Match Report vs The Hurricanes....by M.W.Dowell
Its Finals time - best time of the season and the expectations are high coming of a near undefeated home and away season. But these are the games that count the most and we need to perform.
All but the Don are there early to watch end of the first semi final - Jims Class Heroes through to the Prelim and we take the field to warm up.
The toss was lost and we are having a bowl. Dowell to open and he sprays the ball everywhere - 4 wides a dot and a one - the Captain encouraging saying it was only 9 runs - but not the pressure requires. Vlastuin and Rock follow - still not a wicket and another 18 runs. The Don is given the fourth over and after a bit of a mixed bag and some rebowls at the end we snare our first wicket - but a solid start of 36 for The Hurricanes.
Next pair face Perry first and with a couple of dots in this over Perry is troubling these batsmen. Vlastuin next and with some indecison from the batsmen an easy run out is secured. This is followed by one thats get through Jarrod's suspect defence for a bowled. The Hill boy next and he does come steaming in and Jarrod's a bit uncomfortable - bowled, run out and then stumped - lovely work by Rock and after a 3 for -5 fro,m Hill this pair have only added 2. Rock to bowl the last over and with a run out last ball the pair have only added 6 bringing the total to 42.
Dowell bowls first to the last pair and carrying a calf injury sustained in the first over he is on target a little better - a run out off the fifth ball stalls progress for The Hurricanes. The Don and Perry follow and while no wickets there a plenty of dots and ones. The Hill boy steaming in again and this pair are uncomfortable - another stumping by Rock and 1's and dots and they finish by adding 23 and the total we are chasing is 65.
Dowell and the Don open and they are circumspect - no need to do anything too risky. Dowell does get one to drive but its along the ground for 5 and after three overs they have reached a wicketless 28. Facing their captain Jack Rust they are reminded how he can really fizz the ball and turn it sharply. After picking up a couple of twos Dowell gets a floating fizzer - last week he went down the pitch and hit it for 7 - this week he opts for playing back but gets tangled and it bounces off his body on to the stumps. The Don facing the last ball is careful but gets an edge that lobs in the air and with the two last over wickets post just 28 - a solid enough start chasing 65.
Perry and Hill and their approach is clear - no risk batting. And indeed in a final that is a quality approach - a chanceless, wicketless innings of ones and twos - also a good smattering of wides and they add a lazy 35 bringing the score up to 63.
Rock and Vlastuin to get us over the line and Rock is also circumspect as he pushes for 2's off the net. Vlastuin supports him well rotating the strike and after three overs they have the score at 83 and just need to see off the last over from Jack Rust to secure the victory. Jack was spinning the ball like a top and Vlastuin decided to shut up shop. They got one stumping which was only their fourth wicket for the match in this final over and we finish at 82.
A solid team effort getting the job done - Hill MVP with 15 runs and a match breaking 4 for -5. The beer was good and we will face either Jims Class Heroes or The Hurricanes again in the Grand Final - have a feeling it will be Jims Class Heroes.
