Tasmania University Cricket Club
Scores and Reports
Season 2006/07
First Grade
Round 3 v. Clarence (Kookaburra Cup)
Played at the University Oval, 4th. November 2006.
(Toss won by : University)
Matty Lister 96 Graeme Cunningham 20 |
Matty Lister 4-22 Jo Hoang 2-8 Gregg Sharman 2-9 |
view full scorecard
After last week's capitulation it was up against the perennial grand finalists, Clarence. The TCA had, in their infinite wisdom, scheduled the Cox Plate over the weekend, which this year was based on an 'association of origin' concept. Given that the best players from around the State tend to gravitate to Hobart it meant that not only were clubs loosing players to the TCA team, but also the other regions as well! 
So both clubs were affected and it looked much more like a Second Grade game on paper. Uni. had Rhett and the run-machine painter out for the Cox Plate and Bakesy had to work. Clarence were even
harder hit with eight out for various reasons. So two new debutants for Uni. - Andy Matthews (no - we don't count his Twenty20 last year) and Matt Drury, back at the club after a few years concentrating
on footy etc. Also, to some, Heath Chick made an appearance. Eight years after his one and only First Grade game filling in for an absent Jamie Cox!
Nice day at the Uni. Oval, the same strip used for the third time, skipper Richie wins the toss so we bat. Ned's new opening partner was China Lister. His dad doesn't think he has the right aptitude to open - Matty has previously shone down the order when quick runs were the order of the day - may be a good thing that John isn't the skipper! A steady start with Matty seeming to play his normal game (and Ned his?). Some early shots by both raced to the boundary when it looked like only a couple would eventuate. Things went along at 3 an over and the pair were still there at the first drinks break (during which the umpires forwarded the opinion that the fruit cup cordial was not that good so they had lime for the rest of the day)! Ned was the first to go with the score on 66. Jacko went the same way shortly afterwards and China was joined by Richie. The pair upped the run rate and added over 50 before Richie departed. Matty was beginning to open his shoulders after passing 50 (which was mistakenly applauded by his team mates and even the coach) and was lucky on a couple of occasions with skied balls falling between fielders. Huddo 's run (or lack of them) continued and 
Gregg Sharman (the shunned former NWTCA player) scored a couple of singles and hit a glorious 6 over long-on whilst Matty continued on his way into the 90's. Sharmo was well caught at short cover and
debutant Kermit joined the fray.
By now Matty was in total control, skipping down the wicket, hitting the ball hard, placing it well; his last 40 coming off about 30 balls. And then, from both his own and the team's point of view, disaster. Matty called a second run, Kerm said no, both batsmen in the same crease! 4 runs short of his maiden First Grade century (it was actually his maiden half century anyway). An innings of great temperament with some hard hitting and good placement - his first 100 won't be far off. Kerm, Grubby, the returning after 8 years Chicka and Fenna jnr. got us up to 178, a total that looked to be 40 short of comfortable. 
Good bowling would be required, even with Clarence's depleted line-up. Matt Drury and Fenna jnr. opened up and Clarence rattled along at over 5 an over with just the wicket Of Krema to show. Both bowled
4 or 5 good balls an over, but the other(s) found the boundary. The introduction of Jo and Sharmo stopped Clarence in their tracks. The required run rate rose to 4 (not that difficult) but Jo snared a couple
(how many lbw's has this guy got for us) and then Richie, reckoning it could be Matty's day, brought him on to bowl. It must be said that some of the shot selection by Clarence could have been better (in
fact they still didn't need to play any other than dabs for singles) but Matty got an lbw, Jo was replaced by Huddo, two catches in the deep and Clarence looked like they'd seen the video of our game last week
and taken it to heart!
Sharmo came back on and Richie increased his wife's fantasy team's score with two catches and it was only to be expected that China ended it! The fielding had been ok, China could have had a 5 for (but I promised Grubby I wouldn't mention why so I won't) and our young guys did really well when under pressure. I also want to add a word on the captaincy. Richie's support of the young opening bowlers, field placements and so on were excellent. Big smile after the game 'a 100% record'. Another Kooka game next week against North Hobart with (I think) full teams. We're going to have a hard season (or two) but hopefully this game will show the young guys that they are capable of mixing it with the rest. |
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