 |
| Match Details |
| Round |
Round 6 |
| Opposition |
Ferns |
| Date |
1-Dec-2007 & 8-Dec-2007 |
| Ground |
Moore Park 13 |
| Match Summary |
| Result |
|
| Ferns 1st innings |
all out, 343 runs
|
| Kurrajong Gypsies 1st innings |
all out, 93 runs
|
| Kurrajong Gypsies 2nd innings |
4 wickets, 65 runs
|
| Match Report |
Acting Captain Kitty Vanstead won the toss and put Ferns in, in drizzling rain - a tactical move that surprised the Ferns brainstrust somewhat. Gypsies then took the field with 9 fielders (Zubin being chronologically embarrassed) and Hollywood keeping, which surprised them still further. Confused and lacking the tactical nouse to understand and respond to our strategy, they took the weak, safety-first option of belting us to all parts of the field. After checking his overdraught facility, Zubin arrived and took over the gloves (bringing our fielding strength to 10, all superathletic, with great hands and arms), and wickets started to fall, with B1 bowling one of the openers. We got two more wickets, before, unlike the rain, they stopped falling. Ferns were 3-for at drinks, with Hollywood replacing Sam at one end because of the slippery run-up. The Gypsies were a bit ropable with a stumping decision obvious to Helen Keller, being turned down, and the Ferns Capt was on one leg, but hitting the cake of soap well. Fortunately the wet outfield - although it stuffed the ball, cut down quite a few runs. The Gypsies kept getting wickets slowly as Long John Silver farmed the strike and kept scoring. Finally, in the last session, it had stopped raining, the ground had dried slightly and we could change the ball (which by that time was noticeably misshapen and had a split seam from which a small loop of binding protruded). For the second week in a row, it looked as if we'd fall short of the number of overs. However, supersub, Ben Barnett (aka Will's mate) took the dry ball and, appropriately in the weather conditions, mopped up the tail, leaving us the full 70 overs for next week. One highlight, likely to live forever in Gypsy lore, was that both Will and the chronically, tragically (but, as it transpired, deservedly), underbowled Nick Fenton-Smith stepped up to the bowling creases, Nick repeatedly posing awkward questions for the batsmen with his stock ball - the no-ball. Ferns finished with 340, their one-legged skipper ~170*. Given that we made 8/350 in 66 overs last week, have the full 70 overs and the strongest batting line up we could assemble, we must be firming with the bookies.
The Gypsies showed their disdain for the Ferns' paltry 343 all out of last week by opening with Hugh and Hollywood, who pushed the score along to their highest opening partnership of 1, before Hugh was dismissed for cos90. Ryan contributed a gritty 4 before hearing the death rattle, then B1 and Hollywood took the score to 39, before Holly, who had absolutely raced to 4 in just 17 overs, began the lonely walk to the pavilion. Ben W showed his class before becoming the 3rd Gypsy to fall for 4, then B1 was out to the catch of the day by the one-legged 2nd slip, top-scoring with 43, helped in part by a brilliant 4 overthrows from Ferns. Ando compiled a typically classy 8, and the Fenton-Smith boys caned the Ferns for a combined total of
3 (each eluding the duck tie). Nathan showed the promise of things to come, taking 6 from Ferns, MIke warmed up with a quack, whilst Sam F-C survived two dropped chances to the same fielder to finish an imposing 1 not.
Gypsies, all out for 93, but secure in the knowledge that the match was theirs, upon being asked to follow on, reversed the batting order. Highlights of the second innings were newly promoted opener Mike Bisset showing that if you avoid hitting the ball, they'll avoid hitting the stumps. Unfortunately, after 11 overs, he did hit the ball and was caught for perhaps the most annoying 1 a fielding side chasing the outright could endure. The game was called off with Gypsies 4/65, Ben 17* and Nathan 22*, after what appeared to be unusual and unnecessary consternation by Ferns as to whether a player could bowl. In another telling incident, Captain (acting) Kitty, still at that stage to bat, informed the Ferns captain during our second innings, that Ferns had "only dismissed the tail" - leaving no doubt as to his impressions of his own batting prowess.
The combatants left for the pub, after what would seem to the casual observer, a resounding first innings win for the Ferns. However, the casual observer knows nothing of the history and machinations of Moore Park cricket, where many an aspirant for silk has cut their teeth. On the basis that it's not over 'till it's over, the Gypsies legal team swung into action. A new rule allowing 12 players to play was certain to create headaches, and so it finally proved in this match. The result sheet has been modified to accommodate this rule change and now clearly states that "the 12th player named may only
bat or bowl on the second week of the match". On the second day,
Ferns consulted the rules, consulted their lone spectator and consulted the Gypsies to establish (correctly) that their 12 named player could bowl, which he did. What Ferns did not check, was that the 12 named player is not allowed to bat on the first week - which he did.
We have submitted the score sheet without comment and are confident that the Association, known to be sticklers for propriety, will not ignore this gross abuse of the spirit of the game, which drags the Moore Park code of conduct to previously unplumbed depths and will award the match to the Gypsies.
|
|
|
| Ferns 1st innings |
| Barnett, Tim |
13 overs, 2 for 75 |
| Cohen, Nathan |
7 overs, 1 for 54 |
| Cunninghame, Sam |
6 overs, 0 for 48 |
| Hamilton, Cameron |
5 overs, 0 for 23 |
| Masters, Tony |
15 overs, 3 for 66 |
| Fenton-Smith, Will |
4 overs, 0 for 31 |
| Fenton-Smith, Nick |
2 overs, 0 for 29 |
| Westall, Ben |
4 overs, 3 for 7 |
|
| Kurrajong Gypsies 1st innings |
| Masters, Tony |
4 |
| Ross, Hugh |
0 |
| Nanayakkara, Ryan |
4 |
| Barnett, Tim |
43 |
| Westall, Ben |
4 |
| Davies, Andrew |
8 |
| Fenton-Smith, Nick |
1 |
| Fenton-Smith, Will |
2 |
| Cohen, Nathan |
6 |
| Cunninghame, Sam |
1* |
| Bissett, Mike |
0 |
|
| Kurrajong Gypsies 2nd innings |
| Bissett, Mike |
1 |
| Cunninghame, Sam |
0 |
| Nanayakkara, Ryan |
0 |
| Barnett, Tim |
15 |
| Cohen, Nathan |
22* |
| Westall, Ben |
17* |
|
|
