DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
DAY 6
Queensland Vs Southern Districts
One thing that Goose said to me that one of the ways this team was selected was that every player had the ability to win a game on their own, and that he was expecting a 100, if not several this competition. This was the game where his wish would come true through Chico who scored a patient turn explosive even 100. Chico for the last 3 games has looked good at the crease and made some solid starts. Also recognizing his weakness in over balancing, he worked hard to eliminate the LBW option in his game.
I was excited today as I was moved up to my regular number 4 position and was soon jogging in after a few overs with the team in early trouble at 2-12, and I found myself facing �John Butler� who was bowling snappy but very tight. His real name was Gethan Chui and looking back I�m sure glad I didn�t call him John� that�s a fine!
One thing that I will always remember about this game was the howling wind coming in from the east. I have never been in the situation where the bowler would be running in and my bat would start moving with the wind towards gully! Mid pitch chats were all about coming as close as possible and shouting in the others ear. And of course with the wind, 4 piece or not, these balls were swinging like anything.
These guys were impossible to score off. Every ball was outside off making and bringing the slips into play. Chico and myself made it a goal to play till drinks at 17 then go from there, and even after that point they were still hard to put to the boundary, even the single was hard to find. However Neo started freeing up his arms and played some gorgeous shots through the covers.
At the 35th over we were still 2 down and it was license to open up. I�ve never really liked these situations as I�m not the biggest or the strongest hitter around, and I was absolutely stuffed. Either way I still went the tonk and got a few lucky shots off while Chico knocked it up a few more gears and hit an amazing shot over cow corner, into the brutal wind, for 6!
In the 41st over I was dismissed, stumped down leg after the ball hit the keeper in the chest then it rolled onto the stumps. Chico and myself added 143 for the 3rd wicket and would be the highest partnership for the whole comp. Out of all the partnerships I�ve been in, I would say this one would be the hardest yet most rewarding and also the most fun as Chico and myself had a blast out there, always backing each other up most balls and thoroughly enjoying the challenge at hand.
On a personal note I was pleased with getting 41, but I do wish I could�ve got more runs out there, and at a faster rate as Chico doubled my score in the partnership. . Interestingly, out of the 200 odd balls I faced at Nationals, I only received one short ball that I could pull away to the boundary. These guys were defiantly the pick of their clubs, with many associations having over 30, 40 and even 50 clubs to choose their representative XI from, unlike QLD Churches which has just the 7.
Southern brought it back bowling some tight overs, especially John Butler who went on to capture 3 late wickets to take 4-38 off 12 and restrict QLD to 7-188 off their 50. We were also the only team that Southern failed to bowl out the whole competition.
If we win this game we still had a chance of winning the comp, providing if we defeated South Australia Red in the following game. The guys were pumped up, especially after yesterdays tight game against NSW, and it was Stinky who fired up taking the first 2 wickets, including a ripper that smashed into the helmet of their opener. At the other end Sean Vandergert, a short little Indian, was punishing anything slightly off line. Sparked by Chico�s remarks towards Viddy about family pride against your brother/cousin, Fitty had him caught by Charlie, who performed a nice little juggling act, at Mid Off. Fired up, Fitty also performed a nice little send off for the departing batsmen. Vandergergert would later take the Australian opener position for his superb series.
Fitty was having a ripper of a match dismissing another player to be selected for the Australian XI, Rohan Chui caught Marto for 11. This was a massive wicket as he had been plundering the attacks for the last 3 days. With Lewey cheering the boys on, QLD was playing its heart out and had Southern reeling at 5-69. Whenever things got quiet Lewey, perched high on the pavilion balcony, would often blare out lines that had the boys smirking, especially when he would shout out;
�This is the wicket ball Stinky!� just as Stinky was about to hit the crease.
The boys were constantly firing each other up and really getting behind the bowlers who were putting everything in.
Unfortunately Southern�s middle order stepped up and really made us work hard for their wickets and it wasn�t till 59 runs later we claimed our 6th wicket. Varun had bowled his second spell of 6 overs and was the main destroyer taking 4-43 off 12. It was unfortunate that, due to Varun being 16, we couldn�t bowl him more as he was regularly keeping the pressure on the batsmen.
On a personal note, I was wasted mentally and physically from today�s and the previous 3 games. Every delivery I had to talk aloud to myself to concentrate on this red blurry thing heading in my general direction. It was definitely tough being out there in the sun and the heat of the situation. Luckily I was still conscious when Stinky drew another edge and I pocketed my 8th catch of the series.
We needed 2 more wickets to win a great match and Southern needed another 21 runs. I think a lot of the guys were putting in that extra bit of effort for Chicko�s stubborn hundred as they didn�t want such a performance to go to waste.
Well as they say cricket is a cruel game and once again we came up short of a remarkable victory as Southern�s tail successfully played Russian Roulette with us, and our hearts in the process. The atmosphere in the dressing rooms were as solemn as I have ever experienced. We were tired, exhausted and gone.
No one talked as we sat on our little niches in the room. Slowly our Team Manager, Josh Brandon, stood up and walked to the middle of the room where he emotionally expressed just how much pride he felt for the guys who had played so hard for 4 days straight to only be shafted by so many close matches. It was something touching and comforting to see one of our peers validating our efforts, in tears, in the middle of the locker room as many of us freely wept with Josh.
No doubt it was the proudest moment of my cricketing career, sitting in that locker room with all those guys It was a privilege to be able to play with so many friends who put their all into every moment on the cricket field.