 Gordon go down fighting in final
Heroic innings from James Packman not enough to save the day
The Gordon first grade team can hold their heads high after losing the final on Sunday to St. George. As previously reported the final day started with Gordon 3 for 152 chasing either 478 runs or to be not out at stumps. For most the first 3 hours the second option looked a good chance with Craig Simmons, James Packman and Matt Nicholson holding the fort.
(James Packman hits a four during his innings)
Craig was the 4th wicket to fall for 102 after a 151 run partnership with James Packman with the score at 197. Craig finished the season with 958 runs to again break the club record for most runs in a season. James was then joined by Matt Nicholson and with the score at 4 for 252, the Gordon contingent was thinking the impossible might happen and we could bat out the day. The wicket was starting to get a little turn and Nicho was deceived by the leg spinner Zammit and was stumped for 24.
This wicket unfortunately was the first of a group of three that basically finished our resistance with Rod Hokin and Brad Rasool falling quickly to Moises Henriques.
 Throughout this time however the spectators were experiencing one of the finest ever Gordon innings by James Packman. James held the batting together with a display of compete concentration against an attack that decided to bowl a “leg side” theory that had not been seen before since bodyline. Moises Henriques bowled 5 overs of short pitched deliveries and bouncers to James from around the wicket with 3 fieldsman positioned near the bat on the leg side.
(James salutes the Gordon crowd after scoring his century)
I guess one could say that “there was only one side playing cricket out there”, however the deliveries were all just below head high and therefore legal.
To James’s credit, St. George had decided this was the only way to get him out, however he was able to weather the storm.
In the end with a resolute Dylan Connell as his partner and 9 wickets down he tried to turn a ball from Zammit through a gap for a single to keep the strike, missed and was bowled for 122.
James had batted for 360 deliveries over 414 minutes and this ball was his only false stroke other than a hit on the forearm during the bouncer barrage from Henriques.
 So Gordon were out for 318 soon after tea to end a finals campaign that had taken their supporters on a journey of watching some very high quality cricket against some very high quality competitors over 7 days.
(Matt Nicholson in defensive mode)
Congratulations to St. George on their victory after finishing the season as minor premiers. They were given a good fight, however the toss was very important to win and runs on the board on this very good wicket proved the winner in the end.
This was our first final in first grade for 17 years so we are still a very proud club today and we will take this experience and come back a better team next year.
For final score card click here.
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