 The Jazz lets NDs get away
The Fifth graders were faced by the Milo Have-a-Go junior cricketers dispersed all over Beauchamp Oval on Saturday morning. 160 Justin Avendano’s running wild proved to be a tough challenge for the Staggies players in setting up the ground. After evading several potential law suits, the sightscreens were hoisted and the covers were packed away.
A solid spell by Shenal put the Jazz in a good position early
Two new players were in the line up for the NDs game. Simon Massey had received a call up after his strong performances for Colts and the not-so-new Dan Richtor was taking a short break from his DJ career to make a cameo appearance for the Jazz.
The NDs captain and the honourable mayor of Hornsby won the toss and elected to bat on what appeared to be a typically flat and hard Beauchamp wicket. After clearing the Avendano clones off the field and locating the real Avendano (not an easy task), the game was ready to commence.
Gordon knew that early wickets would be the key on a wicket which would get easier to bat on as the day went on. James Campbell, representing his home nation of Costa Rica, did not let the skipper down picking up a wicket in the first over – Alex “Junior” Campbell taking a well judged catch at fine leg. Cambo saluted again soon after, when he claimed his second wicket, Selby doing the honours behind the stumps.
 AC “Cola” (resident springbok Alex Campbell) was having less fun at the other end and was replaced by Shenal Siriwardhane. Fuelled by fierce grape Gatorade and the support of his thousands of lady fans, Shenal (Denver DeCruz) bowled a tight spell, picking up the crucial wicket of the mayor, and finishing with figures of 1-10 off his 6 overs.
Some big hitting at the end by Millar wasn't enought to get them home
Sam Ranney was then introduced into the attack with immediate success. The street wise off-spinner from the block picked up an opportunist wicket in his first over, a brilliant catch taken by ‘AC Cola’ at backward square. Ranney’s second over was a dream, picking up two wickets in three balls to have the Rangers reeling at 6-71.
The Jazz had been in this same scenario before this season and taken the foot of the accelerator, so the lads were pretty keen to keep the pressure on. With Tom Burnett still at the crease, the skipper was wary of a partnership forming and AC was brought back into the attack. Both ‘cola’ and Ranney kept the runs down but were unable to find the breakthrough.
It was during this period that the embryo came into significant misfortune. After a sterling performance on 10’s new TV show, “Are You Smarter than a 5th grader?,” Avendano was brimming with confidence in the field. This confidence was soon to be delivered a telling blow as the ‘Son of Mac’ got a tough bounce whilst fielding at mid-off and was struck on the middle stump. Not wearing his signature ‘double-box’ in the field, the embryo was clearly shaken and in a great deal of pain. Amongst the laughter from his team mates, cries could be heard from Ranney (bowler), “get up”, and from the NDs change rooms, “run 3”. The game was stopped for a good five minutes while Avendano regained consciousness.
This may have been the turning point in the innings. Although ‘Lance Armstrong” did recover to bowl a tight spell of leg spin and Ranney finished with figures of 3-38 (10), Burnett was still in and ready to explode. And that he did.
After 41 overs NDs were 6-138. Nine overs later NDs innings closed at 8-244, Burnett unbeaten on 115. Gordon had let NDs back into the game and given themselves a tough chase on a slow outfield.
The chase started in terrible fashion, with Weaves trapped LBW for 6, Kenner run out returning for a second for 9 and Dan Richtor adjudged LBW for 2. Gordon 3-27.
Whilst Dan was comforted in the stands, ‘Huge’ Hugh Selby and ‘fierce grape’ Siriwardhane set about resurrecting the innings. Some lusty blows from the left hander over backward square saw him race to 26 before he came undone by the 13 year old ND’s leg spinner. Selby was looking the goods at the other end, after his mid-week bowling machine session with Weaves. Together with Massey he pushed the score past the 100 mark.
 Just when a match winning partnership seemed imminent, there was a horrific mix up and Massey was on his way for 16. Selby followed directly after reaching his half century and the Stags were again looking as depleted as John Howard in the election polls.
Jimmy Campbell strokes one through the off-side
It seemed only ‘man-mountain’ Dave Millar could save the Jazz from here, and, together with some handy partnerships with the embryo and the brother’s Campbell, he got to within 40 runs of victory with 1 wicket remaining.
Some inspired hitting from Millar saw him reach 57*, before Ranney was run-out attempting to roll the mid-off fieldsman, leaving Gordon 25 runs short of the mark.
Until next week, you stay classy Chatswood.
Sticks
Mike Weaver quote of the week: “profuse sweating is an indicator of extreme fitness”; Weaves delivered this gem after appearing at the team huddle in the first over of the day covered in sweat. | 
