A scratch side of 9 turned up at a cracking venue overlooking the sea to take on the Mac church. Could the mighty Canes make it 3 out of 3 against the Mac? How could it be done when we were missing this seasons form players, Bowen, COB, Mike Driscoll, J-Lo, Garraway, Mike O’Brien and of course the Nathans? How would Normy bat following 2 golden ducks in his last 2 innings?
After waiting to start for an hour and a half the shortened match (32 overs) finally got underway as the Mac were put into bat just to get the game started. The Glenwood cry was imediatly called by Griff and Jeremy took this as the opportunity to take out the openers off stump in the first over at least Danny played to the script taking (0-21 off 4). The next 10 overs finished the match as a contest, our Canadian ringer Matt Evans bowled a fine spell (3-12 off 4) taking out the percieved danger men. With only 4 more wickets to get the Canes made light work of the men from the east with Sully (1-20 off 4), Griff (2-4 off 2) and Rudy (1-2 off 1.3) reducing the Mac to 73 all out.
Sully produced a masterfully delivery to dismiss Arun, flighting the ball high into the wind the ball pitched on a good length landing and rolling slowly towards the wicket. The umpire stood in awe and was heard to say ‘What a delivery. It was almost as if some ants caught the ball and then carried it to the wicket. Unbelievable.’
Griff grabbed another catch off a caught and bowled and our mystery spinner from the east showed us the art of off spin, remarking that the batsmen just couldn’t play him.
Only 74 for victory off 32 overs, surely this match would be over in 10. Not a chance as Greg, Jeremy and Rudy were picked at the top of the order. As predicted by the team the scoring started slowly but steadily. Greg was looking good but all eyes were on Jeremy, the biggest boo being a boundry to up his strike rate. Predictably he choose a forward defensive for the next ball and the familiar sound of the wickets being clattered brought
great cheers from the boundary. Rudy was unlucky to be given out caught behind, especially as the same umpire failed to give his own batsman caught behind off Rudys bowling.
Enter Normy. Sitting on a 3rd golden duck and having to face an 85 year old German bowling underarm he was obviously nervous. He managed to hit a valiant 1 off 11 balls before falling to the OAP in a magnificent game of
cat and mouse, a game within a game that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Greg still looked unbeatable and with 12 needed for a victory and Gregs 50, he sent the ball to the boundary. The next delivery was straighter and so was dispatched over the bowlers head with venom, a certain 4. Unfortunately the bowler got a hand to it diverting it to the cover fielder who dived to take the catch. This left our ringer and Griff to hit 8 off 20 overs. Griff spanked a 4 off his first ball and both players valiantly batted against the German. 1 was needed to win with Evans facing and the bowler was sent packing with a 6 to win the match proving that being an Evans need not be a handicap on the batting crease.
— Griff
jimmy — August 28, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Not forgetting some very nice chicken, cheese and sausage rolls in the seaside grill after the game.
Anyway, who was man of the match? Should really be Greg, but Mr Evans (the Canadian) did most of the damage with the ball.
Not a single mention of me…you’re giving the impression that i didn’t contribute to the game.
Griff — September 12, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Did you?
jimmy — September 12, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I did the book.