1st Grade Report vs Wests - Round 3 |
Last ball of the game Wests are 3 runs behind Gordon as opening bowler Dylan Connell charges in towards the crease. A full ball is squeezed out and BMac pounces and underarms a direct hit as the batsman try to complete the second run. Gordon had taken 7 wickets for 58 runs and completed a remarkable fight-back. The celebrations had started, a superb team song was rendered, and 7 hours later the boys were still in the sheds enjoying the entertainment. Connell had delivered on all fronts'! Author and dispatcher of 6 - Rod Hokin Earlier in the day 1st Grade caps were presented to debutant Cam Eccles and returning quick bowler Gareth Wright. Captain Nicholson had won the toss and Gordon were off to a solid start. Beverley worked the singles well and Eccles pounced on anything lose. He is a player with a superb eye and drove powerfully and cut with flair that James Ayliffe would be proud off. The debutant was dismissed 61 runs short off a 3rd consecutive century but his performance in this round and in 2nds last week and 3rds the week before is a reminder to all lower grade players at the Club that you are all so much closer to the top grade than you may think. After reaching 72 without loss, Gordon disappointingly lost 4 quick wickets. Nicholson joined Hokin at the crease and the pair patiently went about recovering the situation. Their 95 run partnership would be crucial to the end result of the game. Nicholson was particularly aggressive scoring an excellent 59 off 66 balls. As a Captain he leads from the front, backs his ability and sets an outstanding example for the rest of his players. Hokin was dismissed in the final overs leaving Matt Michael and Jules Stephenson to take the Stags to 7 for 224 off their 50 overs.
Debutant Cam Eccles in the 1st Grade side With the game reaching a climax Nicholson bought himself and Connell back on to bowl the finals overs with the ball going Irish. 16 runs needed off 3 overs with 3 wickets in hand. Connell bowls a yorker to send the stumps flying. 11 runs off 2 overs and the Captain bowls a compelling over of death bowling. Beverley was superb behind the stumps saving a crucial 4 runs with a full length diving take. The last over began with 8 runs needed and 2 wickets in hand. Connell bustled in and was marvelous. A middle-stump was sent cart-wheeling much to the delight of the sizeable crowd. It all came down to the last ball. Gordon under pressure were outstanding. We had fought back with the bat. We bowled superbly at the death and held a number of crucial catches. We had never given in when Wests were cruising towards victory. We deserved the win. We had clearly out-enthused our opposition. Rod Hokin |
1st Grade triumphant in a thriller
In response Wests were cruising at 1 for 84 before Gareth Wright claimed his 1st top grade wicket with a superb dipping slower ball to clean bowl danger man Singh. Meanwhile at the other end Islam was playing aggressively, riding his luck and quickly taking the game away from Gordon. He was within one shot of his century when McDonald claimed a crucial caught and bowled that gave the Stags a sniff of victory. From here the home team was outstanding. Stephenson bowled a superb containing spell to build pressure as MacDonald (4/39 from his 10) continued to take wickets at the other end. The fielders lifted, highlighted by an excellent catch on the boundary to Packman as the ball was sailing over the fence.
