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 Gordon is in the final
Gordon to play St. George next Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Bankstown Oval.
A strong batting display from the Gordon middle order has allowed the first grade side to post a momentous win against Randwick Petersham at Chatswood on Saturday and Sunday. Chasing 220 for a win, the score was achieved between lunch and tea with 6 wickets down.
(Iain Beverley catches Randwick Petersham's Adam Semple off Matt Nicholson)
The story of each day follows:
Saturday
It wasn’t a day for the faint hearted as each team threw themselves into their work at Chatswood Oval in the first grade semi final between Gordon and Randwick Petersham.
With all the talk during the week being the impact of the representative players on this game, it was Dylan Connell who set the scene for a strong showing by Gordon with the early wicket of Usman Khawaja (bowled) and then the massive scalp of Simon Katich caught low down at second slip by Brendan McDonald. This followed a wicket in the first over to Matt Nicholson and suddenly Randwick Petersham were 3 for 20.
Brendan McDonald catches Katich of the bowling of Dylan Connell
In a strategic move by the skipper, Beau Casson was brought on and quickly removed the no 5 bat Jackson with a caught behind off his very first delivery to have Randwick Petersham 4 for 23 and in a deal of trouble.
Iain Beverley catches Jackson off Casson's first ball
Nathan Hauritz then came to the wicket and started a recovery mission with the number 3 bat, John Mc Loughlin. The pair took the score to 4 for 70 at lunch.
 With the departure of McLoughlin soon after lunch, Gordon stared another offensive and with Beau Casson and Matt Nicolson combining, before long the score was 8 for 108.
(Iain Beverley appeals successfully for LBW off Beau Casson)
This signalled the start of a fantastic recovery from Nathan Hauritz and the numbers 10 and 11 for Randwick Petersham. Nathan initially farmed the strike and then attacked with gusto hitting several sixes off the Gordon bowlers.
The score progressed to 220 before Brendan McDonald was able to get Nathan Hauritz to lift a cover drive high enough for Rod Hokin to dive to his left and accept the catch. Nathan finished with 122.
Beau Casson finished with another 4 wickets, while Matt Nicholson bowled 28 overs for his 3 for 70. Dylan Connell finished with 2 for 48, however I think he is still pinchiong himself to think he bcollected the two very important wickets.
The Gordon innings started with a short Craig Simmons blitz, however a well positioned catcher on the fence at square leg gratefully accepted a catch from Craig and Gordon were 1 for 20.
This saw the start of a very determined partnership between Iain Beverley and Reece Bombas to fight off the very fast Burt Cockley who must have been up around Brett Lee pace as he dug the ball in against our young pair.
 The two lasted till about 10 overs to go, before Reece suffered a pinched nerve in his neck and was forced to go off retired hurt. Ed Zelma then joined Iain in a night watchmen role.
(Craig Simmons launches one into the cover fence)
In his newly acquired role as opener and the experience of getting through a session last week against Stuart Clark, Iain Beverley refused to be intimidated and swerved, swayed and stroked his way to 28 before unfortunately being bowled in the last over.
Gordon finished on 2 for 65 against a very determined Randwick Petersham side who will undoubtedly come out with all guns blazing on Sunday.
Sunday
The match continued on Sunday in fine conditions and the overnight pair of Ed Zelma and Beau Casson started confidently seeing off the initial threat of Hauritz and Cockley and getting the score to 113. Almost on cue with the change of bowlers both Beau and Ed were dismissed one run apart and the Gordon supporters had to consider a move from their favourite position to somewhere where another wicket wouldn’t fall. Gilly Packman moved to the opposite side of the Oval to Ian, Tiddles left his position in the eastern stand, the webmaster went on his 22nd lap of the oval, Jim Cattlin put a “closed” sign on the canteen counter and the boys on the hill opened another esky.
 The move seemed to work as James Packman and Matt Nicholson mixed some aggression and solid defence to get us to 12.29pm with Jim Cattlin behind the canteen counter again with the rolls ready for the lunch break and the kettle about to boil.
(Rod Hokin hits Nathan Hauritz into the sight screen)
As is so often the case this meant the fall of a wicket and James Packman was on his way caught behind off the last ball before lunch to make the score 5 for 140 and still 80 runs short of the target.
Rod Hokin joined Matt Nicholson after lunch and started to build a partnership with his skipper. They say there is often one thing that can change the course of a match but in this case there were two events in very quick succession that changed this game in favour of Gordon. Last evening as dusk was falling and Burt Cockley was giving it his all to get a breakthrough he let slip two “beam balls” one at Iain Beverley in the second last over and then with the second last ball of the day to Beau Casson.
While two beam balls in first class cricket means the player cannot bowl again in the innings, it is three in grade cricket and Burt was able to finish the over.
 Come the 62nd over and the third ball of Burt’s 18th over and he let slip another head high full toss that sent Rod Hokin to the ground.
(Matt Nicholson hits a four through the covers during his 48 not out)
This meant Burt couldn’t continue to bowl and his over was completed by Adam Semple. With everyone still in a daze, the next ball was edged to the keeper’s right side and was put down. Rod had dodged not one but two silver bullets.
It was time now for him to attack and two overs of 4, 4, 4 and 4, 6 off the bowling of Nathan Horwitz, combined with a couple of fours from Matt Nicholson and suddenly we were approaching 200. The last two boundaries of Nathan a lofted drive over mid off and a straight drive into the sight screen at the Northern end were vintage Rocket shots and will be remembered for a long time at Chatswood. Unfortunately Rod was dismissed by a great catch in the covers with only one run needed to win and one run for his 50. Rod finished with 8 fours and one six in his 49 off just 46 balls.
Matt Nicholson hit the winning runs and finished with 48 not out for his third not out in three innings to show his class as an allrounder. The big crowd at Chatswood gave both sides a sustained ovation for their quality cricket over the two days.
(The song is sung at Chatswood)
So its on to the final starting next Friday against St. George, probably at Bankstown Oval. It would have been nice to have been played at Chatswood, however our Rugby friends have their first round next Saturday at Chatswood and would you believe it is against Randwick. At least the club songs will be able to be sung two weeks in a row.
Go the stags!
The webmaster
Scores
Randwick Petersham 220 (Beau Casson 4 for 69, Matt Nicholson 3 for 70, Dylan Connell 2 for 48, Brendan McDonald 1 for 4 were defeated by
Gordon 6 for 223 (Rod Hokin 49, Matt Nicholson 48 not out, Beau Casson 31, Iain Beverley 28, Ed Zelma 21, Craig Simmons 12)
Photos courtesy of Wilson Photos Inc and Stephenson Images Pty. Ltd. | 
