DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 5
DAY 6
Queensland Vs New South Wales
I wasn�t giving myself to chance this day as I got up early and went for my morning run and ball drills in the chilly, windy morn. This was one game I was eager for. After losing the toss and being sent in, Liam and Ekka got us off to a flyer. Liam was particularly cruel on anything pitched up as he lofted the ball down the ground. Errol at the other end was showing his love for the cover drive as he clinically dissected the gaps on the off side.
After the smashing of one of the opening bowlers for 14 of his 2 overs, Goat Boy came on, threw down his first ball, Liam charged and was taken smartly in the cordon out for 18 and Goat Boy sure didn�t let him depart without some complimentary words.
Neo came in and looked at ease at the crease while Errol was piercing the field at will. However 4 quick wickets fell and I found myself in at 5-75, and facing none other than Goat Boy himself. The biggest thing I�ve noticed about the bowling attacks at Nationals is their consistency. Holy moly! It took my 19 balls to get off the mark as they peppered me with an off stump attack and one ripper of a bouncer that got me in the ribs! All I could think was �Don�t rub it, don�t rub it! as the bowler came down the pitch with a searing gaze as I staunchly gave him one back
Woody at the other end was looking determined and solid and played one of the shots of the day with an explosive shot behind point for 4. We added 26 for the 7th wicket till Woody got a tough LBW call. For as long as I live, I will always think of left arm bowlers the bane of my cricket career and all should be banned as I played a slack shot to their captain Andrew Prince caught behind for 14. (or was it Anthony? Daniel Viles ended up calling him the wrong name for the whole comp!),
Fitty came out and started driving these guys down the ground for 4s and played an aggressive innings till he got a half tracker that come down at ankle height, LBW for 14 off 14, as we crumbled to all out for 130.
Back to the pavilion for sangers and fruit and 40 minutes later back to the fields of glory. And by the way the 2nd innings started out, it was glory for NSW all the way. Cruising at 1-83, NSW were comfortably in the box seat till Woody was thrown the ball and had the batsmen caught and bowled followed by Ekka taking a rip-snorter in the slips, also of Woody, NSW stumbling at 3-87.
Liam came on at the other end with his offies and took the vital wicket of Speth for 45 and NSW were feeling the pinch at 4-90. I will always remember the wicket celebrations from this game as we roared with shouts, yells of joy and phrases of encouragement; with little Woody stuck in the very middle throwing punches in mid air.
Woody threw down a pearler of a delivery which pitched outside leg, drew the batsmen forward playing through mid wicket to have the ball snap past his outside edge. As I took the ball I saw his back foot raise slightly and I got the bails off as quick as a flash then appealed as loud as I could to the square leg umpire. After a few seconds of dreaded silence, then.. OUT! The finger was raised!! At the bowlers end, Woody was appealing for a caught behind with the rest of the team! As a batsmen, seeing 2 umpires with both their fingers in the air would definitely eliminate any doubt to your dismissal. I had no idea why everyone was going for the catch, I didn�t hear a thing!
A high catch to Chook and we had NSW at 5-104, 27 short of victory with 5 overs remaining, but we knew that we were on a roll and hungry for wickets. Liam sent one down to their captain and he got some glove on it and the ball popped up to the vacant silly mid on where I took a diving 2 hand catch. The boys were pumped, we all knew we could win this and that NSW would buckle. Next ball the batsmen threw away the game going for a slog sweep, bowled for a golden, NSW 8-110 and guess who walked out next, none other than Goat Boy.
Well I wish I could write that QLD took the remaining 2 wickets but Goat Boy just must have a thing about performing in the big games, and ones that involve QLD too. The audacity of his swipe across mid wicket for 6 was pure cockiness, however credit must be given where credit is due and he played smartly in just getting NSW over the line.
Numb would be a great adjective in describing the following hours, especially for those who played in the last Nationals and lost that tight game. It would�ve been great to bury those demons, but now they have the choice to pine on this game or use it to fuel them for the next nationals.
That night was the team�s �P� night; ping pong, poker and other things they could find starting with the letter P. Fitty punished all comers in ping pong and after he learnt the art of poker, he then punished all comers in that game as well. Chico was once again caught out by having his room trashed early in the morning. I was awakened to hear an annoyed but somewhat amused voice yell out;
�You guys are racist! I don�t see you trashing Fitty�s room!�
Love it!