Boys' 1st XI v Oakham

Date: Saturday 8th May

Venue: Home, 1230. [Please note change to usual start time] 

Team: Graham, Ikin, Murrall, Cosford, Sanderson, Jacques, Byas, Hodson-Walker, Ahmed, Eldred, Moore.

Result: Won by 4 wickets. Oakham 171 (45 overs)  (Ahmed 4-35)  Repton 172-6 (Ikin 75)

Match Report: This was no Summer's day - temperatures of 8C were not that cricket friendly but we were fortunate to play as the weather could have been much more wet.

Repton bowled first, and after Oakham's batters had started with some intent, they raced to 30 of 5 overs. Ahmed then picked up the first wicket and a deflected run out at the bowlers end, plus 2 more wickets from Ahmed meant we reduced Oakham to 52-4 before Moore picked up his first wicket of the day to make it 53-5. Oakham batted well from this point forward, their young number three batsman making 91. Sanderson picked up 2 wickets and Eldred one before a great catch from Moore gave Ahmed his fourth. Moore then finished the innings with a run out. The second half of the innings was not the best from Repton with some indifferent length being bowled, combined with a little carelessness in the field settings.

A total of 171 was certainly competitive and Graham and Ikin put on 50 before Graham was caught at mid on. Murrall departed for 10 soon afterwards and at this point we were only scoroing at 3 per over. A brief, yet vital 34 from Cosford gave the innings some much needed tempo and set the wheels  in motion. When he was bowled off his foot, the required rate was under 4 per over. Ikin, who was determined to grind out the win for Repton, passed 50 and with Jacques set about completing the win. Although missing out on a number of scoring opportunities offered, the pair took us within 10 before Ikin was caught for a hard-working and match winning 75. Jacques finished 15 not out after we were left needing one from the last 6 balls.

It completed another victory that we worked hard to achieve, even if it wasn't the most polished performance. We will have to step up if we are to be succesful against what will no doubt be an experienced Shrewsbury side next week.