Knobby completes 50 years as an Olton player on the winning side in nailbiter at Aston Manor

Olton Saturday 3rd XI secured a fine win against bottom-of-the-table Aston Manor in their last league match of the season. To mark his 50 years as an Olton player, Phil Budd was given a guard of honour as he took the field to open the batting, and was presented with a token of the team's appreciation at the end of the game.

Olton won the toss and bowled - a split decision by the hastily assembled committee - on a rather crusty-looking track at King Edward VI School, Handsworth. The pitch delivered the expected variable bounce, but held no terrors as the Aston Manor batsmen got off to a decent start. Wickets began to fall once the Olton bowling attack had settled, but a good partnership between young Ranu (stepping down from the 2s) and Haider steadied the ship for the home side.

The pair rode their luck in the face of some accurate bowling, profiting from a number of edges and at least one dropped catch. Olton never lost control as the pair attempted to accelerate, however, and finally broke the partnership thanks to a bizarre dismissal: Haider, loitering mid-pitch after edging yet another delivery to third man, was well out of his ground when the ball was returned, thinking it had gone for four. Matt Myers threw the stumps down as Olton realised what had happened. The home team's umpire gave the batsman out, and agreed that Olton were right to pursue the dismissal. Windy Miller even attempted to warn the batsman, but to no avail.

Ranu was out shortly afterwards for an excellent 91, and Olton closed out the innings without further alarm, leaving a victory target of 205. All of the bowlers played their part, with Windy Miller in particular completing a long, accurate spell, eventually rewarded with two wickets, and Matt Myers producing a couple of fiery spells at the beginning and end of the innings. Ali Welch kept immaculately, conceding not a single bye, and restricting his chirping to the strictly pertinent, a tactic unusual in a 'keeper, but befitting one of his pedigree.

Having been clapped onto the pitch at the start of Olton's reply, Knobby was unluckily LBW early on to a ball that kept rather low. Just like last week, Olton's innings was subsequently dominated by an excellent second-wicket partnership featuring the rock-solid Dan Maycock as anchorman, this time with Matt Myers taking the lead. Matt began carefully, but soon opened his shoulders, scattering the fielders to all parts. He was eventually undone by a drinks break, playing slightly early on a ball that came off the pitch slowly - a not uncommon occurrence on this surface - and top-edging it into the infield.

Olton then proceeded to make things slightly hard for themselves against some accurate bowling by losing wickets with regularity, although thankfully the run-rate never rose above a manageable 4 or so an over. Phil Russell contributed a typically nuggety - and ultimately vital - 30 to keep things on track as the light faded, but the clatter of wickets kept the home side interested.

When Paver was bowled groping for a delivery so slow that the light faded appreciably between the time the ball left the bowler's hand and the time it reached the wicket (at least that's how it seemed - the ball was pretty invisible in any case against a red-brick background), 12 were required from just under four overs. Ali Welch was run out shortly afterwards, bringing, you've guessed it, Windy Miller to the wicket in the gathering gloom.

A trademark lofted cover drive for four and some scrambled singles later, the game was in the bag, Olton winning by one wicket in the final over. Windy's calmness, combined with a rare batting contribution from Steve Du Cros (who faced one ball and scrambled a leg bye), was enough to ensure that Olton never really looked like losing it.

Well done to Andy Rowland for leading the side to an excellent league position (possibly as high as third once all results are in), and congratulations to Phil Budd on his 50 years as a player - a truly remarkable achievement.

Further honourable mentions are due to Steve Du Cros for making an amazing recovery from what he initially believed to be a broken finger, and to Ali Welch for some inspired umpiring signals, and for some slightly less inspired navigation in ensuring our return home from Handsworth after the game.

Olton Saturday 3rd XI clinched another good win, away at Coventry & North Warwicks on Saturday. It initially seemed as though Andy Rowland's side were cruising to victory, before a clatter of wickets, poor light and heavy rainfall ensured a slightly sticky last few overs. The inevitable Windy Miller, in full "Batman" mode, struck the winning runs with a lofted four over extra cover.

