Tasmania University Cricket Club
Scores and Reports
Season 2003/04
Third Grade
Round 6 v. New Town
Played at Fergusson Park, 7th./14th. December 2003.
(Toss won by : University)
Steve Lewis 4-22 Rod Purves 3-14 and Rod Purves 3-33 Stuart Alexander 3-40 Steve Lewis 2-19 |
Nick Paine 104 Rod Purves 67 |
(DAY 1). On an grey looking Sunday morning the University 3's made the trip north to Fergusson Park at Pontville, our apparent 2nd home ground, for the clash against the New Town Bucks. With 1's and 2's having a poor day out the day before, the pressure was on to restore some club pride. Two changes were made to the team from the one listed in the paper. Ronan Fenton came in to replace Tiernan O'Rourke, and with Streety failing to realise that 3's played on sunday a highly skilled replacement was sought.......... unfortunately all that was offer was Bolts, so we had to take him! The pitch appeared to be in better condition than the game against North Hobart, as no crop circles we on the pitch, but the green look meant that batting would be difficult. For the 4th time in 5 matches, Rocket won the toss (after much debate about whose home game it was and who should toss the coin) and elected to bowl. With the changerooms not open, the locals got a look at the Uni boys in their full splendour, although Bolts did the right thing and got changed behind the rooms and out of sight. The decision to bowl was a good one, as the first ball of the day left Rockets hand and was aimed just outside the off stump, but ended up swinging viciously and passing the batsman 2 feet down legside. Even a superman dive from Hicks, given the gloves in the absence of Heves, failed to get anywhere near it, and Stuey mopped things up at fine leg. 
For the first 11 overs Stuey and Rocket (now called the Sultans of Swing)
bowled well but without luck. A near miss and a dropped chance or 2 not
really helping the cause. However, Stuey started things in the 12th over,
when Fergie took an easy catch. Rocket grabbed the next one when the
number 3 decided to edge back onto his stumps, and the Bucks went into
drinks at 2/33 off 20 not long after.
There must be something in the water at Pontville, as Rocket grabbed a wicket with his first ball after lunch, hitting the top of off stump with an inswinger. 
Gibbsy entered the attack after Stueys outstanding spell
(1/17 off 10), and soon removed their captain, who had batted 24 overs and
had given a running dialogue of the days events better than Richie Benaud
ever could. Rocket grabbed his 3rd in the next over, and the Bucks were
reduced to 5/37.
After a few uneventful overs Huey Lewis entered the attack to replace Rocket (3/14 off 15), and he soon claimed a wicket courtesy of a skied catch taken by Painey. In his next over he grabbed his second wicket, courtesy of another skied catch taken by Hicks, then followed it up 2 balls later with a ball that caught the edge of the bat and flew low and right to Painey at 2nd slip, who held on to take a classic. The Paine/Lewis combo soon snared it's 3rd victim, courtesy of another edge that flew towards 1st slip, but Painey did the team thing and thrust out his left hand to take all the glory. Fred Miley took the last wicket, and the Bucks were all out for 89 off 43 overs. Hueys' spell of 4/22 off 7 should have been even better, but Bolts and Gibbsy both dropped chances that would have made it 5, and should now cost them a few beers at the Christmas party.......... Hicks and Fenton took up their usual spots opening the batting, but they were both back in the rooms (which were now open) by the 3rd over, as we struggled at 2/8. Painey joined Fergie at the crease, and they put on a solid partnership of 65 in 17 overs before Fergie left a ball that took off stump and was out for a well made 17. Gibbsy failed to trouble the scorers (except to write his name and a big 0 next to it) so Rocket walked out to bat with the score at 4/73 off 21.1 overs. The next 48 balls created carnage for the Bucks, as Painey and Rocket smashed a partnership of 98, inclusive of 15 boundaries and a six. During this time Painey went from 44 to 104 (15 fours and 2 sixes), and all at the ground would agree with me in saying it was one of the most brutal batting performances