Offham returned to winning ways with a 56 run
victory that was at its conclusion comprehensive
but during formation hard won.
After
being inserted the home side resolved to take
their innings the full course, something that
they have found a challenge in contrasting
conditions the two previous weeks. After
significant bouts of rain in the last
fortnight Offham sought to achieve this on a
wicket that was soft and more than a little
damp.
Opening the innings Gary Evans laid anchor and
was soon joined by Nathan Faulkes, after Mark
Collier failed to trouble the scorers. Faulkes
fell to a sharp stumping chance with the score
on 25, and captain Neil Willis entered the arena
determined to post a total to challenge Wye
after tea. Slowly but steadily he grew the score
as a consequence of several patient partnerships
first with Evans, and then Nigel Stoodley and
Phil Blakeburn. When Willis fell for 76 at 124 -
5 the end of the 50 overs was in sight and the
lower order shepherded the total to a
competitive 149 - 9.
After
the refreshment interval Offham's bowling showed
the visitors the virtue of immaculate line and
length. Initially Stoodley thundered in from the
North Meadow end making the opposition batsman
hurry, whilst Phil Carpenter demonstrated his
legendary parsimony dowen the slope wheeling
through 11 overs for 19 runs, snaffling two
wickets in the process. The first of
these gained with the assistance of evergreen
George Wood demonstrating balletic
agility clutching the catch at gulley. When
Blakeburn replaced Stoodley Wye's run rate
appeared to have suffered heart failure as they
reached the 22nd over with only 27 runs on the
board. After the drinks interval a little
resuscitation appeared to have taken place with
the Wye lower order striking lustily the
odd boundary. This was however in vain as Wood,
the grim reaper of the Pavilion End, returned
this time with the ball to haunt Wye, striking
the final nails firmly into the opposition
coffin, before leading the home side in
celebration at the wake.