Batting first, Coventry got off to a rapid start, before Steve Du Cros made the first breakthrough. Windy Miller and Ken Paver then bowled in tandem (Paver apparently playing Robin to Windy's Batman - thanks Jez), managing to restrict the flow of runs. Windy took 4 for 30, and oversaw a runout, while Paver finished with 1 for 19 from 10 overs. The Cov batsmen rode their luck, with several edges going to ground, and one striking Dan Ceillam on the cheek at first slip (if you're quick you can still see the seam marks).

Some carefully accumulated late runs from the lower order saw Coventry through to 156 for 9 from their 50 overs. A highlight of the innings was the opening batsman being run out by his twin brother. A brief on-pitch altercation ensued, and nobody on the Olton side so much as giggled. Honest.

After Phil Budd was run out early on in Olton's reply, Dan Maycock and the returning Jez Bishop proceeded to garner runs serenely, Jez in particular driving forcefully, and accelerating confidently as Coventry ran through their bowling options. The bowling was always challenging, however - the home side have relied on their bowlers for most of their points - and Olton stumbled as the light faded.

Andy Rowland was unfortunately given out LBW after edging (some say middling) the ball onto his pad, and Olton were grateful for an unsurprisingly rapid 22 from Andy "Sponge" Spowage (including the day's only six) that saw them to the verge of victory. The wobble continued, however, and when heavy rain began to fall with Olton 7 wickets down and still 9 runs short of their target, and with the fielding side beginning to chunter about having difficulty gripping the ball, Olton were glad to see Windy Miller striding to the wicket, to a chorus of chirping of the "what comes after the ferrets?" variety.

Windy drove a couple of confident shots over the fielders' heads on the off-side, and it was all over. The victory over Coventry's young side means that Olton, with only an away fixture against bottom side Aston Manor to come, are well placed to achieve an impressively high finish in a division dominated by clubs playing in the upper echelons of the Birmingham League at first team level.

Carnage in scorching heat at Moseley: bowling egos bruised, batting averages boosted

Olton Saturday 3rd XI emerged with a morale-boosting draw from an extraordinary match at Moseley which saw 679 runs scored for the loss of just 5 wickets on a dazzling shirt-front of a wicket.

Fielding first, Olton were immediately under the cosh as good balls and bad alike were summarily dispatched. The brand new (swinging) ball disappeared early on into a garden from which balls apparently cannot be retrieved, leaving only a succession of ragged spares, the first of which looked like the groundsman's dog had been at it. Not that any side conceding 401 in 45 overs (that's a shade under 9 an over, people) can make excuses.

To their credit, Olton's bowlers and fielders stuck at it despite the carnage, and each minor victory was savoured - as it should be in "proper" cricket: an odd maiden here (OK, so there was only one - well bowled Matt Ceillam), a string of dot balls or a diving stop there. Steve Wallis was the pick of the bowlers, conceding a mere seven an over and snaffling two wickets. Andy Rowland rotated the bowling well to protect the youngsters as much as possible.

As tends to be the case on days like these, the marginal decisions went against Olton, with strong shouts for caught behind and a run-out turned down.

With Moseley's leading batsman excused fielding duty because he had to "leave early" (Andy had agreed to the use of a 12th man), Olton's reply, naturally, focused initally on survival, with Wallis and Dan Maycock making a solid start.

Dan was soon joined by Sam Richards, and the pair found the perfect mix of attack and defence to take Olton to the verge of safety. Sam displayed appropriate restraint without ever allowing his obvious talent to become submerged in making a splendid 101, while Dan (86 not out) played the perfect team innings, defending obdurately and putting the bad ball away as Moseley resorted to their part-time bowlers.

In the end, having reached 278 for 2 in 55 overs, Olton were the only team smiling as they left the field. A somewhat baffling game, and a good cricketing lesson all round.

An honourable mention is due to Windy Miller (a regular in this slot, you may have noticed) for ensuring that the spirit of cricket was upheld: he reminded the Moseley captain that Olton had applauded his side's 50s and 100s, and that it might be good sportsmanship for his team to do likewise - to his credit, the home side's skipper agreed, and accepted the remark in the spirit in which it was intended. Mind you, the sight of a grumpy Windy prowling around in the square leg umpire's position was an entertainment in itself.

A Saturday 3rd XI containing a blend of youth and experience fell to a narrow defeat at Sutton Coldfield, the home side claiming victory by three wickets with two overs left. After the pitch originally marked out for the match became unplayably wet as a result of heavy rain, time was lost while a different – drier but inevitably greener – pitch was marked out, reducing the game to 45 overs per side. The first XI fixture on the adjacent “top” ground failed to get under way at all, but 3rd XIs are made of sterner – and quite possibly significantly less rapid – stuff.

