 Second grade beat the rain and Easts
Report by Nick Dowsley
At 9:30am on Saturday morning ten players were seen watching the rain, which, unsurprisingly, was falling from the drear clouds that had threatened yet not produced rain all week. Most of the ten had risen early, rushed off to a polling booth to reshape the nation’s future, and then arrived eager and ready.
(The hero Matt Jones)
The 11th player’s story, however, is a different one. Celebrating his birthday on Wednesday (or was it Friday?) night, Reece ‘Casanova’ Bombas, left a club at 2am (or was it 4?) only to receive a ‘king hit’ from the guy whose girlfriend Reece had been wooing somewhat successful over recent weeks. The result was a very swollen jaw. Only a little perturbed, Reece arrived late and soon was seen whispering sweet nothings into the ears of Elliot’s long term girlfriend.
 Despite the rain, both captains were eager to play, so when the rain slowed to a drizzle, the game was given the go ahead, with 49 overs per side.
(Jules Stephenson in the rain at Chatswood)
Dowsley won his 4th toss in a row and decided to bowl, as he was scarred from his decision to bat first against ND’s and hoping that any delay in the game would benefit his side given the run rate system used in the lower grades. As he had hoped for, 7.1 overs were bowled before the rain picked up again and the covers had to be brought back on. The Easts batsman had looked quite comfortable, with the score 0-21.
The rain delay proved to be just the catalyst required for Gordon, as the game was restricted to 33 overs per side and allowed the ball to dry out. After the break, Julian Stephenson (2-27 off 7) struck early, with Waller caught by Dowsley in the slips for the second year running and Nick Medcalf (1-30 off 7) and Adair Durie (1-31 off 7) kept it tight to have Easts 2-52 after 14.
 However, with a short boundary to defend, it was always going to be difficult to keep Easts to this sort of run rate and Easts accelerated from here on. Chris Archer (2-30 off 4) and Jack Ritchie (1-22 off 4) both bowled well, taking the pace off the ball quite effectively and after 2 tight overs each by Jules and Adair at the end we restricted Easts to 191.
(I'm ready, how about you guys, Nick Dowsley)
The most disappointing aspect was the fielding. There were a couple of dropped catches and sometimes we weren’t sharp enough in the ring. Overall we’ve fielded well this season, so hopefully it was a one off.
Just under 6 an over was very gettable on the wicket, especially with the short boundary, and after Jack Ritchie smashed the first two balls for four, things were looking rosy. However, after Jack (9), Jim Gatting (11) and a rusty Nick Dowsley (6) were dismissed, the score was 3-38 after 9.
Elliot Richtor (28) and Reece (21) steadied the ship with a patient partnership, but when we lost three quick wickets we were reeling at 6-86 after 19. With 14 overs left, we still needed 106 runs at 7.6 runs per over and heads were down.
 However, this is just the situation that Matt Jones (58* off 48) thrives in. The fightback began with Matt and Nick Medcalf (30 off 30) putting on 79 in a crucial partnership. Easts pushed the field back and allowed them to patiently accumulate singles without risk with both showed great maturity to bring Gordon back into the match. However, when Nick’s invaluable innings came to an end, 27 runs were still required off 3 overs and after 3 runs in the next over, 24 runs were required off the last two.
(This one is for you Dad, Jim Gatting in action at Chatswood)
The second last over was phenomenal. Jonesy hit 16 off it, including 3 successive boundaries, leaving only 8 off the last, which they managed with 2 balls to spare, thanks mainly to a classic Julian Stephenson (6*) french cut for 4 off the first ball of the over.
Matt Jones was the hero, as he showed his potential, steering the team home against the odds. Matt’s first 13 scoring shots were singles and then some lusty hits accelerated the run rate late in the innings, including one memorable 6 over cow into the grandstand. He was ‘pumped’ out there and it was a truly memorable innings.
 It was a day never to forget for the 2nd graders, who were never really the favourites until there were 5 balls left. It keeps us in touch with the top 6, as we are now 7th, just 3 points behind, and we have now beaten the two teams we’ve played in the top 6.
(Nick Medcalf during his 30)
This team has a lot of character and youthful passion. Let’s not let up, as two more wins before Christmas will have us right in the hunt.
Dowse | 
