Tasmania University Cricket Club
Scores and Reports
Season 2004/05
First Grade
Round 8 v. South Hobart/Sandy Bay (Kookaburra Cup)
Played at Queenborough Oval, 8th. January 2005.
(Toss won by : University)
Brad Thomas 2-21 Ben Hilfenhaus 2-38 |
Tim Paine 52 Nathan King 23 |
The outcome of this game was always going to decide Uni' fate in this season's Kooka comp. Put simply it was a game we had to win to continue our attempt to retain the trophy. And given, the even stranger circumstances of North's game not being played at Lindisfarne, one of the North's players (no names Nic) spent a couple of hours trying to resign himself to thinking they would top the ladder (at 10.00 am) to realising they may be out altogether (by noon). It became evident that the other three games would be played, to some extent. The covers at Queenborough had blown off at one end overnight leaving the Derwent end of the wicket somewhat damp (when eventually the roller arrived there at about noon it nearly needed towing out) and there were several areas around the square where the heavier of the ground examiners brought up surface water to their ankles. Mind you these were large examiners. The umps strolled around at regular intervals - "we'll have another look in half an hour" and finally decided that play could commence at 3.20 pm, which, co-incidentally, was the latest that a 25 over a side game could commence. Brad won the toss and sent SHSB in to bat and his own guys into the field. Tactical plans had been drawn up to counter the hard hitting SHSB team in the forthcoming 'slogathon' - Nessy opened the bowling with the skipper himself at the other end. They bowled 5 straight each, Nessie ending with 0-13 and Brad 2-21 - SHSB 2/36 after 10. Good stuff. Problem was that Polkie was at the crease (with Doolan). Further surprises in store - no Hilfy at first change. The double change saw Gordy and Tom Roach mark out their run-ups (or drop the marker on the pre-measured spot) and continue the good work. As it turned out. Roachy made a bad move by having Doolan caught on the last ball of his first over which saw George Bailey stride out to the middle. Gordy bowled 3 (0-14), Tom's second over went for 21 and Hilfy entered the fray with 9 overs left - SHSB 3/86. Beany joined the attack but by then the batting show was on the road. Hilfy had SHPolky caught and Downton just turned over the bowling to Bailey. Beany exiting stage left after 3 overs (0-28) and it was left to Hilf and Gordo to finish it. The last four overs added 44 to the total! - SHSB 8/174 A quick turn-around and the players were back. 7 an over to win for the good guys - and by now it was getting dark as the srato-cumulus descended from Mt. Wellington. Paine (TD) and Lockdog started with intend and misses. Things quickly improved but Rhett was out in the third for 13 - Uni. 1/18. Lurch batted at 3 and, with Paine (TD) rose the tempo. Tim played some glorious strokes (lofted drive over long on a beauty and his strike off Polkie for 6 was as good as they come), Lurch's trademark drives sometimes avoiding the fielder and, by the 10th. over Uni. were 1/73 - looking really good and on target. Enter Downton and Doherty to the attack. How quickly things can change. Between them they bowled 9 overs and took 7-36! Lurch was bowled by Dowton, Richie adjudged LBW by X (Alison about to run on the field and 'drop' the Umpire), Bakesy scratched to 1 before being caught off Downton, the skipper bowled first ball by Downton, Paine (NJR), after hitting a glorious 6 off Doherty, was then bowled by Doherty and so it was left to the bowlers to try to score at 9 an over to win the game. Which, of course, they didn't.. Gordy got his revenge on Downton by hitting him for 6, but that was about as good as it got towards the end. Uni. all out for 131. Unfortunately it is historically well nigh impossible to chase at 7 an over from ball 1 of an innings. The old adage of 'catches wins matches' was to be proved correct. Your reporter remembers four (one of which was difficult) - the Coach remebers 7! Bailey on 13 was costly, Bailey on 31 was costly, Bailey on 52 probably less so. The nameless North's player (let's just call him Nic) was last heard of mumbling of possible complaints about Lindisfarne not covering their wicket et. etc. and North thereby being awarded the game as he wandered into the sunset (had there been one) and having to wait another year for a road-trip for a semi-final in the Kooka comp. His mumbling was overshadowed by older (ex-players) stating they'd have played in the conditions as they were at 11.30 in their day (probably true) and others bemoaning the fact that the Kooka does not utilise the bonus points system as in the ING games. Personally, I'd agree with half of the three! So that's the end of our Kooka campaign for this season. Back to the real stuff from now on (put away the white ball and the silly coloured clothing) and on, at last, to the real game. |
[home] [latest news] [scores] [ladders] [players] [contacts] [history] [seasons highs] [halls of fame] [events] [stats] [scholarship] [links]