5th Grade Report vs Campbelltown-Camden - Round 14 |
We all arrived at Raby on time apart from Effeney, who took the M2, M7, M4 and M5 before finally reaching the destination a bit late. Apparently our state government needs the revenue. Kris Colley provides a target for our bowlers to bowl to Having won the toss for the second time this season, Dave chose to bat on what looked to be a very good pitch. Moments later he found out that four of their players were attending a wedding and they would have subs on all day ' top stuff Dave. A few early wickets left and we were in a bit of strife before Will McKeith (28) came together with Kris Colley (54) and gave us a somewhat decent total. The tail did not wag and the Stags were left defending 154 with 20 overs still left in the day.
Cam Brown takes it to the Ghosts in the second dig A runout followed soon after and the hosts were 3/89 (Editor's note: The author was too humble to talk up the side on hit at the bowler's end after running around from point, but it deserves a mention!). McKeith picked up the final wicket of the day beating the batsmen with his loop, dip and spin. The Ghosts ended up 4/116 a daunting task we needed 6 wickets and they only needed 40 runs. Again Day Two did not start of well, with Kris Colley being injured during warm-ups; his sunglasses breaking near his eye when the ball struck it. Warm-up catches were missed and there was a general lack of intensity. This didn't change with the first over which saw Avendano go for 9, 28 needed and still 6 wickets in hand. Effeney came in and got a wicket next over, a fish outside off-stump that landed in Avendano's hands. From then the wickets fell at both ends, Avendano taking two with his usual wicket taking deliveries, with good catches to Dan on the boundary and then Matt Selby at 1st slip. Next over Pat had the batsman fishing outside off, again guiding one to Matt Selby at slip. In his next over Kris 'Stevie Wonder' Colley took a screamer at cover to leave them 9 down and now over 20 runs to get. Avendano was then charged with taking the last wicket. A well-flighted ball was stuck to the skipper, who grassed the chance. I don't tell a lie when I write that he was the most relieved man on the field when an LBW decision was granted just a couple of balls later.
5/126, 6/126, 7/126 8/126, 9/134, 10/134. All in all, the Ghosts were in shock, whiter than their namesakes having lost 6/8, the match and their place at the top of the table. Pat Effeney sends one by the batsman Effeney ending up with 4 for the game and Avedano 3. what an exciting come back, it proves that runs on the board do count, and anything is possible. Again the openers padded up with still more than 70 overs left in the days play. The second dig saw Avendano compliment his bowling and notch up a well deserved half century, however he fell to a rank half tracker and upon returning to the players area, who were congratulating his dig, he remarked 'so this is what it feels like getting out to one of my deliveries'. Pure genius. It must suck. We ended up 7/166 when the Ghosts skipper called it quits and the boys from Chatswood went home with a well needed 6 points. We now sit equal 6th and need a win this weekend against the Bumble-bees to see us through to the finals. Come on Stags! Let's make this happen! Mark Fonseka The 5th Grade boys celebrate with each other after the win |
A miraculous turn-around gains 6 points for the Stags 
So out on the field we went, knowing our season was on the line. Pat 'I'm bringing Shenal home to meet my parents' Effeney grabbed the first wicket in his first over. However, wayward bowling during the next five overs leaked 50 runs. Improvement was much needed and so too was a wicket as we only needed to take six wickets today and they would have to close their innings. Lake dropped one short and the batsman fended in the air towards square leg, Colley came rushing in and a great diving effort onto the square saw a catch being taken and a few grazes on the elbow.
A fantastic win unfolded within 30mins of the start of play.
