Game 14 was expected to be difficult for the All Ords as we were playing
a side who had beaten us twice already this season, albeit by small
margins both times - in both games it had been the All Ords batting that
had let the team down, rather than the bowling. So despite the win the
previous week, lack of confidence did appear to be a problem as the team
arrived at the centre. There are six players per team in this version of
indoor cricket. Doc Watson thought he counted seven payers on our team
and got very excited at the thought that he might not have to play -
until we told him that his arithmetic skills were on a par with his
enthusiasm! Given his wife had come to watch him for the first time, we
are not sure what this says about how he thought he was going to go!
The team was made up of Captain Hanlon, Smithy, Doc Watson, Pinman, Serry Senior and Serry Junior. Captain won the toss and sent the All Ords into bat. He decided to throw caution to the wind by opening with the Serrys. Given their lack of coordination running between the wickets, anything could happen. The first over produced a useful seven runs and one run out. The second over another 5 runs with the pair hitting the ball well but another run out given. The third produced only three runs and another run out. Anyone seeing a pattern? At 15 after three overs, the struggle was on but the last over produced no run out and a fine 15 runs, (including a six to Serry Senior and a four to Serry Junior) and the pair had produced a respectable 30 (Serry Senior 17, Serry Junior 13).
Next pair were our stalwarts, Smithy and Doc. With the bowlers bowling straight and accurately, 5 runs without loss was a good start. The second over saw two very close run-outs for no runs accumulated. The third produced 7 runs with the guys batting well till an unlucky leading edge from Smithy resulted in a catch. The last over produced a fine 10 without loss and the boys, whilst not batting to their usual standard, had still put on 22 runs (Smithy 9, Doc 13) - what some of the team would do to get 22 runs each time! - and the All Ords were on 52 after 8.
The last pair were Captain and Pinman. A score off every ball in the first over produced 7 runs without loss. The pair accelerated in the next over and added another 12 runs again without loss. Both players were middling the ball very well. The third saw Pinman caught but another 7 runs added and with three balls to go the team had accumulated 82 and were hoping for that magical 90 run total (a requirement of 30 per pair is never easy to chase). Captain came to the rescue with a superb six straight back over the bowler's head from a full toss and a couple of runs added took the All Ords to exactly 90 and in with a chance. A fine last partnership of 38 (Captain 20, Pinman 18) had given us a good target to defend.
After a pep talk from the Captain, Serry Junior opened the bowling and was on target right from the start taking a very useful 2/-1 and putting the opposition immediately onto the back foot. Smithy bowled next and was unlucky not to get a wicket but conceded only 7 runs. Pinman gave away no extras but the opposition managed to hit a steady 10 and were fighting back. Serry Senior couldn't manage to stop the runs and conceded 1/8 whilst taking a nice caught and bowled off a ball destined for the back fence. The first skin had been won with the opposition opening partnership falling 6 runs short on 24. The All Ords had missed a catch and a couple of close run outs that could have really tightened the screws and were looking a trifle nervous in the field.
From past experience we knew that the opposition's big hitter was coming in next. Captain was the first to face the music and his pace kept them on the back foot from where they managed only 6 runs. Smithy came on next and given he was hit for one big six, did remarkably well to keep the over to only 7 runs. Pinman, again bowled tightly taking 1/7 and then Serry Senior bowled the last and a nice stumping meant 1/1 off the over and the big hitter had been restrained to a partnership of only 22 runs. At 46 after 8, but only six runs behind in comparative terms, the opposition were still well in the game and the All Ords would need to keep the bowling tight to maintain the pressure on the batsmen.
Doc bowled his first over and kept it very tight taking 1/6 in a fine performance. Serry Junior then tightened the screws with a second terrific over, conceding just four runs whilst taking one wicket. Doc came back and bowled one of his best overs for the season taking one wicket whilst not allowing a single run and then Captain finished the game with some frightening fast bowling (glad he is on our side) taking a superb 2 for -4, allowing the last partnership only 6 runs and giving the All Ords victory by 38 runs.
It may seem as though the victory was easy in the end. Nothing could be further from the truth. The bowling was competitive but at one stage the opposition had scored some quick runs and were looking very dangerous. The turning point came when the opposition hit a very big six but in indoor cricket to get the runs you have to run the single as well. The six bounced back from the fence, Captain grabbed it and flicked it back at the stumps and ran the batsman out - what should have been 7 runs was turned into -3 for losing the wicket, a ten round turnaround and an exhilarating bit of fielding by Captain. You could visibly see the opposition shoulders droop at this match winning move. The other highlight was our wicket keeper Pinman's very, very brave attempt at a caught behind off a snick - unfortunately he dropped it but it was traveling very quickly. This reporter, whilst admittedly no expert at fielding behind the stumps, has some advice for Pinman. It would seem logical to suggest that your chances of catching it would be much improved if you used your wicket keeping gloves rather than your groin. On the other hand, by using your groin, you did improve the laugh quotient for both the opposition and all the other members of the All Ords. This might explain why no-one in the team rushed up to see if Pinman was unhurt - it is extremely hard to run when you are unable to stop laughing!
All in all a good night (Yes, Pinman was wearing protection!) and a fine win against one of the All Ords' bogey sides.
Bowling figures: Serry Junior 3/3, Smithy 0/15, Pinman 1/17, Serry Senior 2/9, Captain 2/2 and Doc 2/6.
Official man of the match: Captain Hanlon (for the second game in a row!)
The All Ords had moved up to second on the ladder, pending other results and had (according to some, sadly) guaranteed themselves a spot in the finals, no matter how short lived the appearance might be!
For those interested in stats, the figures suggest an interesting story. This reporter would have thought that the All Ords were a good bowling side but struggled with their batting on occasions. Strangely however, the ladder after this round indicated that the All Ords are in fact the most prolific run scorers in the competition as a team (1287 runs which is 130 runs ahead of the next best team and nearly 600 runs ahead of the bottom side). In the bowling, the All Ords are fourth best in terms of runs conceded (1023 runs, 200 runs more than the best bowling side but 400 runs less than the worst. Lies, damn lies and statistics!