Beer and burgers all round as 'the follow on' romp to victory
by Alan Rowley, 13th August 2007

The sun shone, the beer flowed and the midges were biting as 'the follow on' XI visited Victoria Avenue, Ockbrook for another Friday night Twenty20 bash. With several newcomers in the side, including New Zealander Iain O'Brien, skipper Alex Burnham had a tough task sorting out the batting and bowling order, but a superb all-round performance by the Kiwi, aided by four wickets for John McCollum, saw the visitors romp to victory with five balls to spare.

'the follow on' XI
back row: Ted Witten, Howard Murden, Rob Turnbull, Iain O'Brien, Alex Burnham, Neil Wing, Ryan Esson
front row: Andrew Bailey, Andrew Finch, Nick Sanders, Chris Plant, John McCollum, Matt Arnold, Tony Else

The home side batted first and opened with guest Ben Ruhrmund and captain Neil Smith. The skipper lasted just six balls before McCollum (pictured right_ bowled him for a duck but Ruhrmund and Oliver Mitchell settled down to build a useful partnership. The two saw off the opening attack and set about Rob Turnbull and Burnham as they raced on at over six an over.

Mitchell fell with the score on 95, caught by Neil Wing off Matt Arnold, for 42 and Ruhrmund went 13 runs later, caught by Howard Murden off Andrew Bailey, for 47. With three wickets down for 112 and only six overs to go, the Ockbrook middle order needed to push on, but some tight bowling by 'the follow on' lads kept the hosts in check.

O'Brien returned for his second spell and soon had Lian Wharton back in the pavilion, bowled for four. Ollie Saffell was the fifth Ockbrook player to troupe back to the pavilion after he danced down the wicket to Andrew Finch and was stumped by Nick Sanders. The Nuthall combination struck again with the very next ball when Danny Green edged one to Sanders who took an easy catch.

McCollum returned to the attack and he and O'Brien (pictured left) mopped up the tail. Louie Rimmington was bowled by McCollum for two and the same bowler had Ross Wharton caught by Murden for six. O'Brien bowled Tommy Zydzienowski for a duck before McCollum picked up his fourth, bowling Myles Hayhurst for a first ball duck.

Ockbrook all out 136 with McCollum pick of the bowlers with four wickets for seven runs. O'Brien returned figures of two for three, while Finch grabbed two for nine.

The visitors opened with Bailey and Chris Plant and the two started confidently, putting on 31 before Bailey was bowled by Joe Zydzienowski for 15. With 37 on the board, 'the follow on' lost Neil Wing, caught by Joe Zydzienowski for 5 and Plant, caught by Smith off the same bowler for 12.

Finch was fourth out with the score on 43, stumped by Green, to give Wharton his third. This brought O'Brien and Murden together and the two took the score on to 71 before Murden was also stumped, this time off Ross Wharton, for 16.

O'Brien was batting superbly and while he was at the crease, 'the follow on' always looked likely to snatch the game. Skipper Burnham joined the Kiwi and the two saw the visitors into three figures before Burnham was run out, going for a needless second, for ten.

With the run rate creeping over eight an over, O'Brien went for one big shot too many and was well caught by Joe Zydzienowski on the boundary for a magnificent 45. This left the visitors with 18 to get from only two overs with three wickets left.

Fears that 'the follow on' would capitulate without the New Zealander were unfounded as newcomer Sanders (pictured right) launched into the bowling and finished the game off with two huge sixes. Sanders finished unbeaten on 17 with Turnbull on 4 not out as 'the follow on' ran out three wicket winners.

Another cracking evening was concluded in typical 'follow on' style with beer and burgers all round as the sun set over the pavilion leaving the dreaded midges to leave their marks on a great night out.

Scorecard | 'the follow on' averages