Metalfold Industries Premier 3 vs United CC
Saturday 13th of January 2024 at Ongley Park 13
After the drama of a 40 over blood feud out at Omanuka Oval the week previous, our official season got back under way with a 40 over match against United. Coming off some big wins prior to Christmas, United were looking like the team to beat. We arrived at Ongley 13 to find some well known faces in the United camp including ex Bloomer Brett Garrett.
Trout lost the toss and we were sent into bat. A nice dry wicket greeted our opening batsmen as things got under way. Dave Deverall and Darryl Newsome opened the bowling but unfortunately for the United bowlers, Jase seem to have received a defensive shot for Christmas and was even happy to use it on occasion, picking the balls he bludgeoned to the boundary. A good 72 run partnership ended with Jase holing out to Darryl Newsome of the bowling of Syed Shah for 34. The good start allowed Chicken to come in and play some shots at number 3 before he too was out from the bowling of Syed Shah for 23.
Kurtis came and went for a duck, turning a ball from Syed Shah around the corner for a catch at fine leg. Our good start was starting to look a little worse. Kurtis’ demise brought newly promoted P4 batsmen Tyler Stewart to the crease. Seeing the opportunity, Tyler put his head down and rotated the strike nicely as well as putting the odd ball away to the boundary. Things started looking good until 3 balls before drinks. Bish looked to play a ball through midwicket but instead he got a top edge and the ball sailed away for a catch at gully leaving us 117-4 at drinks.
After drinks Dave joined Tyler out in the middle and together put on a 55 run partnership to get things back on track. It took a ball from Rick Satherley to break it, removing Dave Watson, caught for 42. Whenever there is a game at Omanuka Isaiah Smiler is never very far away and this year was no different. After scoring 50 at Omanuka we managed co convince him to hang around and have another go vs United. He looked at home right away with the runs coming freely. Another 54 runs later Tylers innings finally came to an end, caught by Rick off Syed’s bowling. With 2 overs left Trout came to the crease as an impact player. Unfortunately for him the only thing that was impacted was his stumps when he played is first ball on to them. That wicket gave Syed Shah a well earned 6 wicket haul for 44 runs off his 8. Ben went out for his 4th bat of the 23/24 season and watch Grumpy finish the innings off in style with a good 6 finishing at 42*. Bloomfield’s innings ending at 244/7.
Ben and Gaz opened the bowling and it appeared that Ben had forgotten how to bowl over the break. Full tosses and terrible short trackers plagued his overs with the occasional good ball sneaking in, one of which was good enough to remove Jonnie Newcombe for 3. The remainder of his bowling was only notable for how terrible it was. Our other bowlers had no such issues as Gaz picked up 2 wickets at the other end. Kurtis and Trout came on and straight away hit the same lines they were hitting prior to Christmas and picked up a couple of wickets each.
After drinks Jase made a rare appearance at the bowling crease and by picking up a further 3 wickets ensured United were never able to get any sort of Partnership underway. Perhaps it was the late afternoon sun or the fact we felt the game was in the bag but we then let United off the hook somewhat. Rick and Jason Watkins dug in and batted time and as the bowling got worse, which it did, they dispatched the offending deliveries to the boundary. The score ticked along and the more it did the more disinterested our players became. Random field sets and dropped catches plagued the last part of the game and it only got worse once Rick was finally out caught for 21and replaced by the 6 wicket sniper Syed Shah who plundered a quick 33 off 32. The resistance was futile however as Trout took the final wicket and put and end to the pain. United all out for 159 in the 38th over.
MVP: 3-Jase, 2-Bish, 1-Tyler
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