Batting first, Olton were unfortunate to suffer an additional rain delay after 12 overs, during which they had struggled to 18 for 2 on a wicket that – unsurprisingly perhaps - provided alarming bounce, particularly down the hill. The game was further reduced to 35 overs as a result, which put immediate pressure on the batsmen. Dan Maycock and Phil Russell forced the pace without ever being reckless, while Andy Rowland and Scott Danter also garnered runs effectively as time ran out. Olton closed on 105 for 9, something to bowl at, but ultimately around 15 or 20 runs short.

One incident in the final over provided a lesson for all young players – and some excitement for spectators: a young Sutton player dropped a simple chance, and chucked the ball wildly in the vague direction of the stumps in his disgust. Olton's last wicket pair John Bosworth and Callum Reilly scrambled two runs, and John struck the next ball – the last one of the innings – for another two. Those four runs didn't ultimately decide the game – but they could have.

Sutton's innings was accompanied, naturally, by bright sunshine and a drying breeze. Olton stuck manfully to the task, with all the bowlers troubling the batsmen. Sutton failed to get off to the quick start they were obviously aiming for, with lofted shots falling kindly in the gaps, and wickets soon began to fall regularly. John Bosworth bowled with good pace down the hill, putting some rather rusty batting techniques against the short-pitched ball to the test, and Windy Miller found a good rhythm in a long spell up the slope.

The pressure on Sutton's batsmen increased as the overs and wickets ran out, but ultimately Olton were left to rue their shortfall of runs as Malik struck Windy for a huge six over cow corner to end the game with just over 2 overs to go.

It's all about taking the positives, of course, as Andy Rowland would say, and there were plenty: the fielding was tight for the most part – despite the occasional lapse in concentration – with Dan Maycock and Phil Russell (again) the standout performers. The Colonel's dazzling one-handed take to dismiss Sutton's danger man perhaps owed something to the “one for the cameras” school of catching (one step forward, two steps back, yep if I dive now I'll just get there in time), but was brilliant nonetheless. Scott Danter kept – and talked – with pleasing vim; the bowling was accurate in the main, essential in a low-scoring match; and the whole team fought hard to the end – great to see in a side with so many young players.

Moseley 3rds await next Saturday. After their gutsy performance at Sutton, Olton can look forward to that local derby – which has been known to spark excitement among even the most placid of gentlemen – with confidence.

Windy merits a further mention in dispatches for engaging in some perhaps rather ill-advised banter (or was it an exchange of insults?) with a group of locals, who had to be politely encouraged to walk around the boundary edge rather than straight across the ground. I know it's a public park, but, I mean, what kind of behaviour is that for Sutton Coldfield? An honourable mention is also due to Dominic for his unabashed vocal support, and for learning of his selection for his first “proper” cricket match (for the under-11s) via mobile phone on the boundary edge. Good luck Dom.

On a day when all four Saturday teams won (Kington must seem a long way away when you've lost, but somehow not so far when you're victorious), Olton 3rds defeated Aston Manor thanks to a combination of perseverance in the face of adversity in the field and some solid batting, notably from Phil Budd, Steve Wallis and Munaf Mohammed.

In view of the excessive length of the previous Saturday 3rd XI match report, regular readers will be pleased to know that this week's account will be mercifully brief. If you wish to avoid reading the whole article, the "digested read" (in the form of key words and phrases) is as follows:

Sightscreen (singular!) - sloppy fielding - the sad sight of on-field bickering - Windy reads riot act - Aston's lucky sloggers - marvellous Munaf - Budd/Wallis in attractive partnership sensation - marvellous Munaf (again) - Ayling has a bat - Windy doesn't want to bat but has to - Olton win!

Thanks to construction work on the new fence on the road side of the ground, only one of the new sightscreens was deployed. More on this subject at a future date, no doubt.

After a good start thanks to tight bowling from Callum Reilly (2 for 26 from 5 overs) and Steve du Cros (who was extremely unfortunate to end up wicketless), Olton's fielding did indeed border on the sloppy, leading to the occasional cross word, but Windy's on-field huddle had the desired effect of tightening things up.

