One Day Competition - 3B Goats vs Heathcote, Hillsborough Domain, 3B, 30th January 2016
Game 2 of the top 6 round found us at a damp Hillsborough Domain playing Heathcote. Unfortunately Pat, our designated tosser called incorrectly for the first time in a couple of months and we found ourselves batting on soggy piece of mud.
We didn't make too bad a start, putting on 25 for the first wicket with Andy playing his shots, peppering the 3rd man boundary. Jake was firmly informed after one quick single that there wouldn't be any more of that as AC was still feeling crook. Wickets then fell steadily and at 56/5 we were in danger of not giving our bowling attack anything to bowl at. Pat who had been promoted up a couple of spots batted realy well for 31 and with the tails support we got up to 125/8 at the end of our 40 overs. Considering we defended 85 against this team last game we were quite happy with this.
A chirpy Goats side had immediate success with Pat bowling their opener second ball of his first over with a ball keeping very low. A tight first 20 overs found Heathcote in trouble at 5/45 and Sydenham well on top. We were helped by one of their batsman having to retire hurt when the blew his hamstring going for a quick second run. The next 10 overs saw Heathcote start to make some headway with their number 6 batting very well and getting some support from the tail. Cue bring back our two opening bowlers. Pat immediately broke the partnership but while Alex B went for for a few their danger man was running out of partners and couldn't get the strike. Just as things were starting to get close Pat bowled the last two batsman with consecutive balls to finish with the outstanding figures of 5/6 off nearly 7 overs.
A good win for the Goats after being put in on a rough pitch, keeping us unbeaten in 7 games now. Other highlights included Dougie getting sconned in the head by a gentle return from 3rd man and having the ball rebound to mid off. Close your gloves, your not playing for Liverpool yet. AC, the tranquilised big cat, was in fine form with his comments about perhaps having to leave the field with being crook and his efforts to chat up a couple of teenage girls who then fell off their bike as they turned around to look. Dougies last game as he heads over to England on his OE. Hopefully he has a good time over there but we'd like to see him back turning out for the Goats again one day.
Man of the Match: Patrick Clarke
Check out the scorecard from the game.