It was a match that Ox/Cents second grade probably didn’t deserve to lose. However in the end, the result was decided by rapidly failing light, with ORC still requiring 65 runs from the final 10 overs when play was stopped.

It was a very different ORC side which took to the field in the opening game of the new season compared to the side which bowed out in the 2011/12 final. With Ox/Cents winning the toss and electing to bat, ORC knew they needed to be sharp to ensure that the strong Ox/Cents batting line-up didn’t get on top of them.

With opening bowler Trent Fardon unavailable, Angus Daymond and President’s Cup bowler Nick Gorrell took the new ball and found that the Ox/Cents batsmen were happy to get onto the front foot.

Some unlucky bounces in the field and well placed shots helped Joel Bell and Shane Rodham push the total to 61 before Chris Hills made the first breakthrough, dismissing Rodham for 20. Kesh Pillai fell shortly after, dismissed by young quick, Kyle Aubin for 4.

Ryan Adams replaced Pillai and immediately pushed the runs, punishing the ORC bowlers as he hit 10 boundaries in his unbeaten 78.

Bell was finally dismissed by Chris Hills for a well made 61. Hills also picked up another victim to finish with match figures of 3/48 off 8 overs, while James Smith and Myles Emanuel both snared a wicket each, taking 1/40 (4) and 1/4 (2) respectively, leaving ORC a massive target of 208 runs for victory.

In reply, ORC made an aggressive start, with Myles Emanuel immediately onto the front foot. Fellow opener Tim Sexton fell for 5, and newcomer Ben Spence joined Emanuel at the crease, scoring well and pushing the total to 69 before Emanuel fell for 28.

James Smith (11) and Angus Daymond (12) were both elevated to push the runs, with Spence batting steadily, eventually reaching a very well made 50 not out shortly before stumps were pulled. Adrian Mielke was not out on 13.

In the end, with the score on 142, the umpire deemed light to be insufficient, and dangerous to the batsmen and fielders and pulled stumps, meaning ORC snatched a previously unlikely victory due to a slightly higher run rate at the same point in Ox/Cents innings.