A new series looking at the best moments from the twos on a game by game basis.
18th July 2009 - Woodford Green away
In such a high scoring game there were plenty of memorable moments - Sam Sweetings reflex catch at short mid wicket, Jarvis' banana ball which swung inside out to dismiss their number three, Mario's team talk, Jack's flat six, Tom returning to the pavilion when on 35not out having forgotten his box.
However with seven sixes in the Ongar innings it seems only apt that Matt Adcock (who'd scored six of them) should win the inaugrial champagne moment with the shot that cleared the fence and the trees before landing in Woodford High Road and bouncing over a double decker on its way to Woodford Wells.
25th July 2009 - Old Brentwoods home
Old B's made the short trip down the Ongar Road (or Brentwood Rd depending on your perspective) and looked to be a side fairly evenly matched to the Ongar twos.
In a tight game there were some lovely moments - Matt Adcock's diving catch at mid wicket, Powell's Geoff Boycott esque sledging from slip ("Bloody ugly shot that, not a proper cricket shot"), Nellie's wicket taking first ball and Joe's highest score for the club.
The moment that has most been talked about however is Matt's six over the pavillion so the champagne moment again goes to Matt (check out the very apt link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/8050724.stm) but the champagne goes to whoever found the ball cutting short a time delay that probably cost Ongar the chance to win.
1st August 2009 - Buckhurst Hill home
AAAAAAaaaarrrrgghhhhhh! On account of OCC only posting 68 no batsman is allowed to get even a sniff of the champagne moment award with perhaps an honourable mention of Nelly 'Nelly' Hartington who stoically envoked thoughts of General Custer or perhaps memories of Michael Caine in Zulu as he held up the BH victory charge with his trademark defensive prod.
The bowlers Mario & Peter both shared four wickets with Peter snaring two with one a caught and bowled and another snaffled by the Sam Sweeting at short mid wicket. The nearest to a champagne moment must be Peter's guttural roar of delight as he lept fully 11ft* in the air to take the caught and bowled opportunity.
At the other end Mario kept the Italian end up with two wickets, one bowled and one superb catch by Sweeting at Short Midwicket to dismiss a stunned BH skipper (and dent his average) . Sam's catch nicks the award as he plucked the boundary bound ball from the air as if it was a chocolate muffin.
* = Imperial measurements were never my strong point.
8th August 2009 - Old Parkonians Away
Ongar welcomed big Rob Fisher back to the team for his first appearnace of the season as they headed to Redbridge for the Old Parks clash. Rob's batting was certainly a highlight as OCC valiantly chased 212 to win. Tom H, Sam Sweeting and Jack Groves all batted with differening degrees of style, elegance and biligerance but surpisingly its Ongar's fielding that steals all the glory in the Champagne Moment stakes!
Jack put nerves behind him to snaffle one at midwicket but his effort was clearly out done by Tom H who took a diving catch at gulley to dismiss the Old P's skipper, a skier at Long off to remove the opener and fashoned a dramatic sliding run out.
Tom gave himself three great opportunities for the prize that ordinarily would have won. Sadly however Sam "the pirman" Sweeting stole the glory with a truly sensational left handed, on handed diving catch milimetres from the ground to dismiss the no. 4 bat. It was a wonderful catch and one that shocked the author so much that I can still close my eyes and see SS plucking the ball from the air like it was a pork pie.
15th August 2009 - Stanford Le Hope Home
Not much to say aside from well done Jack on a debut tea that included "Chip Shop" Pickled onions.
22nd August 2009 - Belhus Away
Ongar batted first on their first trip to the Belhus village green and notable batting performances came from DJ Powell who continued his great form with an unbeaten 70+ whcih included the great man advancing down the pitch to then lift the ball over the slips (lots of bottom hand there).
Shot of the day came from the unlikely source of Mukesh, who had previously not had much luck with the bat in the Ongar colours. At Belhus, the man with the black trainers joined the party and lit up the Ongar innings with some improvised shots but also a delicious cover drive that snaffles the Champagne moment prize.
The shot meant much more than four runs as it sent the excitable MV on his way to 28, his highest Ongar score and announced his arrival as Ongar's latest pinch hitting batting hope.....
29th August 2009 - Epping Away
Champagne Moment - Single Wicket SPECIAL!
5th September 2009 - Orsett Home... er Away, or is it neutral, well technically Home