The mighty Oaks started their 2014/15 campaign in style with a coveted Oaks day against Moorabbin on Saturday. The 2s 3s and 4s all recorded convincing wins earlier in the afternoon having set up winning positions on week 1, while it was left to the 1s to secure the Oaks day late on the 2nd Saturday – playing a 1-dayer when the ground was unfit for play on week 1.

Favourite son Ben ‘Spike’ Pinwill was the hero in the 1s chase of a formidable 199 from Moorabbin, clouting a Six and a Four in the last over to get us home with just 1 ball to spare. Earlier Rabbs Warren had kept us in it with a fine 70.

Highlights in the lower grades were 91no from 3rd generation Oakleigh player Matt Price in the 2s, while in the 3s there were very rare twin tons for veteran Doc(133) and youngster Dylan(103no), the pair sharing a monster partnership of 202. Jatin Shah got the job done for the 4s with 77no.

Next week we play in-form Bayswater, who also started their season with a clean sweep, so it should be a big clash in all 4 grades. We will welcome back star performers BJ McGuinness and Mick Splatt to bolster our squads.

1s 8-202(Rabbs 70 Junior 26 Spike 18no S.Undries 45!!!) d Moorabbin 9-199(AJ 2fer JT 2fer)
We lost the toss and bowled first, starting off well with tight spells from Rossy Spike and AJ. Rossy finished with the remarkable figures of 9-4-1-7!! After 21 overs we had them tied down at 3-40, but then the proverbial wheels fell off. Moorabbin smashed 159 from the final 24 overs as our bowling fielding and catching fell away. Set an even 200 to win, we started at a bright rate despite losing Towny Junks and skipper Joely early. Rabbs looked great and when joined by Junior they put together a promising partnership of 75 to take us to 3-140 and looking like winners. But Junior Willo and Rossy all fell, and when Rabbs was dismissed for a fine 70 we still needed 27 off 4 overs. That became 15 off 12 balls but when only 2 were scored off the penultimate over we needed a daunting 13 to win from the last. Enter ‘Tim Tams’ Pinwill, shrugging off a poor season with the bat last year to strike a vital Zak into the tennis courts off the first ball to give us a chance. We then scored 2,1,wd,1 to need just 2 off the last 2. When Moorabbin brought the field up Spike simply hit the next ball for Four to seal the deal with a ball to spare. A gutsy win to start the season but the team will need to improve to match it with the big boys this year.

2s 9-267(Pricey 91no Wil 41 Rhys 30 Norto 28 Howes) 24 d Moorabbin 212(Norto 4-54 Rhys 2fer)
The 2s set up this win on day 1 last week with a solid batting performance led by Pricey with a classy 91no. Rhys and Howes had set the platform after Eliott fell early, then Wil looked in fine touch for his 41. Norto joined Pricey for a partnership of 70 which ensure the final score would be well into the 200s. On day 2 their was a hint of suspicion that the ground had been cut rather shorter than the previous week, but it mattered not as we won fairly comfortably. Norto took the pace off the ball bowling himself and Rhys for 30 overs while Latho was economical with 1-29 off his 17. Norto completed a neat captains double with bat and ball. A good first up win for the 2s.

3s 4-374 (Doc 133 Dylan 103no Benn 70) d Moorabbin 137 (Richo 3/36, Shieldsy 2/20) and 3-50
The 3s went nuts on day 1 with the bat, Jimmy Benn setting it up early with a fine 70 before the evergreen Doc and young Dylan put Moorabbins bowlers to the sword. Doc completed yet another ton, finishing with a huge 133 as he and Dylan put on 202 for the 4th wicket. Chapps(21no) joined Dylan and the youngster brought up his maiden senior ton right at days end as we finished in style. Moorabbins chase never got out of the starting blocks as we rolled them for 137 with wickets shared. In search of an unlikely outright we had them 3-58 when the game was called off early. A super start from Doc as captain, setting the tone as this team just keeps on winning.

4s 218(Jatin 77no Will 35 DaveL 25 D 22) d Moorabbin 161(ABS 3fer Will 3fer) and 112(Will 3fer)
A slightly shaky first up win for the 4s, who set it up on day 1, bowling Moorabbin out for 161 and getting to 1-61 by stumps. Day2 did not go to plan, however, as we slumped to 6-90 before D and Jatin joined forces. They got it close before D fell for 22 with still 28 needed but Jatin did not muck around, belting the ball to all parts to secure the win. We bowled well in the 2nd dig, rolling them for just 112. A good percentage booster first up.