Aston's batsmen tempted fate with some aerial hitting, before a splendid spell from Munaf Mohammed (8.3-5-20-4) put the brakes on the innings. Paver, having bowled Aston's danger man Waqar Ali (admittedly already injured by that point), persevered in the face of some cavalier hitting in a mixed spell to finish with the slightly odd figures of 4 for 60. Aston closed on 190 all out, more than skipper Windy wanted to chase, but eminently achievable in the 58 overs available.

Olton's reply began brightly, the "old firm" of Wallis and Budd playing some fine strokes in a partnership of 98 for the first wicket. Budd scored hatfuls of runs through third man, before Aston cottoned on and packed the area with three fielders. Highlights of Steve "the forward lunge" Wallis's innings included a couple of delightful drives played on the up through point.

Once the openers had been dismissed, however, Olton made it slightly hard for themselves. Sam Richards played a couple of lusty blows before falling for 13, and Paver was bowled by a shooter (there were witnesses). Matt Ayling carved away briefly before being bowled attempting to hit the ball into the cowshed. It was left to Munaf (with a combative 36 not out) and a slightly grumpy but ultimately very pleased Windy Miller to see Olton home by three wickets.

Honourable guest mentions to Nathan and Mike for turning up to support the 3rds and for showing forbearance in the face of extreme provocation after hearing the "come to watch some proper cricket?" jibe a record 36 times.

The Saturday 3rd XI secured what was ultimately a comfortable win over bottom-of-the-table Attock 3s at Tudor Grange, Olton's battery of seam bowlers blowing away the opposition batting in just 32 overs. Andy "Streaker" Brookes rolled back the years to take 6 for 31.

The last match report on a Saturday 3rd XI home game was somewhat harsh. There was nothing to be negative about this time, however. A powerful seam bowling attack was on the spot from the start, with Shahjehan Beg beating the bat time and again, and very unlucky to finish wicketless. Beg helped to create pressure at the other end, where Callum Reilly turned in an excellent spell, bamboozling the batsmen with pace and swing to send the stumps cartwheeling (a frequent sight on a great day for Olton's bowlers). Steve "Treadmill" du Cros and Andy Brookes - the latter having initially claimed to have stiffened up after just one ball - carried on the good work, with wickets falling consistently, despite resistance from one young batsman, until a barrage of late slogging threatened a minor comeback for Attock. One straight drive, in particular, rocketed past Brookes and rebounded a full twenty yards back onto the playing area from the wall of the indoor cricket school. Brookes never lost control, however, and continued to take wickets by bowling full and straight on a wicket increasingly prone to the "shooter" as it dried out.

Olton's fielding was good throughout, with Steve Wallis the standout performer for a spectacular catch at mid-on. Steve took the principle of "catch first, dive second" to the opposite extreme by getting airborne several seconds before the ball was due to arrive. Olton's other fielders held their breath as their previously firmly earthbound team-mate soared slowly skywards to his left-hand (and theoretically weaker) side. Would Wally's flight path coincide with that of the ball? Thankfully Wally emerged from his slo-mo airborne experience with ball clutched firmly in two hands. Great stuff.

Olton's reply, with a full 68 overs available to score the required 129 to win, was never really under pressure despite the loss of early wickets. Sam Richards looked untroubled before he was out to a lofted shot, and more than one batsman fell to balls that kept low. Once the better bowlers had been seen off, a more relaxed approach was possible, with Beg in particular blasting away "in the V" to good effect in a partnership of 42 with Paver that brought Olton close to victory. Brookes then emerged to smite some lusty blows, and it was all over. Paver, having come in at 43-3, managed to hang around for 34 not out despite repeatedly playing and missing outside off-stump (he really must cut that shot out), and despite some attempts at creative chirping from the diminutive wicketkeeper (the immortal line "mind the windows" was slightly spoiled by the absence of windows in the vicinity, particulary when facing the bowling from the Dingle Lane end).

Honourable mentions are due to Windy Miller for excellent captaincy of a strong side, and to Andy Rowland for umpiring in preparation for his hopefully imminent return to action. Onwards!

