News release, fresh off the presses:
After a farewell performance in 1998, the famous "All Ordinaries" indoor cricket side reformed in 2007 and played their first match in nearly a decade last night in front of a huge and adoring crowd (of 2 - Mrs Serry and youngest son) - we were to compete in division 7, the second lowest - apparently the Captain felt that to finish last in the second lowest division would look much better when analyzing our efforts than to finish last in the lowest division.
The team comprised captain Dean "the twins wont let me sleep" Hanlon, Sean "I'm at Melbourne now but I still have Monash in there somewhere" Pinder, Dave "cant keep me away" Smith, Alan "cant get rid of me" Serry, Josh "can run faster than dad" Serry (now known as Serry Jnr) and the one international import the team was allowed, John "hope my knee will hold up" Watson.
The night started well with all 6 players actually arriving at the venue. We sat around watching the early game to reacquaint ourselves with the rules - a new innovation is the radar speed gun that measures how fast each player bowls - in the early game one gentleman bowled at over 130km/hr - needless to say Serry senior had to be restrained from leaving after seeing this bowler in action. Luckily for the team, the speed gun didn't seem to register under about 30km/hr so most of us were safe!
We batted first and sent in our most stable pair, Smith and Watson (so they told us). In a scene reminiscent of a feel good movie, Smith and Watson batted as though they had never been absent from the game, putting on a mammoth 46 runs in four overs (Smith 30, Watson 16) to give the team the psychological edge they so desperately needed (given the physical edge the team so desperately lacked!).
Serry senior and junior were next in. Serry senior's pep talk involved such brilliant advice as "lets just try not to make less than zero son". Given 3 runs are lost each time you lose a wicket, this was very sage advice. The Serry's started beautifully and after the first two balls had scored four runs - only problem was Serry senior was no longer able to breath after a couple of quick (well, that may be using poetic license) singles. However Serry junior kept the score and his old man ticking along slowly, and at the end of their 4 overs they had added another 33 runs (Senior 19, Junior 14) and the team was basking in a surprisingly competitive score of 79 after 8 overs.
Last in were the Captain and Pinman - facing some good bowling, they managed to score another 28 runs (Dean 6, Sean 22) to take the team to a very respectable total of 107 (which was about 70 to 80 runs over initial expectations). Whilst it is a sign of a good cricketer to hit straight, in indoor cricket this can result in run-outs - sadly our captain is a good cricketer and is going to have to address this ability and try to come down to the standard of the rest of the team! Stand-out performer with the bat was Smithy, who always looked in control but we are awaiting the results of the urine test before congratulating him fully!
The team then entered the arena exhausted but on a high with Watson giving us a pep talk with lines such as "well that was the easy part" and "if you think you are tired now, wait till you start bowling".
Our NZ ring-in opened the bowling with a fine over netting 1/3 and we were off to a good start against what looked a very competent batting pair. The next three overs cost 34 runs and at the end of the first 4, the opposition were on 37 and behind our score at the same stage (hey we were looking for any positives!). The next pair came in and started brightly making 39 off the first three overs before being reigned in by Serry senior's spin bowling (so named because whilst it doesn't spin, it is slow) who took 1/1. At the end of 8 overs, the opposition were on 77, only three behind the all ords at the same stage, and some of the older members of the all ords (not mentioning any names Serry senior) were looking very tired and rather than fielding the ball were really simply falling on the ball.
Highlight of the fielding at this stage was John Watson's brilliant but unusual stop in the field where he saved a run by stepping on the ball and thus aggravated his reconstructed knee- he then had to replace the ever-reliable Smithy as wicket-keeper since he could no longer run. Apparently Serry senior didnt get the gig because he has never been able to run. Some fine fielding from Pinman including a run out, was keeping the pressure on the enemy.
The final opposition batting pair came in needing only 31 runs off the last four overs. Pinman opened with a very bright 1/5 but the opposition then steadied with 11 off the next over and needed only 15 off the last two overs. Serry junior bowled his medium pace and in a fine effort, restricted them to 4 runs when they were looking to push the score. The match had reached cliffhanger status with one over to go, with the crown of 2 at fever pitch and the opposition needing only 11 to win. Little did they know we had our trump card and fast bowling maestro ready to pounce - in the bowling highlight of the night, our captain bowled superbly, taking two wickets in two balls and finishing with 2/-2 off the last over to give the All Ord's a triumphant return to the big stage (well, the big warehouse anyway). Everyone bowled above expectations with few balls missing the pitch - this was much better than some of us expected!
Bowling figures were: Captain 2/6, Watson 1/19, Pinman 1/18, Smithy the wicketkeeper 0/26, Serry senior 1/8, Serry junior 0/18
The Umpire's man of the match and winner of a free drink from the sports bar was Serry senior - we think this was because at the end of the game there was no doubt he was the one most in need of the drink, given his carpet burns, burst blood vessel in his hand and his inability to breath or move.
All in all an impressive performance and a team effort played in very good spirits and enjoyed by all (well we did win!) - the only problem now will be can any of the team members that are out of their teens actually recover in time for the next game on Wednesday night.
Find out in the next installment of "the Return of the All Ordinaries"