition of 35 extras from the Langley bowlers. The score was considerably higher than had looked possible after the first hours play.

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Langley started their reply in sunny conditions which were much easier for batting and had proceeded to 41 before William Budd was clean bowled by Hakim for 14. The introduction of Matt Bampton and Vikram Dawson slowed the flow of runs and Matt and Vikram each picked up two wickets.  Langley opener Conor Browne was dismissed by a stunning catch from Harry Tulk in the covers for 29 off the bowling of Vikram as Langley slumped to 60 for 5. Thick cloud cover returned and Langley found runs very difficult to come by as Nick Doubell and Todd Garner were content to play very defensively against the accurate bowling of OT’s.

Langley had reached 72 for 5 from 25 overs and well behind the required run rate when it started to rain and caused the eventual abandonment of the game. OT’s were winners by 47 runs under the Duckworth Lewis scoring method and remain in second spot in the league.

OT’s next game is away to bottom club Hook & Newnham on July 15.