Rangers White Vs Ned Flanders XI
January 26th & February 2nd
Premiership
REPORTS
PAGE
Earlier on in the day, Fitty once again showcased his temperament, class and prestigious skill as he took on the Neddys, scoring more than half of the Rangers paltry below par total of 96. Fitty stroked his way to an unbeaten 52 of 91 balls in an innings that smacked discipline, fire and confidence, all the traits that saw him excel at the Australian Nationals last year.
Elliot looked in good touch once again, reaching 20 until he fell at backward square. Unfortunately for the Rangers, Ford came in and drove through the middle order, and in the process, cashed in on the rare hatrick, to finish his figures with 5-20. Interestingly, the Middis brothers, Aaron, Gary, Michael and Josh, made their way into future trivia nights by all claiming the same score.
Young Gun Rhys Lynch almost tore out his hair in his opening spell as unfortunately the fielding team let the premier paceman down. Rhys bowled brilliantly, and with venom as he drew the outside edge 3 times, all from QLD Churches Captain, Liam Excelby, who went on to make a quick fast 75. Unfortunately Gazza fell into the same boat as 4 chances went off his bowling, including a first baller of Brendon �Neo� Dillion, who consoled the Neddys innings with 83 of his own. Elliot must�ve snapped past boiling point as he witnessed Dillion going rank with his Fusion, sending the red to the various angles of the ground- Why couldn�t his Fusion do anything like that, or even stay together in the process?!
Fortunately the Rangers came back in the middle session as true Rangers do- the usual discussion of what KFC meal is better value for money and chicken. Telling Bundy to slow down his express 60km/hr thunderbolts, the ribbing of a certain Indian named Suresh (names have been altered for anonymity sake) and the constant giggling and firing up of one�s self.
The big play of the day came when Bundy got fired up after Liam smashed his ball back to the Gold Coast. The same thought just happened to grace Elliot's and Shandy's mind - the profound numeral of 203 blinked brightly before their eyes. Bundy, however walked back, trundled in and pegged back the leg stump next ball as he has done surprisingly and astonishingly, many times this season.
Pikachu held onto a ripper down low at 3rd and also equalled Undies and Michael Middis' record for most catches by a fieldsman in an innings of 3. Fitty, at short midwicket, plucked one out of the air to rival Gazza�s nomination for catch of the season. Shandy picked up his 3rd stumping off Fitty and 3rd off Gazza for the season to take his total to 7. Fitty did a Richard Hadlee, and brought the ball back in past a leave, to knock off out of the ground. Pikachu came on and established the Ranger record for most Caught and Bowled's, picking up his 3rd for the season. Dillion was last man out, who fell to Josh Middis, to end the Neddy�s innings at 220. Fitty and Gazza claiming 3 highly prized scalps each from the innings.
Neddys will be on the lookout for another outright. Let�s just hope they caught our bad luck bug in the process!
Week 2
A big day presented itself before the Rangers as they attempted to avoid outright against the Neddys. Things didn�t get off to a good start when their opener, Aaron Middis, turned up a touch late. Into the fray went the teams calendar pin up boy, Rhys Lynch! In what could be class as a streaky innings, Rhys kept true to himself as an entertainer and when the block shot proved unsuccessful, Rhys let go his repertoire of un-text book like shots. Soon the ball was disappearing to the unknown regions of a cricket oval, including a cross bat-pull shot, straight drive that sent the ball right down the ground and a few metres over the boundary line. Bundy was secretly hoping that no one would notice that was the first 6 by the Turbonator.
However, all good things must come to an end, and after seeing off the new ball, Rhys fell caught behind for a sparkling 19 off 34 balls. Upon reaching the sideline, Rhys was quick to inform Bundy that he has now scored more runs with his own bat much to the jeers of the team. That opened the next stage of the game, a rain period of 20 minutes.
Fitty went out to greet Doc Elliot who was playing another gem of an innings. He looked powerful off his hip, and on anything short, which drew expressions and groans of admiration and awe from the bench.
Amid the chaos on the field, Rhys was practising his pin up photo shots with the digital cameras, unearthing never seen before poses. Maybe we should do a fundraiser with a team calendar� Rhys taking out the Mr March and Mr June slots.
After another rain delay, Elliot brought up his 4th plus 50 score of the season, equalling Sam Batten�s performance in our first year. (Sam just did his in reverse with three centuries) Elliot can be definitely compared to a vintage wine (excluding his age) as he just gets better and better with age.
With less then 2 hours left in play, and behind the Neddys first innings score by 23 runs, the team thought it was time to unleash the traditional collapse. The Rangers went from being 1-100, to all out for 138 in less than 45 minutes! However, it feels better when one can blame the collapse on someone else�s skill, instead of the lack of that we usually posses in such moments.
QLD Churches Rep, Steve �Derka-Derka� Dersken, more famous for clearing boundary ropes and taking 30 off an Elliot over, came back to haunt the team as he went through the line up like a bad curry.
Brendon �Neo� Dillion, made the call of the day, shouting out to Derka to give him a catch for this ball. Fitty, being the gentleman that he is, glanced one down leg side, right into Chicko�s gloves, out for a well played 30 off 72 balls, and ending his 136 runs in his last 3 innings.
Derka went onto shatter more stumps and the line up with an amazing spell of line and length bowling, capturing the amazing figures of 7-20. Bar a late tonk by Michael Middis (13 off 18), the Rangers capitulated for a meagre lead of 14, in which the Neddys saw off in less than 3 overs.
Unfortunately, that was the last game for the Rangers White Premiership season. However looking back, it was a season of many, many laughs, personal milestones, friendships and challenges. We were proud that we had a few moments where we sent a rare shiver through a few of the top teams, and even prouder when we came back when everyone was writing of the team and its talent.
We will always remember the ecstasy on Michael�s face when he scored his debut century as he raised his bat into the stratosphere. The joy on Gazza�s face when he etched up his first fitty. The humble acknowledgments whenever Elliot passed fifty or a hundred. If he only knew just how much he left the guys ooooing and aaahhing at his skill and grace. The many times players went off to their local sponsor of KFC to only be cut short by a batting collapse. Fitty overcoming his form slump and once again proving what a class player he is. Gazza's allround skills, his great fieling and off field leadership Rhys� energy and life that he brings whenever he�s around, or bowling. Bundy�s amazing bowling efforts this season, and his celebration of Liam�s wicket is memorable. And of course, who could forget those Bundy Award Moments and the many, many, oh the many dropped catches�.
Or the times whenever we got a wicket, it provided a great forum for the sledges and jokes thought up on the field to be released before all and its victim. And when we shook hands with the opposition with the great environment they provided for our game. But definitely the best times were the exchanges of high-fives, hugs, compliments and applause that only added and fortified the friendships that we made this season.
Great work Rangers White and one black man!