Rangers Vs Cavaliers
November 1st 2008
State Shield
REPORTS
PAGE
On a day where draws were needed to be looked, re-looked and then examined again, The Rangers (not the ramjets) were to be all alone at Kianawah Park... For a time it looked as though not even the opposing team would even show up, as they struggled to find numbers. However, 7 were eventually found and the game was finally underway 30mins later than usual.
The toss was lost by skipper Orth, (winning only 2/5 tosses) and surprisingly were sent into bat first, as has happened every time thus far for the season. It was an amusing start to the match. Orders were changed to let others shine with the bat, even a pizza order came in somehow, the South African import, Bricknell slipping out to grab a bite from Pizza cappers then returning with 5 large pizzas to share!! Whether the smell of the pizza delighting the air with its fragrance or a strange call from the non-striker Baldwin to run a streaky single off only the 4th ball of the innings, whatever it was, it certainly wasn�t a happy ending for Cowan, the solid rock for the rangers opening batsman this season. Run out for a duck, his first duck of the season. As expletives� were thrown back and forth, fighting over who got what pizza, a shock sight of Elliot strolling back to the pavilion was the last thing we would have thought have happen... All we could hear after that was �that�s just a load of crap!� �grrrr� and some other form of language used, only known by those with a wrench or really tight shorts as Baldwin himself was disgusted out on the field throwing his bat at the opposition... not knowingly of course! The man we call Doc Elliot was in no mood to be comforted, until he saw the pizza and demanded one be brought to his lap, PRONTO!
So the game was not going so well after �Billy the Kid� Lynch, was out not too long after being promoted by his Captain to no 3. Also out for a duck from no more than 3 balls... Rangers were struggling after only 2 over�s 2/5. Out strolled Club President Sandor (Shandy) Harris, as he and Baldwin set on a rescue mission to try restore some pride back into the team. Baldwin was just hoping he wouldn�t get out too soon, well at least until his opening partner Elliot had eaten enough pizza to calm his sorrows... Soon enough we were back on track 10 over�s into the match going at a steady 5� runs per over, as Shandy and Baldwin played some masterful strokes notching up a 50 run partnership. But like most of the day had gone, the rangers not having too much luck, Shandy was out caught to a well timed catch by Cookson running from cover to a deep cover, halting shandy 54 runs shy of another century, falling for 46 runs.
Next in was ever reliant Ben �Duncan� Hollis, answering the call for a last minute call up, unfortunately his fate was told beforehand by the master Shandy, �Either he will make a 40 odd or he will get out for a duck!� It was the latter, so once again we were back to square one at drinks. Rangers 4/93 after 17 overs.
Out strolled the man who was ready to make amends for some much wanted time out in the middle with the bat, Gavin Bricknell. Soon to come would be the greatest partnership the Rangers history has ever seen... There were cut shots, pull shots, sweep shots, even reverse sweep shots, but like Cav�s bowler at the time, Matt Ramsay, seeing his off spin bowling being dispatched to all ends of the park, �when it�s your day, why not?!� And that is what Mr Bricknell did, racing past opening batsman Baldwin and beating him to his maiden first half century for the club. Going at better then a run a ball. Baldwin was also not afraid to chip in with a few lusty drives as he marched on his way to a very steady but thought out innings of 50 runs.
With 6 over�s to go, the score was 4/199. By the second last over, Bricknell was raising his bat for a fabulous century off 70 balls. Baldwin had been playing the anchor roll all day allowing the other end to open up and hit at will, which is what Bricknell did with pleasure, for us as a team, and pain for the opposition as they had chances dropped which allowed the man of the moment to take charge. The very last over came and a first record was in sight. No one has ever battered a whole innings from ball one to the end without getting out. The challenge was set, Baldwin had only 2 balls to face, the second last was defended nicely on the front foot, the last was scooped even nicer to the bowlers hands for the easiest catch you could ever want for a caught and bowled. Baldwin had fallen short by one ball... However, another record was smashed, that of the greatest partnership for a one dayer between two players. 196 run partnership between Baldwin and Bricknell!! (Surpassing the great stand of 130 runs, brought up way back in the first season between Sam �Wise� Batten and Cameron �Camo� Orth.) An amazing effort! Off only 18 over�s, approximately 108 balls.
The rangers had managed a staggering 289 runs for the loss of 5 wickets off their 35 over�s. Another record broken for the highest amount of runs scored by a rangers team.
With the Runs in the bank and some full steam ahead bowling to come, we were ready to hit the field. BUT WAIT!! Where was the new ball?!?! Rhys had been playing with it, previous to him having to depart after our batting?.... Surely he didn�t?!..... Did HE?!..... Yes he Did!!!..... The man had forgotten to leave the game ball behind, not giving the master of swing Andy, full advantage of taking down some Cavalier wickets. But Andy didn�t need a new ball to cause damage, his 2nd legitimate ball of the innings was a monster in-swinging ball that shattered the stumps and brought about the first wicket of the day...
Out came the stubborn war horse Domic Window holding up one end while Matt Ramsay took apart the dismal bowling efforts of Skipper C. Orth. Even if there were some glimpses of his bowling efforts from last season, there were too many �rubbish� balls that Ramsay cut at will... Andy took out the stumps of Window and Orth Managed to get one back claiming their next batsman for a low score.
Like the Cav�s did to us, we re-payed the favour droping danger batsman Ramsay, not once but twice. Then Cav�s captain for the day, Chris �Cookie� Cookson joined the rampaging Ramsay as they endeavoured to restore their own pride with 7 players. Bowling changes were made, field placements were put in place, but nothing could stop the onslaught both batsmen seemed to deliver up. Cav�s came into drinks 3 down for an amazing 136 runs off only 16 overs. The Skipper saw the heads drop as the boys started to mender off to the benches so he decided to call them over for a quick chat and let them know that dropping heads was not an option, changing the attitude and giving it our all was all he demanded from them after drinks
The onslaught didn�t stop after drinks either as the first over went for 17 runs... But attitudes were more positive. Then the man, we have no clue how to pronounce his last name, Rag-a-dagger, rat-a-touie, ratnayake.. Or however you say it, it didn�t matter as he decided enough was enough, so threw up some tempter deliveries causing Ramsay to play a false shot holding out at mid on, finally falling into the Captain�s Hand. But the end was still far from finished. As the Cav�s kept up the anti. Wickets still kept on tumbling and eventually we had bowled them out. Not before a big scare as the Cav�s managed to pile on 220 runs off only 26 over�s...
A big sigh of relief was had by all, as the bowlers took a beating today, and their stats being dented severely. We might be 4 wins from 5 games, but we still have a lot to improve on. Which is the secret for cricket, if you are not trying to improve your game, then you�ll only go backwards. A massive congratulations to Gavin for his maiden century and Baldwin for almost holding out until the end. Gihan�s spin bowling was so ever reliant and was clearly the best bowler for the day. Well Done Rangers!
By Cameron Orth.