Match Report - ANZA Champs vs British Club

ANZA Champs v British Club at Turf City B, Sunday 26 April 08

Scorecard

....................a one run, a one lousy run defeat - a day to remember, 26th April 2008, the day after ANZAC Day, and our lads were done over by the British again!

A beautiful day at Turf City, the oval and wicket area being in as good a condition as I have witnessed - almost thought we were back at the Padang (well almost), and our first 15 overs were very similar to that recent performance!

Toss lost (Forday G being much too close), a minutes silence in honour of the ANZACS, invited to field and the Champs managed to start off where we finished the last game - quite ordinary really! Always felt that we had our chances but just couldn't consistently hit the right line and length to mount any real pressure. The result being that, by drinks (15 overs), the British boys had been allowed to skip away to a handy score of 2 for 97 with the Champs at risk of needing to haul in another massive target.

I'm not sure what was in the esky at drinks but the next 11 overs saw one of the best all round bowling/fielding efforts the Champs have put together for some time on what was a surprisingly quick outfield for Turf City. Line and length was tightened up with a bit of pace off the ball, well supported in the field, solid backing up , plenty of encouragement, a couple of catches held, tidy glove work by Chiro (1 stumping - please note Footrot) and 2 runouts to go with one secured earlier saw the British Club back in the pavilion (such as it is) losing the last 8 wickets for the addition of only 63 runs. In true ANZAC Spirit The Champs had clawed their way back into the game and confidence was high.

Thanks to all the bowlers for digging deep and coming back so well, Shaun 'the Baron" took up the challenge of the new ball, John Dick mixed them up (even confusing most of his team mates with his short run up) and snagged 3 wickets, Munib as tight and miserly as ever (14 off 4), Phil the Younger and Forday G stepping up in the crucial middle overs and getting amongst the wickets and Josh "Close Out" Ghosh drying up the runs (1/8 off 4) at the end.

Special mention must go to Forday G who managed to grab his first "official" Champs wicket and shortly after halved his bowling average. Although I have to admit to being very confused with the leg side stumping strategy - which was made somewhat clearer after the game when Geoff and Chiro actually decided to chat and worked out that neither had understood the signals the other was giving! Geoff's 2 wickets with the ball going well with a couple of rocket throws in the field which resulted in run outs.

In to bat, and from a position of strength the Champs were soon to be on the back foot again. Lost an early wicket before Ben Dunn arrived at the crease to finally achieve what every cricketer dreams about during their whole career , a batting average with the Champs! Ben, arrived at the wicket to plenty of British "chat" , carefully watched the first ball on to the bat , decided he had seen enough to pick up the line and length and proceeded to silence the Brits with some wonderful shots - the scorebook for the rest of that over reading 4-4- dot-4 - and going on to equal top score with 29.

Unfortunately, a combination of poor shot selection (your truly), solid bowling, dodgy decisions (Matt Quin will be being having nightmares), sacrificial run outs (Klaus and Phil the Younger) and a fluky catch which resulted in Shauns dismissal just when he was about to "launch" meant the Champs, despite another solid batting effort by Josh (26 Not Out), were always behind the required run rate.

What to do? Just ask Munib - arriving at the crease in the 25th over with the score at 8/116 Munib (29 Not Out) decided to unleash. A couple of big sixes (one being really big), great running with Josh and all of a sudden the Champs were back in the game needing eight off the final over.

But, alas, it was not to be, six runs off the last over saw the Champs came up agonizingly short - a one run loss!

A disappointing loss but all can hold heads high in a game that was fought out hard but fair against worthy opposition. The result showing how important it is to make every run count (with bat and ball) and that you're never out of the game - Great effort guys.

A weeks break and then we're back into it on the 11th May - don't tell the wives it's Mother Day though!

......................and don't mention the other "W" word!

- Cheer Steve