Match Report - ANZA Champs vs SIA 2

ANZA Champs v SIA 2 at CSC, Sunday 06 July 08

Scorecard

ANZA Champs (All Out 175 - 27.5 Overs) vs SIA2 (5/180 - 28.1 Overs)
Sun 6th July @ CSC
(SIA2 Won by 5 wickets with 11 balls remaining in innings)

Some late team re-organisation with Matt Quinn absent ill, a call to Klaus going unanswered, a call to Shaun being answered and then unable to confirm - must have been a great massage, a subsequent call to arms for Will and a late reply from Klaus finally settling the Champs XI at 0745 - just in time for the toss of the coin!

Will back to bed, Shaun to a follow up massage, Klaus in, Matt agreeing to 12th man duties! .............. Flexibility is the key with the Champs.

Toss lost , decision????.........Decision???????????..............DECISION??????????? - Champs finally being invited to bat after SIA's pilots Union finally managed to came to consensus - if only Qantas could enjoy the same!

The "old" opening partnership of Limbrick and Forday G strode to the crease - Forday G fresh from a tidy half century (58) scored with the three's the day before. "Nothing silly" was the agreed approach, "get yourself set and have a look" being the mantra, "no silly runs" is the rule!

All totally ignored as the skipper smashed the second ball to backward point and set off for a sharp but risky single.......Forday G dug in to the CSC turf, he scampered, he stuttered, he gave up! He had been Ferozed by the Ferozee.........see ya later Geoff that will teach you to make runs for the 3's! (Pls note that there may be a technicality with this one as the "official" score sheet submitted to the SCA indicates that Geoff did face 1 ball - therefore it can only be assumed that he actually ran himself out)

Not a great start.........a start that was soon to deteriorate with The Bearded One , Ben Dunn getting a beauty which clipped the top of the off peg and in doing so ensuring his challenging season continues. 2 for none with 2 kit packing contenders and rule's regarding the kit packing needing to be clarified.

A combination of wides and survival managed to get the score to 30 before the skipper went LBW to be followed shortly by Rev. And it was 4 for 36 when Munib (48) and Chiro (46)joined forces for a superb partnership of 99 ! Not only did both successfully avoid their fifty but also just missing a hundred run partnership. The Champs were finally doing to the opposition something which has so often occurred to them - a middle order partnership.

This was batting at its best , a joy to watch. Straight bats mixed with lusty pulls and cuts. Great running combined with caution - this partnership had it all with both, unfortunately, falling agonisingly short of thoroughly deserved half centuries. Well batted lads!

The rest of the best was Spainy (21 NO). A very handy knock and with bits and pieces around him the score managed to get to 175 despite not quiet seeing out the 30 overs.

However, there was further confusion in the latter part of the innings with the respect to kit packing rules as Phil The Younger became the second "victim" in the innings to be run out without facing a ball - "it was Spainy's call" being the philosophical response, and John Dick falling first ball for a patient innings of nought.

A review of the batting card indicating the importance of bowling stump to stump on the up and down track at CSC - 6 bowled, 1 LBW, 2 Run Outs and only 1 caught!

And so to field, a handy target to defend, fielding conditions very good and confidence being high.

An early dropped catch combined with an opener who must have had a plane to catch saw SIA , swinging across the line, getting away to a flyer and, when the first wicket finally fell, after 11 overs the score had already moved to 88. I won't mention the appeal for LBW which was turned down as that would just be seen as sour grapes given an earlier "marginal" decision which went against the Champs - but this guy was absolutely PLUMB and instead of being dismissed for 20 odd ended up making 64 off 36 and in the process setting a great platform for SIA2.

Despite this, slowly the Champs clawed their way back into the contest - while it was a bit of a mixed bowling and fielding performance, a few handy wickets (Spainy 3/Rev 2), a couple of handy catches - one a super one hander by Ben Yeoh, a few tight overs sent down by Younger and Ben Yeoh and the game was suddenly going down to the wire.

But again, it was not to be SIA getting over the line with 11 balls to spare..

Highlights in the field - the raw emotion of Phil The Younger when he grabbed a catch in the deep; the Paul Reiffel like tip over the fence for 6 by Spainy (this game can jump up and grab you); Ben "The Bearded One" Dunn strapping on the keepers pads at the break to relieve Chiro and doing quiet a handy job; Chiros' subsequent outfield chase and cramp; Spainy coming back from being shown no respect earlier to grab 3 wickets; Ben Yeoh's all round effort and great catch: Matt Quin fronting up for 12th man duties; Munibs maiden and the Champs only sending down 15 wides.

Another close one but sadly no cigar!

No game this week with next games being:
20th July vs Tanker @ IA (0800) - Away Game.
26th July vs JP Morgan @ Turf City (0800) - Home Game

Will , with able support of Footrot, to Skipper - good luck guys and grab a few wins while I'm out of town..........please!

"Ciao" Steve .............

oh - and John Dick packed the kit!