I know this will come as as a surprise to regular readers of this report (if there are any) but this reporter does have a regular job and thus this report is just a trifle late. The All Ords were ready to face their second final - a win would put them directly into the grand final, a loss meaning another final to stay in the competition. We were without two of our more senior players, Doc Watson deciding that a Queensland holiday was more important than supporting your teammates at their possible final hurdle, and even more shocking, Pinman deciding that a family christening was more important than the team - as one of our members pointed out, Pinman had known most of the All Ords "a lot longer than his children!". Thus the team to face the music was lacking in experience but not in enthusiasm (at least at first) and comprised Captain Hanlon, Pretty Boy Webster, Smithy, and the three Serry's. Interestingly, the opposition had a couple of players we had never seen before (interesting in a final where you are supposed to have played a certain number of qualifying games) and of course, they were both very good players.
We won the toss and elected to bat. In a change of batting order, Captain and Serry Junior opened and in hindsight, this was a master stroke. They batted superbly for four overs, not losing a single wicket or getting run out even once. With overs of 0/10, 0/16 (including a superb six from Captain) , a steady 0/4 and a final over of 0/7, they managed a magnificent 37 for their four overs (Captain 24, Serry Junior 13) in what was a highlight of the evening. Next in were Serry Senior and Serry Junior Junior. The move to the middle order didnt help this pair, but they were at least consistent - with at least one run out per over. The first over produced no runs for one wicket, the second 1/2, the third 1/4 and the boys were struggling. They stepped up the pace in the last over with two run outs and 2/-2 to end the partnership with 4 runs (Serry Senior 4, Serry Junior Junior 0) and the All Ords good work had gone to waste.
The last pair Smithy and Pretty Boy were expected to pile on the runs. Sadly, they followed the lead of the previous pair. They started well with a fine 0/7 off the first but in the second both players were clean bowled and 2/2 resulted. The third saw Smithy stumped as he charged down the pitch and 1/2 and the last another 2/1 due to two run outs and the boys had produced only 12 runs (Smithy 4, Pretty Boy 8) and the All Ords had struggled after such a fine start to produce only 53 runs. The challenge was going to be enormous.
Serry Junior had taken to the responsibility of opening the bowling like Carlton to Presidents with no integrity. He showed it again with a fine first over of 2/-1, including a difficult one handed caught and bowled that was heading for the back fence. This was a fine effort against a pair who were trying to hit big. Smithy came on to intensify the pressure and bowled one of his best overs ever, taking his third hat-trick of the season (an amazing effort in itself) and ending with 3/-7. At -8, the opposition were off to the start the All Ords were hoping for. Serry Junior Junior came on and was unlucky to be hit for a couple of fours and 0/17 off the over and the opposition was fighting back. Pretty Boy was next to face the music and bowled tightly allowing only 6 runs without a wicket and at 15 off the first pair, the All Ords had done very well but with so little to defend, were still under enormous pressure.
Serry Senior opened the bowling to the second pair (that included their biggest hitter) and despite being hit for a six bowled well taking 1/10 thanks to a nice catch from Captain diving forward in the deep to take it low down. Captain came on and despite getting hit for two sixes, bowled with no luck and managed 1/16. Serry Junior came on and again showed he was in tremendous form with the ball, taking 2/6 and then Smithy bowled tightly, allowing only 1/9 and after 8, the opposition were looking very strong at 56 and a 3 run lead.
Not to be written off, the All Ords fought back. Serry Senior's second over, thanks to some great fielding by Captain, cost 3/-6 and they hadnt given up hope. Serry Junior Junior then bowled with no luck (one dropped catch) taking 0/11. Captain then tried hard as always and bowled frugally allowing only 0/8 and Pretty Boy finished it off with a fighting 2/4 including a beautiful clean bowled but it wasnt enough and the All Ords, despite fighting hard had gone down by 20 runs.
Bowling Figures: Serry Junior 4/5, Smithy 4/2, Serry Junior Junior 0/28, Pretty Boy 2/10, Serry Senior 4/4 and Captain 1/24.
All Ords player of the match: Smithy for his third hat trick of the season and Serry Junior gets a special mention for his bowling under pressure.
In a very sad note given the All Ords would be facing an elimination final next, Smithy had decided that the pressure was too much and would escape to Europe (some of us felt that wasnt far enough away given he was one of the rocks of the team and had deserted us!).