Round 5 V
The final match and a
win here would put us into the semi finals so this was crunch time, this match
was scheduled to be played at McCredie
Oval one of the nicest grounds in the area, the added attraction is that it
backs onto the Guildford Leagues Club where, at lunch, and maybe other times
the parents can indulge in a nice lunch and a few drinks of LEOMONADE ?????
But with rain all the
week this ground was closed so an alternative ground was found being Pearce
Reserve Kings Langley, this is a small ground with a synthetic wicket, only one
dressing room which was claimed by the home team so the boys changed in the
fresh air (never mind the blushes).
Nathan lost the toss but as we had now got
used to chasing the runs we hoped there would be no problem.
A change of bowling
after 12 overs bought immediate success with Glen Franshaw getting a wicket
with his 3rd ball so it was 1 for 27, a spirited stand for the 3rd
wicket saw the score reach 89 when Peter Carroll the took a good catch from Dave Curran’s
bowling and then Dave with a good throw
ran out another batsman.
Elliot then grabbed a
wicket and with our fielding up a notch
Royston ran out their most dangerous batsman the opener who had been in for 40
overs and had scored 74 runs
A good catch by Sagi
from Andrew’s bowling and the score was 135 for 7 .
Some fast scoring
from
Once again our
fielding stood out, 2 run outs and 7
catches.
A big task in front
of us with our biggest run chase but the small ground and some big hitters
there was hope .
A nice opening stand
of 43 by Scott and Royston in 14 overs had us on target but the Scott was
caught for 10, Brett joined Royston and a quick fire partnership of 39 in overs
put us in front before Royston was run out on 55 having hit 4 sixes and
4 fours The ditch at the end of the ground received quite a few balls.
Hodgo came in and
Brett and Hodgo added 82 in fast time before Hodgo gave a catch and was out for 51.
Mitch came in and was
caught in the next over for a duck, but with Brett still there and going strong
it was plain sailing from then on, Brett
and Elliot carried on the assault until Brett was out with the score at
194 for 5 Brett having scored 64 runs
with 2 sixes and 4 fours
Andrew came in and took the score past their
total with the loss of just 5 wickets Elliot 25 n/o put in some big hits with a couple of sixes so a good day was had
by all.
5 down and into the
semis
Semi Final day V Illawarra 1st
February 2004 at Howell Oval
After the match with Parramatta we waited
with baited breath for the other results
to come in from the other divisions as the final scores decided who we would
play and where, finally we found we had came second in the club championship
which gave us a home ground advantage and were playing Illawara.
Christmas came and went and the 1st
of February could not come fast enough, finally it came and a lovely day and
lovely pitch at Howell Oval, the boys
were on their toes whilst getting the covers off , I think the parents were
more worried than them because this was
it, the moment of truth but with that carrot dangling in front of them giving
them a chance to play at the sacred turf of the Sydney Cricket Ground, a feat
rarely reached by seniors let alone junior players,
was an incentive to aim for.
Again Hodgo lost the toss (I am sure that the opposition shared a
two headed coin) so once again we were in the field.
Once again our
opening bowlers kept the ball tight and some good fielding kept the run rate
down the first wicket fell at 32 when Karl clean bowled one of the openers,
Peter Carroll came on and a wicket from him in his second over which was a brilliant diving catch from
Sagi from Peter’s bowling had them 3 for 70.and
another in his 5th over where
Sagi performed the same feat
And it was 4 for 120
Three wickets to Dave Curran , the most
important being the wicket of the opening batsman L.B.W. for 79, and we were
back in the game.
6 for 157 after 45 overs wasn’t too bad, and with our opening bowlers back on
we turned up the heat Peter picked up another wicket then Andrew {2 wickets in
an over} and Karl grabbing the last
wicket and Illawara were all out in the 59th
over for 212.
Once again our
fielding was exceptional
2 catches and a stumping to Sagi, 2
catches to Brett Russell, 2 catches by Andrew and a catch to Peter Carroll put
the icing on the cake.
The bowlers all
performed well ,Dave had his best match of the competition with 3 for 32, 3 to
Peter for 37 runs, 2 wickets to Andrew for 28 runs an Karl 1 for 41 from 12 overs,
The openers got the
score to 37 before Scott was bowled for 16 then Brett joined Royston and the
first 10 overs produced 60 runs ,a
dream start.
Royston was out with
the score at 69 having scored a fast 47 including 8 fours, in came the captain Hodgo and both he and Peter got stuck into the bowlers
until Peter was out after scoring 22 and the score at 103, then a mini collapse
with Russell and Elliot both out with the score at 137 for 5.
Andrew joined Hodgo and he too got stuck in and the score raced to 201
before the 64 run partnership was broken with Andrew bowled for 19.
Sagi came in and in his flamboyant style hit 2
fours, Hodgo who was on 77 at the time we reached their score decided to end the game with a six but a
brilliant catch right on the boundary fence ended his innings, Sagi finished the game with another 4 and we were home in
the 47th over.
This time I decided
to film the victory song and I’m glad I did as all of the tension which had
built up over the competition came out in that song, I have watched the A.F.L.
teams sing their victory songs in the dressing room after a win but compared
with the Penrith one they sounded like the Luton Girls Choir.
So it is off to the
Sydney Cricket Ground on the 24TH February against the