Round 7
First XI
The last round before the Christmas break and we were sitting in a pretty good position sitting 2nd. The weather was a little wild and wacky with rain threatening to dampen our spirits. With our inspirational leader Binky unavailable Hoggett was given the captaincy nod, he continued Binky’s form with the coin toss – losing, but this time Bagdad sent us in.
With what is becoming a regular thing for us we got off to a fantastic start with Jamma and Hoggett combining for a 109-run opening partnership with Jamma being extra dominant, hitting boundaries for fun. His aggression did create a lot of chances for the Bagdad boys but those chances weren’t taken and Jamma capitalised.
On 54 Jamma departed which brought Bourkey to the crease who managed to assist Hoggett in building a solid foundation with the bat, navigating their way between the opening few bowlers whilst piling on the runs. Bourkey departed with the score at 2/175.
Bourkey’s departure brought about a mini collapse with Dion and Hoggett departing shortly after. Those two dismissals brought Brady J and Ash to the crease as they looked to capitalise on the impressive foundation that had already been set. Our momentum was stopped when Ash swung so hard the bat went flying from his hand and consequently the umpire decided it was now to wet to continue on.
10 Minutes later we were back out there and the momentum stopped dead in our tracks with Ash, Brady J and Jacko all falling in a 6-run period. We were 7/225 with about 8 overs remaining. At the crease was Finchy and fill in Nick. Finchy’s and Nicks partnership was entertaining with numerous run-out opportunities and plenty of boundaries being hit including a massive six straight down the ground by Nick.
Finchy lost his wicket with not long to go which brought Sid to the crease with him and Nick getting our total to a very defendable 8/271.
Hoggett 70
Jamma 54
Bourkey 34
Nick 26
We got off to a decent start with the ball – a wicket very early on. However, it was from there that things became a bit difficult. Jamma managed to take the second wicket (thanks to a handy caught and bowled), which took some getting as Bagdad looked in control with an 83- run partnership.
At the second drinks break Bagdad looked in control 2 down, less than 100 hundred to get and their number 3 batsmen had just celebrated his century. They were not giving many chances either with the closest we go to a wicket the ball that was smashed back at Brady F – a nice bruise to show for it after the match.
Hoggett was looking everywhere for motivation and he decided to throw the ball to his mate Nick in what was a game changing decision. Nick bowled the first over after drinks and took the breakthrough wicket. This was shortly followed by Brady J taking the wicket of the Bagdad centurion thanks to a fantastic catch by Jacko. This put them to 4/186 with two new batsmen at the crease.
Nick managed to take another wicket to give us full control of the match
Bourkey came on and was able to take some lower order wickets as well as a run out, and Jacko managed to take the final wicket thanks to a safe catch from Finchy.
After 48. 2 overs Bagdad were eventually bowled out for 226
Bourkey 4/17 – Plus a run out
Nick 2/30
Jacko 1/1
Brady J 1/23
Jamma 1/54
Second XI
Huigi won the toss and elected to bat for our home match against the Knights in the same rainy conditions the first XI faced. The game was even more difficult due to the fact that the association didn’t have enough umpires available for the match so it had to be officiated by our players.
Kenny lost his wicket early but from there Gibbo and Rowdy put on a terrific partnership of 80 to give us some momentum. For the first time this season Gibbo was dismissed as somehow a ball got through the most solid defence in 7th grade.
Quinny managed to bat with Rowdy as they looked to put on a very imposing total. When Quinny was adjudicated LBW from umpire Huigi for 11, Wes came in and helped Rowdy make another half century. It was Rowdy’s dismissal for 60 where a collapse followed, when Rowdy departed the score was 4/152 and shortly after we were 7/162 with Stickers, Jake and Kirky all falling in quick succession.
Aaron and Wes combined for 24 to boost the score to something very defendable score. The end of the Aaron and Wes partnership also brought the end of the innings with both Aaron, Wes and Huigi all losing their wicket in quick succession. After 38.5 overs we were rolled for 197, A very defendable score especially since the Knights were only able to bat 9.
Rowdy 60
Gibbo 45
Wes 32
With the ball wickets proved hard to come by as the opening pair put on a 99-run opening stand. Wes game the opposition headaches with the new ball as did Kirky but it was Rowdy who managed to take the first wicket of the innings.
After the first wicket the Knights went back into cruise control until Andrew J came onto bowl and bowled spectacularly, he bowled minimal extras and managed to take wickets in quick succession removing both of the “in batsmen’. Rowdy then picked up his second wicket to have the Knights at 4/124.
That was the end of the success were able to get but some tight bowling made the game come down to the wire. A 77- run stand between the Knights number 3 and 6 put the game into their favour as they picked up the win – hitting the winning runs with just 3 balls remaining.
Andrew 2/19
Rowdy 2/38
Wes 0/22
Last Modified on 05/01/2019 18:24
