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Jono Stars in Rep Game
Posted by: Mick Le Grand, 27 July, 2010 in General News
However the highlight of the weekend was the match between the INTERNATIONAL XI vs the NIDERDALE LEAGUE XI.
The game was played at Ripley CC on a beautiful back drop of Ripley Castle, valley, and wind turbines in the distance. The ground was a large, flat and green and the pitch was dry with a green tinge to it also. The past seven years the game has proved to be highly competitive - as you would expect when Aussie's and Pom's go head to head - but played in great spirits, and this year was no different.
Our team consisted of 8 Aussies, 3 South African's (2 were filling in at late notice - one bloke was 45, injured, played DIV 8, and ended up running 6kms before the first drinks break! That’s was you get fielding at point with an unfit Kiwi in gully), and 1 Kiwi. Nidderdale League XI won the toss and elected to bat.
Jarrod Crowden (Pannal and Mulgrave CC) opened the bowling against a fellow teammate. During his 3rd over he ended up claiming his scalp, and his middle stump. With a rye but suitably harsh send off, the internationals came together. In at #3 was a bloke who plays DIV 2 but it on track to break the league record in div 2 for most runs in a season. With 7 or so game to go he has scored 2 x double hundreds, 5 hundreds, and a few fails too, of 60-80! Last year Rohan Blandford (Helperby CC, my club this year), set the new record of 1400 runs in the '09 season. Needless to say this bloke had a good eye. However he didn’t have great bats, as by the time he went for 61 (caught by myself off a rank full toss by our off spinner - who I teamed up with again to take a second catch), he was onto his 3rd bat and second pair of gloves.
I ended up bowling first change, with the new Kippax ball they were trialing in the game, and it was as close to the Kookaburras we use back home as I've seen. Figured out a batsman early on and took his off stump in my 3rd over. The same, however, could not be said for my second wicket which was a trash full toss delivery which hit the very fattest part of the leg stump bail - and nothing else. Finished my full 8 overs with match best figures of 2-32.
After coming off a solid tea, we were set 231 to win off our 40 overs. Jason, our captain and a good Knaresborough batsman named Elias opened up for us. The first wicket fell at 16, and I ended up coming to the crease at first drop. To bat again with Aussies was a great feeling. Having never played with these guys before didn’t matter much, as we all had a similar way to go about our cricket - in particular a common knowledge of about how to run and call between wickets. It was a great feeling. A feeling which I road with our skipper for a 119 run partnership. I went out just after drinks for 51, and we were on track. They Nidderdale League XI bowled their spinners and timed the changes perfectly. Our run rate dropped a little and they brought the game to a see-sawing battle. 2 more wickets fell and at 4-222 with 10 balls to go looked to have a close finish. 3 dots and a single to the skip - who was already on 101 - got him back on strike for the last over. We needed 7 off 6 to win. First ball of the final over went for 4. The second was a well run 2. Scores then level. They brought the field in for the final run needed; Jase went over the top of straightish cover for 4. Game over!! Brilliant captains knock saw him win man of the match with his unbeaten 112.
In all, a fantastic concept, close tough fought battle, and always nice to get a win over the Poms. I had a great time and it makes me itch to get back to MOCCC and work with everyone for more Grand final glory.
Catch you all soon for round one in just over 2 months. Keep training hard :)
Cheers,
Jono
