South Yorkshire Times July 7, 1956
Oakley the hero of Denaby – E. S. C. Game
In a most exciting game at Denaby on Saturday Denaby and Cadeby beat English Steels Corporation by two wickets in the extra five overs
Denaby and Cadeby may well thank Norman Oakley for their success. Coming in fifth, he stayed to the end for an unbeaten 64, including two sixes and the winning hit. In stands with Peter Downing, Dick Cory E. Waddington, he helped to take the score from 28 for 4 to 150 for 8, needed to beat the E. S. C. Total of 147.S. C. had a slow, uneventful innings. Only their opening batsmen, J. Spencer, showed any good strokes and he finished with 54 before being caught behind the wicket by Shephard off Downing. Only 12 runs were scored in the first half hour however 50 were in the board after the first hour. Forty of the first 51 runs came from Spencer’s bat, R. Willman the only other batsman to show any promise, was dropped three times in the slips before being bowled by Downing for 35. When these two had gone the rest of the batsmen showed little resistance, although T. Holowood and A Thomas scored a useful 15 each to stop a complete collapse. The last three wickets fell in one over to Downing and Corey.
A Poor Start
Denaby got off to a very poor start. One for 13, two for 22, three for 24, four for 28 seem to forecast that they had little chance of reaching the E. S. C. Total. But then a stand of 33 between Oakley and Downing put a different aspect on the game. Late spectators were given a grand display of hard-hitting by Oakley, who never failed to punish the bowlers when a loose ball was delivered. With the score that 61 Downing was well caught behind the wicket for 15 runs. Then, with only one run added. R. Shephard was bowled by G White for a “duck” and things again looked bad for Denaby with the score that 62 for 6. Dick Cory helped Oakley to save the game with a stand of 39 runs before Cory was caught behind the wicket.
This stand was the most delightful the match, with both batsmen hitting out, and although there were not so many fours, many of the hard hits would have gone for four had it not been for good boundary fielding. With the score at 101 for seven Waddington came in and helped Oakley to take the score to 131 before he fell to Parkinson. When the last five overs were claimed Denaby still needed 12 runs with two wickets left. Oakley did his utmost to keep the bowling, as did the E. S. C. fieldsmen to prevent him, he eventually won the same. A six put him within striking distance and another six won the game and amid great applause for a great innings.