Tasmania University Cricket Club
Scores and Reports
Season 2004/05
First Grade
Round 13 v. Clarence
Played at the University Oval, 19th. and 26th. February 2005.
(Toss won by : Clarence)
Brad Thomas 3-50 Darren McNees 2-69 |
Mike Graham-Smith 42 Rhett Lockyear 40 Tim Paine 28 Ben Hilfenhaus 24* and 5/143 Brad Thomas 49* Matthew Lister 47* |
(Day 1). A somewhat altered Uni. team took on Clarence (3rd. and twp points behind us) in what was described, by the scribe in the Mercury, as the 'game of the round'. Out with injuries were Lurch (his knee cap now back roughly where it should be), Hilfy still not able to bowl (but making his 2nd. Grade debut as a batsman - and doing very well!) and Nick Paine's 'weekly batting aggregate theory' being finally recognised as fatally flawed - given a run in the Threes! Into the team came Cowboy X and debutant Nick Grubb who has been putting in consistent performances in the Twos of late as an opener (and previously an opening bowler)! Was this the first time this season that the sun was shining, there was no possibility of rain, sunscreen had to be applied and we could look forward to an un-interrupted days play? Probably was another earlier but I can't recall it. The wicket was the same as used against Nth. Hobart in rd. 11 - but this time it was as flat and hard as has been seen this season. It would be a hard day at the office for bowlers - unfortunately Clarence won the toss so it was the Uni. boys into the field. Nessie opened with skipper Brad. Nessie's second over - wicket number one - another Richie catch! Brad's second - 2/3 caught behind. Nessie's third over - 3/4 with the stumps re-arranged. Was goundsman (jovial Jason)'s assesment of the wicket that incorrect or had the Clarence top three just forgotten the plot? 
Clarence had to re-build, which they did very slowly. Big Jose came on and a short ball caught the gloves of first the batsman and then Paine (TD)
behind the stumps - 4/38. Another consolidation saw the score to 84 with one ball left before Luncheon. Matty Lister, bowling his second over, managed to turn one
behind the batsman' legs and take leg stump, so Uni. tripped light of foot off the ground, happy with their efforts and enjoyed the satay rolls, snakes, savs and pies
with much relish.Unfortunately, as the day heated up, so did the Clarence batting. Just before Tea, and 98 runs after the fall of the 5th. wicket, Beany finally got an LBW appeal in his favour. 
Bakesy came on to bowl for the first time this season (and then bowled 13 overs straight!) and claimed the 7th. - 7/240. Another good partnership saw
the score to 290 before Matty Lister took a great catch at deep cover off skipper Brad's bowling. It was now 'happy hour' for the Clarence batsmen and only another
good catch by Lockdog, which was 100 times harder than the one grassed earlier, saw Clarence at 9/332 with one over to go.Clarence survived to stumps and will, presumably, declare before play next Saturday. They need the 6 points on offer and, even if the conditions aren't as good for batting as today, if they bat Uni. out of the game it could be a draw - in which case both sides 'lose'. That's up to their skipper Andrew Dykes who, even though he's their skipper and Clarence's at that, should be recognised (briefly) as scoring 171* of their total of 332 and never giving a chance. No dramatic shots - just hiiting bad balls and playing straight. If the same approach is taken by Uni.'s stronger batting line-up, next Saturday should be a delight. (Day 2). Clarence declared their overnight score giving Uni. a minimum of 92 overs to score the required runs. The weather was overcast this week and much more in favour of the bowlers than last week. First grade debutant Grubby opened the batting with Paine (TD). Both played and missed a bit and Grubby fell in the 7th. over. Locky and Painey pushed the score along nicely - Locky annoying one of the Clarence bowlers by, as he did against Lindisfarne, batting a metre out of his crease. The pair took the score to 59 in the 20th. over before Paine (TD) got an edge and was caught in the slips. Richie and Tim added another 21 before Uni. lost four quick wickets for three runs. Rhett was the first of them, Brad the second, Richie went for 8 and Bakesy the fourth. Uni. went to a rather special lunch precariously placed at 6/83. Smithy and Matty Lister began to steady the ship and put on 32 before Matty fell for three and was replaced by Hilfy, fresh from his top scoring in the Twos last week. Another useful partnership of 26 ended with X caught and bowled. Gordy and Beany couldn't see Hilfy to his century and Uni. were all out for 156. Clarence enforced the follow on. 41 overs to be bowled in the remainder of the day. It would be important for the Uni. batsmen to show an improved performance second time around given we would maybe have to meet them again in the Finals. How to put this? After 10 overs we were 4/31 (at Tea). Second over after tea it was 5/31. Skipper Brad and young Matty Lister were now at the crease. Brad is historically at his best in these situations; Matty is renowned for his shot playing. Could they stem the fall of wickets? Drinks were taken with no further loss of wickets; 5.30 came and went with, not sursprisingly no early end to play and Uni. were still five down with the score on 101. The pair steered the team to stumps. With only a few overs to go Matty showed his natural style, depositing a ball over the hedge and into the front garden of no. 45. Matty's innings was a fine example of just valuing your wicket - well played. We could now finish (mathematically, hypothetically etc. etc.) anywhere from first to fourth after the final round next week which sees Uni. take on one of their seven arch enemies Kingborough next weekend. |
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