One Day Competition - President Cardinals vs OBC, Sydenham Park #3, Presidents, 7th February 2015
They’re clearly thinking about marking Sydenham Park out for rugby, so it was kind of fitting that the game against Old Colls on Saturday went the full 80 (overs) but was a bloody good win.
Ralphy seems to be getting better at tossing this season, and he elected to bat on a Syd’s 3 strip that looked hard, if in need of a bit of landscaping.
With Wildy out to a dodgy calf muscle, Laughts opened with Flem, and when Laughts departed for 16, Ski took time batting three to notch up a well compiled 92, and unlucky not to notch up a ton. As Kev Moore had in previous weeks, Ski was the anchor to which others were able to attach decent contributions – Kev Moore’s average of recent weeks continued upwards with a 42 not out, Phil Walker looking like he’s due a big one anytime soon with 23, Flem 21, Joey a quickfire 14, including a booming six back down the ground – apparently the second biggest seen at Syds 3 – and Ralphy a four-ball cameo for 7 not out (with an inevitable six over cow), to finish the forty overs on 226/5. For them, Clayton took 2/25, otherwise, the rest all got some tap.
The thinking was that 240 might have been a par score, but the Jules and Ferg got us in game early. Ever the diplomat, Jules wicket in the first over saw him more fired up than when he tackled one of the Hornby players a while back and stopped bowling overs and started bowling sets of six. Ferg chipped in with a couple more in his second over, and courtesy of a couple of well-taken catches, Old Colls were three down for eight runs in the third over.
If we had hopes of an early finish, they evaporated as the wickets dried up for a spell as Tim McConnell stuck around for an annoying 28 before departing LBW to Flem. Another mini-collapse occurred with the sixth and seventh wickets going on 106, and though the run-rate was going upwards, with Greenwood still batting well, Old Colls were still a chance. Though we shelled a couple of catches, we took some rippers and responded a high standard of ground fielding – albeit with some occasional fancy footwork – to keep the foot on the throat. Jase Millar, Flem and Phil Walker bowled well through the middle stages to keep the pressure on.
Van Heuven joined Greenwood down the order. A large green helmeted chap showing his arsecrack to square leg brought back pleasant – and yet less pleasant – memories of Yogi and had the square leg umpire focused firmly on whether the ball carried through to Laughts. Greenwood and van Heuten threatened to get Old Colls home, and both hit out as the run rate mounted. Greenwood eventually went to a cracking catch from Ski for 74, and van Heuven stuck around for 55, seeing things through to the close.
In the end, it was only in the final few overs that it was clear we were ahead, and it stayed that way, with Old Colls finishing up on 204 for nine off their forty, the Cardinals having used eight bowlers. Flem 2/13, Ferg 2/25, van Dyke 1/34 from eight, Rogers 1/9 off three (and an unexpected run out), and Phil Walker also handy with 0/13 off five. Jase Millar was back for the first time this season with 2 for 40-odd (sorry Jase, Old Colls stuffed up the book a little).
All in all, a win to be chuffed with, and a great Saturday afternoon’s cricket.
Man of the Match: Craig Borcoski (a well travelled 92 and a couple of cracking catches)
Check out the scorecard from the game.