Frank Gray Shield

Round 6 Vs Roseville @ Roseville Chase

Roseville 206 (McKeough 2, Horrocks 2, Amarasinghe 2) Def Epping 196 (McKeough 54, Holden 26, Ware 20, Grovender 20)

We arrive at the Chase greeted by constant drizzle.
After 1 ½ Hrs rain delay we pull the covers away to be greeted by a pitch covered in thick lush grass but a hard surface looked more like a pitch from Kiwi land not Australia . Coxy loses the toss and we find our self in the field. The attack consisted of an Australian dominated line up Morgs, Maca, yes maca and the two spinners, only with there fellow companion Perry. With Howie out of the game (with a sore calf) and Hughie knowing he was an opening bat, he pulled the pin on being a bowler for this game and decided standing in slips for most of the 45 over game was looking good!

We were a bit confused as to wether we were playing a 20/20 big bash game or a 45 over game as when the batsmen walked out they walked out to pumping music. This continued between each over each wicket for the whole game.

Our bowling was good enough to create chances, however none went to hand and a few very confident LBW decisions were turned down (however this would not be the case in the Epping innings as 5 of us fell LBW). Horrocks was brought on and straight away got a wicket next to his name. Maca came on and produced a good line and length and was 100% sure that the opening bat was LBW, however the young umpire disagreed. With drinks just round the corner the bulls produced some of there best bowing and fielding so far this year.

Maca and his Ryan Harris like bowling picked up with 2 quick wickets, one a ripper of a ball coming from off and taking out leg stump something Harris would have been proud of. Take note this player was dropped (and I say dropped even though the keeper and his new opening bat looked at each other as it went between them at keeper and 1st slip and down to the boundary) the ball before. There was relief on the face of those two when the wicket was taken next ball and they did discuss how probably the lack of fielding in slips from Hughie could have contributed to that missed opportunity. Horrocks then snagged another wicket like his Australian counterpart Hauritz on the over of drinks.

After drinks the Bulls continued to push for wickets which were granted after working hard for them with little runs coming from Roseville. Morgs snagged a run out which brought captain Lenehan to the wicket with around 8 over’s to go. Perry Morgs and Maca who bowled the last 8 over’s between them managed to contain the powerful hitting of Lenehan and in turn restrict the top of the table team to 206.

Ash and Hughie opened up the batting and got the bulls off to a good start and at 62 for 0 things were looking very positive before Hughie fell to the suddenly trigger happy umpire LBW for a well made openor’s 26. This brought the dangerous T Ware to the wicket looking for runs as it had been a while since he made it out of single figures. Ash then feel 3 balls later to the umpire’s trigger finger decision for 20. This brought the inform Maca out to the wicket and along with Ware bided there time and the runs started to flow for both players. What happened next is no joke, it’s not made up, and it’s not a fantasy. Maca started to free his arms and then he hit a DINGA, yes a DINGA. Celebrations started to flow as if Maca had made a double ton.

Maca and ware continued to push the singles and running hard this upping the run rate.

Then it happened again, (no not another Epping collapse) Maca hit another dinger and another dinga. The Bulls were going wild knowing they had witnessed a miracle in the making as no one had even seen Maca hit a dinga even his dad who was at the game watching him hadn’t seen him hit one only heard stories. With runs flowing and wickets in hand the plan was to keep the dangerous Lenehan at bay for his 4 remaining overs, keep wickets in hand and we could win the game.

Well that plan didn’t work. First Ware fell LBW for a well made 20, then one over later Maca fell for a well made 54. However again we lost 2 wickets in a quick space of time going from 2 for 62 to 3 for 150 to 4 for 150. Cox and Nick (dinga) Wilson built a partnership and we were looking to take the win home until last ball of Lenehan’s final over Coxy went for a big sweep and was bowled.

That brought Perry to the crease and yes it happened again (the Epping collapse). Wilson fell one over later bowled, the Perry fell 3 overs later to the LBW decision again then Horrocks fell caught behind 2 overs later and then Amarasinghe fell an over later. The Bulls were originally 5 for 172 but then found themselves 9 for 182.

This brought the inform batsman from second grade in to bat. Morgs bats at 8 in 2nd grade made and his first half -century, an unbeaten 53 then found himself at no 11 in U24’s. Disgust was showen by Morgs at the start of the day in good spirit but there would be no promotion this time. However the same feat could not be produced 2 days in a row and we found ourselves all out for 196.

It was hard to take for all players as we put ourselves in such a good position to win but yet again we let ourselves down with the bat.

We have one more game to go boys lets send Coxy our skipper off with at least 1 win in U24’s next to his name as skipper. As our only win this year has come under the captaincy of Maca.

Chilli

09/10 U24's Reports