REPORTS
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State Shield
16th December
Clairevaux College
Coming into the team were Paulie �I dare you to bowl short to me� Joseph, Sam �I taught Damien Martyn all I knew� Batten, Jess �My muscles put Vin Diesel to shame� Walker, Cam �I love hitting the ball back into your face� Orth, Neil �One shot is all I need� Ewing and Jonathon �Im a Colgate Male Model� Munro.
And after the expected, (Shandy losing the toss again) the Rangers went out fielding the strongest team in the history of the club. However, the sound of silence fell upon the crowd as Ranger�s star batsmen, Sam Batten, fell in the 3rd over for 6. Four overs later, Varun, the club�s leading runscorer, was caught behind for just 4, the Rangers in early trouble, staggering at 2-22 in the 7th over.
In a last minute promotion up the order, Ranger�s captain Shandy came out to join his Vice, Paulie, who in the middle of the carnage was ploughing his way through the Mustang�s opening bowling attack. Playing some amazing drives, Paulie was every bit the class batsmen he is until he was out looking for another straight drive, bowled for 22 (38). The Sally�s gave Paulie a noisy send off, until he reminded the bowler that he took 3 boundaries off his bowling.
Lady luck was definitely looking upon Shandy when Chad�s first ball, was pushed into the covers, the two batsmen got tangled up in an ugly mix up. Shandy who was stuck 5 metres out was as flabbergasted as the Sally�s when the ball sailed over the keepers head leaving Shandy somewhat relieved and Chad rather apologetic at the non strikers end.
Unfortunately �The Chad� was bowled soon after leaving the Rangers teetering at 4-45 in the 14th over.
Out strutted one of the cleanest hitters of the club, Cameron Orth. With his very own equipment caddy cheering form the sidelines, and more training sessions under his belt than anyone else this season, Camo looked solid from his very first ball. With a new change in his batting stance and mental approach, Cam played at his own pace, leaving anything outside off stump, and took 9 balls to get off the mark with a single.
At the other end, Shandy, who also has changed his technique of late, looked hungry for runs after his dismal run of late, as he took quick singles and waited for the bad ball. Anything loose on his legs was sent via airmail to the square boundaries, and brought up his 3rd Ranger fitty with a boundary, to the applause of his team mates on the sideline, who knew the captain was in a bit of an unlucky trot of late. It had been 6 innings since his last 50.
Another 6 later, Shandy, flat footed, was caught behind flashing a cut shot, out for 56 (59) in a new 5th wicket partnership with Camo, 80 of 60 balls, over taking Sam and Shandy�s 77 against Wolston Park Centenary last year.
If there was a batsman who looked like getting bowled off his first ball it was Jonny Munro. With a stance that looked like he was going to tee off on a par 3, Jonny survived his first 4 balls until he found the much loved single that took him off the dreaded duck.
Cam at the other end was looking like the guy that constantly smashes everyone in the nets as he took to the bowling sending most of his shots to cow corner. However the shot of the day came when he walked up the pitch �Hayden style� and sent a Dupuy�s delivery straight over middle stump but 60 feet straight up, over the boundary onto the upper footy field. The ball went that high and that long in the clouds it came down with snow. Its been classed the biggest hit in Ranger History.
Jonny is a bit like of a monkey see-monkey do kind of guy, and tried the exact thing, and the bench roared as the umpire raised both hands into the air as Jonny hit ihs debut 6 over the straight boundary� just 30 metres short of Camo�s though. Cameron remarked all he could see in the cloudy darkness was this emanating light from Jonny�s face�. His big white pearlers knocking up 1000 watts per second.
Thinking �If I could do that once, I can do that again�, Jonny decided to attempt another 6 and proceeded to aim for Jamie and sent another rocket but into the Ranger bench this time.
Vinnie announced that Camo hit his 2nd club 50 and the team erupted in cheers and adulations for one of the most liked guys in the team, but Vinnie pulled a Neil when he realised to his horror, Cameron was only on 49. Luckily Cameron found a single and the team exploded once again for Cameron�s 2nd fifty of the game. 24 hours later it was released that Cameron was only on 48 when Vinnie announced that Cam hit his first 50! Dale, who was scoring the 2nd book, was wondering what Vinnie was doing when he said that Cam hit his 50.
Unfortunately Cam�s first 100 fell 49 runs short when he was bowled middle going for another tonk and an amazing reception greeted the Star Allrounder when he walked off. Rangers; 6-157. Amazingly, Cameron only scored one run on the off side during his innings and in the process broke Neil's record highest score (38) for the 6th wicket.
After the fall of Neelys for 7 (7), the Ranger�s gave up their first, and hopefully, their only hat-trick, as Dupuy first balled Undies for a duck, Jamie for a golden (Does anyone know what shot he was trying to do?) and Dale LBW, to end the innings and the score on 184, 16 runs short of their intended total. (Note: Jonny and Andy established a new 8th wicket run partnership of 10, overtaking Dale's and Tyrone's partnership of 3!)
With gathering thunderstorm clouds over head, and with a desire to exact some revenge, the Rangers ran out looking for the vital points they needed to climb the ladder. Not only was it raining, but it was hailing fours and sixes as Dupuy and Luhrs racked up 55 runs in just 5 overs, punishing some wayward bowling However it was the Plug, who came on in the 5th over, who not surprisingly claimed the first wicket, Dupuy out for 36, caught by Sam-wise for 36.
Unfortunately the game was called off due to lightning after the dismissal in what would have been another pumped up game for the Rangers. And even more unlucky was Vinnie, who was the designated bowler, who didn�t bat, bowl or even touch the ball!
Even though the game was called off, it was great having the old guys back again and to give them a chance to play the game they miss and love.