Match report

I know you can get a review in the Riv each Monday but think you may be interested in an old timers view on the days events. If you do read on…

A grade travelled off to Bamawm to play BLU in the 1st round match. Most discussion centred around how many joyous times had been spent at this oval, the largest collection of protein inadvertently swallowed, and the like. OK that was just me.

Captain Cam called correctly and we were fielding. Ralphy and Jack opened up, a couple of tight overs but no real chances. We knew, going in, the BLU are reliant on their top order and we required some early wickets. The opposite occurred, BLU got a great star, bowling changes brought further edges and quicker runs as the young English import opened his shoulders, Jake and Al coping most of the punishment.

The canny Teasa set a hook for Pearcy which was duly swallowed and we finally had our first wicket, snapped up at 2nd slip by Ralph (1 for 89). Matt Carnie bowling from the other end tied up the the runs and we came out of the drinks break revived.

Personally this next 20 overs was where we won the game, runs became difficult to collect, wickets fell regularly, some excellent captaincy, resulting in us having to chase a much smaller target than would be expected after the opposition were 1 for 100. Teasa bowled 6 straight overs collecting 2 wickets (3-26 off 7). Matt bowled 7 straight to finished with 1-25 and then J Murph came on to replace Teasa and bowled as well or better to finish off the last six overs from the northern end with 3-24 including coping with some lusty hitting from Big Herm. Ralph’s the unlucky one, finishing with 0-20.

We had at one stage a good chance of restricting them under 160 but Tim (?) Hermans was able to repeatedly find open field and pushed the score to a very competitive 7-175.

Quade and Ralph got us off the the perfect start, racing away to 42 before Quade jabbed one to gully. Mitch clipped the first ball off his pads straight to square leg where he was dropped, it didn’t last long as short cover took a great catch to remove him a couple of overs later, 2-66.

All this time Ralph had compiled a sparkling 50, before being hopelessly left short when called through for a quick single by the skipper. At training, last night Cam was prepared to take “some” responsibility. Lets just say it wasn’t a difficult decision for the umpire.

Fresh of the bowling performance and the customary half a can of Red Bull, Kirk strode to the wicket. He nudged a few around and Cam played a stylish knock dispatching anything loose of to the boundary and our jitters at 3-89 were quickly dispelled. Cam raced to 50 and acknowledged the crowd of supporters, OK it was mostly the club president BJ.

Cam (51) then decided to attempt to end the game with a couple of swings. It didn’t go well, one missed everything and a chorus of keep your head down had little success, as the next one was lifted high into the blue, but only as far as the wicketkeepers gloves. Leaving an uncomfortable J Murph to take care of the last 10 runs. Not to be outdone Teasa then casually lifted one straight to mid off, out for a well made 39.

Your scribe was then called on to scratch together the last 8 runs. Sensing an opportunity the already tight field got a little tighter, the bowlers attacked the stumps and the BLU boys asked us to risk a big shot from the new batsmen. There were 8 non scoring shots on the trot and we were now down to 2 overs to get the runs.

I don’t know if my eyes were as big as Joel’s during the mid pitch discussion but my adrenaline had now kicked in. Luckily the first ball of the over was short and down leg side, I managed to help it on its way and scurried off for 3 runs. Joel casually picked of a single and then I chanced a full ball to chip over mid on, apparently a few hearts were in mouths, whilst in flight, thanks to the lack of power in the shot. Back at the strikers end Joel picked off another single.

In the middle we thought this had tied the match, and I gave Joel the encouragement to pick his ball to slather the winning runs. The first must have looked good because he gave it a good swing, but no contact. The next ball was run down towards 3rd slip and I took off for a sneaky suicide single. The stumps were missed and we were good. As it turned out we had passed them in the last over and needn’t have worried.

The run chase was really well done by the top order, with Mitch the only one to really not get a start. Certainly a positive start to the season and our inaugural Rich River Golf Club Man Of the Match (MOM) was Kirk Teasdale for his work with both bat and ball. The best part was the contributions right across the park, with some using the field as their way to contribute on a day where we were made to work very hard to win by the BLU boys.