seen in TCA cricket, as he plundered the attack at will. His running between the stumps, on the odd occasion a boundary wasn't scored, was also a feature. Unfortunately it came to an end when he was caught in the deep at 5/171 off 28.5 overs, but he had certainly made his mark on the game (and some bowling averages) with his outstanding effort. Simsy joined Rocket at the crease, and the pair managed to put on 24 runs off the next 13 balls until the days play was over at 5/195 off 31. Rocket remained 47 not out, while Simsy was still yet to score! Hopefully the weather will be kind and we can take the outright points next week to be challenging for top spot. (DAY 2). Day 2 of the game against New Town started better than the previous week, as the rooms were available straight away. Unfortunately Gibbsy was unavailable for the day, along with Fents, so Nick "John Candy" Grubb volunteered to be a substitute fielder. The plan for the day was to go in and bat for 8 overs or so and hopefully stretch the lead to about 150, then knock the Townies off for less than that. Rocket and Simsy walked out to the crease to be greeted by only 9 New Town players (a 10th turned up later), so there were gaps everywhere in the field. In the 2nd over of the day Rocket bought up his 50 with a pull for 4, and Simsy played a glorious french cut to the boundary, only to be bowled the very next ball, taking us to 6/206. Upon getting out he must have noticed a poisonous and lethal creature on the pitch, as his bat was used to beat it into the pitch, whilst also leaving a divot right on off stump on a good length. Good work Simsy! In the next over Rocket took 15 off the first 4 balls, including 2 drives over mid off for 6. 2 overs later however he was out for 67 playing yet another compulsive hook shot. Bolts stepped up to the plate at number 9, a promotion from his customary 11, but only managed to play and miss at 4 deliveries before being bowled by the 5th. Some late hitting by Stuey A (19 not out, inclusive of his first 6 in club cricket) allowed Uni to declare at 8/243 after 39 overs, a lead of 154. Once again Dire Straits was (in spirit) rocking Fergusson Park, as the 'Sultans of Swing' were back in action. The traditional opening over of swinging balls down legside fom Rocket was followed up by an inspired opening over from Stuey, who collected wickets with his 2nd a 4th balls, with a Bolts even taking a catch! 2/3 soon became 3/9, as Rocket picked up his first courtesy of a catch to Hicks. Some aggressive batting by 'Mini Me', and the continual running commentary from the opposing captain yet again kept the crowd entertained for the next 9 overs, until Painey took his 4th catch of the game from Rocket (after having earlier dropped one of the captains bowling). Huey Lewis (aka Stevie Wonder, Stevie Starr, and Duckworth) entered the attack and picked up the Richie Benaud wannabe with his first ball, thanks to Fergies safe hands. After quite a few uneventful overs (Huey bowled 22 consecutive balls from which the batsman did not score), the batsman decided to try and play a shot, only to get an edge and be undone by the safe hands of Mr Candy at first slip. The Truck, Fred Miley, was also introduced into the attack and his excellent spell of tight bowling (only 3 scoring shots from his first 4 overs) was rewarded with an edge that was gratefully accepted by Painey, giving him 5 catches for the game. Huey (2/19 off 9) and The Truck (1/23 off 7) were replaced by Stuey (3/40 off 12) and Rocket (3/33 off 14.2) who came back to clean up the tail, and they each picked up another wicket end New Towns day at 120, and give Uni the win by an innings and 34 runs. A great game from the Lions with outstanding performances from Painey (104 and 5 catches), Rocket (67 and match figures of 6/47 off 29.2), and Huey (match figures of 6/41 off 16) to put some pressure on players up the grades. The 3's are now up into 2nd place, only 2 points off top spot, so a win this week against our neighbouring enemies is essential to end the 1st half of the season on a high, and keep the momentum going. |
[home] [latest news] [scores] [ladders] [players] [contacts] [history] [seasons highs] [halls of fame] [events] [stats] [scholarship] [links]