5th Grade Report

Round 18 v Auburn

Epping 9/166 (44 overs)

Auburn 5/169 (30 overs)

It’s a simple game, cricket. 11 players per side, some who can bat, some who can bowl, and a keeper. Simple. However, come match time, 10 players including a couple of late recruits, and no keeper, was all we had. That tends to complicate our beautifully simple game. With the passing of one week, 6 surplus players turned into 3 unfilled vacancies in the Fiesties. Many thanks to Tim Creer for plumbing the various arms of the wider Creer family to provide2 suitable and capable subs.

To the game itself and with the usual skipper returning to the helm, the coin toss gods again smiled upon us for the umpteenth time this season and to the batting crease we went. Matt Hood joined us on his “on day” for his “off round”, cheerily putting his hand up to debut for the Feisties. So thus was renewed the partnership of Hood and Sedgers, a profitable one from times yore. And so it was again. Setting the season high (and grade record for Bulls) opening partnership laid a solid foundation, continued by Messrs Garg and Baird in a stand of 50 themselves. Amazingly, we got to 2/110. I say amazingly because when we played Auburn the first time this season, they routed us for 80-odd in both innings of a 2 dayer. We eventually got to 166 thanks to contributions from Sush (37), Sedge the Elder (32), Adam Hawse (23) and Hoodie (19). This was a score we were pretty happy with in the end and one our bowlers relished defending.

With Auburn starting in very austere fashion, our bowling innings was in great shape. One Auburn opener tried to take a shine to Wirthy’s offerings but try as he might, he simply missed the first 15 or so deliveries he faced. It was a play and miss-a-thon. Obviously his batting partner had to take things into his own hands here to get any sort of run rate started. He had the choice of scoring some runs himself or get rid of his partner. He chose the latter, taking on the rocket arm of Sushant, whose direct hit from mid-on left the runner many metres short. Apparently sacrifice bunts don’t count in cricket. Never mind. The runner was last seen speeding from the ground before 2 more overs were completed. Coincidence I’m sure. Anyway back to the second grade match. Yes I said second grade for that what it resembled as their numbers 3 and 4 dismantled our bowling in anything other than a 5th grade manner. We also contributed to our own pain, missing several white hot chances that would have made such a difference. Introducing our slow bowlers had some effect but too little too late as we were passed in the 30th over. The first 10 overs yielded 2/24, the next 20, 1/145. Ouch!

For my money, the star of the show was Matt Hood. When looking at the options for someone (read “anyone”) to take on the keeping gloves, Hoodie was the only real option. He accepted the “offer” graciously if a little reluctantly. Perhaps he was just under-promising, knowing all along he could over-deliver. For over-deliver he did. He’s a natural. Feet gliding effortlessly to the balls wider of off stump, leg side collects just as polished. He capped the display with a cool as you like stumping to get the all star batter. And, wait for it…. NO BYES. When people ask me in years to come about the Hood boy who kept wicket for Epping, I’d now gladly ask, “Which one?”

All up, a gutsy effort from a makeshift team against competition leaders, showing that on its day, any Epping side that shows true Bulls spirit can mix it with anybody. Bring on the Students.

Bullishly
Sedge

09/10 5th Grade Reports

08/09 5th Grade Reports