5th Grade Report vs Easts - Round 12 - Day 2 |
An indifferent performance on Day 1 and a sporting declaration by the Easts' skipper saw the Stags return to Snape Park for Day 2 of their clash with Easts full of renewed hope. Fuelled by the threat of dehydration, Friday night hydration at a suitable watering hole was essential for all. Bearing that in mind, the game plan was simple: double our score from last week, declare, and bowl Easts out. Kris Colley whips one off his legs At 1 for 14 overnight, then 3 for 30 and 4 for not many more, the perky banter from Easts reached fever pitch. Enter Will McKeith and Matt Selby. Being stewards of the moral high ground, both Will and Matt focused on playing cricket and punishing the loose ball. A valuable partnership of 46 ensued, before Matt was unlucky dismissed. Will continued on his way, taking a liking to cow corner off their leggy. A 50 partnership between Will and the skipper, saw the score to 6/129 at tea. The declaration was imminent, and with this in mind Will and Mark Fonseka hit 24 off the first over after tea, including a broken windscreen from a McKeith bomb. A couple of overs later and the declaration was made, leaving Easts with the 165 runs to win and Gordon 35 overs to claim ten poles. A good opening spell by Pat Effeney and Dan Lake, saw Easts make an edgy start. Dan claimed the first in his first over, with the Pat grabbing the second in the seventh over. A change saw Adrian Widders replace Dan with immediate success, bowling their other opener, to leave Easts at 3/49. Matt Selby replaced Pat, and with a couple of split chances in Matt Selby's first over, the pressure looked to be increasing on the Stags as Easts were 3/87. Avendano and McKeith were now on, with Will claiming two wickets in three overs and Justin one, bringing Easts to 6/91 off 26. Pat replaced Will, with immediate effect, 7/91 off 27. Some tight bowling, plays and misses, then edged Easts to the hundred mark off 30 overs. Persistent, aggressive bowling by Pat saw him claim two wickets in consecutive balls in the 31st over, setting up a dramatic finish. The plan was simple; the more balls bowled at the No.11, the greater our chances. Some anxious moments followed, a highlight including Avendano producing a leading edge from the No.11 in the second last over, which somehow lobbed over the bowler and between Mid-on and Mid-off. Enter the final over, with Easts at 9/107 and the No.11 on strike. Effeney to bowl. Ball 1 ' just kept out, Ball 2 ' LBW shout, Ball 3 'kept out, Ball 4 ' Huge shout LBW, caught bat pad surely something(?), Ball 5 'nervously left, Ball 6 another LBW shout, but to no avail - Easts just held on to claim victory on the 1st inning. A superb over from Pat and congratulations to all the Stags involved, for regaining focus in trying conditions and really put the screws on Easts. Hugh Selby |
5th Grade Cricket Report vs