Kennedy Paver - 09/06/2008

To quote the great Alan Partridge, "there can be no 'A-Ha's'". There was little to smile about for Olton 3s as they lost heavily at home to Sutton in miserable weather that refelected the team's wet performance as well as their gloomy post-match mood. Like any good sports team in the current climate, however, it's about "taking the positives" from a defeat like this. So here we go: the tea was excellent (thanks Denise); and my new deckchairs got a thorough, er, road-testing (thanks Sponge et al).

Actually, the picture isn't quite so gloomy: Olton might well have won the match had they taken their opportunities and enjoyed a little more luck. Following the late arrival of the opposition (who took a trip via Old Sils - so last season), Olton batted first on a soggy pitch that held up extremely well despite the intermittent and occasionally heavy rain. The opening partnership of Budd and Tim Joiner battled hard to put on 72, setting up a decent platform for acceleration. The innings then went nowhere fast, however, with five wickets falling for 22 runs, before Phil Russell and Ken Paver came together to put on 44 in the last five overs, Paver hitting consecutive sixes over square leg, taking Olton to what amounted to near-respectability on this wicket and, you've guessed it, in this weather: 140 for five from 40 overs.

Sutton's reply got off to a rapid start with some outrageous slogging from the tall young opening bat. Olton's bowlers struggled to keep their feet in the rain, and struggled to contain some clean striking through the off-side. However, Matt Ceillam soon fell into a decent rhythm, and managed to stick to a tighter middle-and-leg line, resulting in a fine stumping by Matt Ayling, who kept impressively (and impressively loudly) throughout.

This was the crucial period of the game. The first change bowlers had a chance to rein in the free-scoring batsman, and attack the youngster at the other end. Sadly for Olton, it never really happened. The opener continued to put away the bad balls, as well as some good ones, and rode his luck with a grin and the occasional chirp, surviving a dropped catch on the boundary and a very close LBW shout while not playing a shot. He was eventually caught in the deep by Paver for 62 (using the "catch first, dive second" technique). The wicket triggered a minor collapse, with Phil Russell in particular profiting, but it was too late: Olton were left to rue what might have been had they bowled and fielded more tightly, and grasped the opportunities when they arose.

Olton thirds will need to win games like these if they are to hold their own against the stronger sides in this division.

Kennedy Paver - 18/05/2008

A hot, sticky Saturday at Lode Heath school. Inspection of the artificial pitch revealed a green, artificial, astroturf-type surface.

Fielding first, Olton opened with youngsters Callum Reilly and Matt Ceillam. Callum, in particular, bowled a blistering spell, forcing the batsmen to play and miss repeatedly. Once they had choked off the supply of quick singles, Olton remained more or less in control throughout the Old Eds innings, despite some classic artificial-wicket slogging. Paver chugged away in an 11-over spell, while the day also saw first outings of the season for youngsters Munaf Mohammed (3 for 55 from 16 overs) and Richard Fox (1 for 29 from 6). Reilly and Ceillam returned for a second spell to useful effect. Old Eds posted 188, slightly more than Olton wanted to chase, but more or less par on this wicket, in this weather.

Olton's reply began shakily, with only Tim Joiner of the top six reaching double figures. Old Eds' opening bowlers used the artificially high bounce to unsettling effect on occasion. Richard Fox looked his usual comfortable self, before changing his mind fatally while executing a pull shot, initally aiming to loft the ball over the man behind square leg, before realising he hadn't batted for two years, and attempting to keep the ball down instead (look, teachers can think a lot of things in short space of time, okay?). The result was that the ball lofted gently to the fielder.

Paver slapped a few short, loose deliveries through point, before being pointlessly caught in the offside trying to repeat the shot. When Tim Joiner was out for a classy 40, the game looked up. 82 were still needed when Phil Miller and last man Matt Ceillam came together. However, fine striking from Windy, and neat straight driving from Matt, combined with the occasional excruciating mid-wicket scramble to disorientate the opposition, saw Olton to the brink of an extraordinary comeback. Thanks to careful calculation and manipulation by Miller, 22 were needed from the last three overs, with all four results (including a tie) still possible.

Sadly for Olton, Matt Ceillam was out to a dramatic one-handed overhead catch at square leg. The shot was on, and had it cleared the fielder a boundary was certain. Windy and Matt had fought splendidly, and shown what it was possible to achieve through careful yet assertive batting.

Kennedy Paver - 12/05/2008