Well the sixth game of the season saw the first placed All Ordinaries face up to second team on the ladder, with the All-Ords missing their Captain, who needed to escape to Queensland because of the pressure, and Pinman who needed another week off as his runny nose was extremely debilitating! The team comprised stand in captain Smithy, Doc Watson, Pretty Boy Webster and the Serry trio. In expectation of a thrilling game, the crowd was way above the usual number, in fact amazingly it was double the normal crowd! (Mrs Serry AND Mrs Smith were there). The All Ord's lost the toss and were sent in to bowl. The opposition looked bigger, stronger, considerably more experienced and balder (well, except for Serry Senior).
Doc Watson opened the bowling against two steroid recipients (no-one could be that big normally) and conceded 6 for no wicket in a tight first over. Smithy came on with the opposition looking mean and they took 13 off the over. Serry Senior came on and steadied the ship with 2/-2 including a superb stumping from Pretty Boy. Doc then bowled and was again economical taking 0/8 and the first pair, after looking dangerous, were well held to just 25.
Serry Junior Junior came on next and swung the ball nicely, restricting the enemy to 7 runs and then Serry Junior stepped up and dominated the batsmen taking 2/0, the highlight a magnificent one-handed catch from an almost horizontal David "The Claw" Smithy, a reflex catch the like of which we suspect (well, we know but who wants to be a spoilt sport!) will never be seen again, at least by anyone in the All Ords. The enemy then stepped up the attack and fought back well taking 20 runs including 2 sixes off Serry Junior Junior. Serry Senior tried to keep it tight in the last over and managed 1/5, including a fine outfield catch off the nets by Doc.The opposition had completed a good 4 overs for 32 and a total of 57.
The last pair in were looking to push the score but the All Ords were determined to keep it tight. Smithy bowled very well taking 1/5 (including a 100km/hour ball which even Smithy suspected was a radar gun malfunction), then Pretty Boy decided to bowl fast and short, taking 1/1 and having the enemy jumping around the crease. Serry Junior then completed a great two overs taking another 2 wickets for 10 runs in his second, including a clean bowled. The batsmen were really trying to hit out but a fine last over from Pretty Boy taking 1/4 gave the last pair just 21 and a total of 78 which was within the scope of the All Ords if they batted very well. All up their were 5 catches, two stumping and two run outs in an even effort, other than Serry Senior's interesting hockey goalkeeping approach to fielding the ball on the boundary line, although how it managed to go between his legs for four is a mystery to Serry Senior. This reporter must mention that Serry Senior had placed a disclaimer on his fielding at the start of the season if it involved anything below his knees. We now know why!
Bowling Figures: Doc 0/14, Smithy 1/18, Serry Senior 3/3, Serry Junior Junior 0/27, Serry Junior 4/10, Pretty Boy 2/6
The stand-in Captain Smithy made a brave decision and sent in our youngest batting pair ever, Pretty Boy and Serry Junior Junior. The chase started brightly, with the pair making light of their lack of old age, taking a very steady 0/10 off the first over. The enemy fought back and took two wickets for -1, but the courage of our youngsters shone through with a great fightback taking 8 for no wickets off the next and 10 runs for no wicket off their last. The score of 27 was a great comeback (Pretty Boy 21, Serry Junior Junior 6) and showed considerable maturity and skill.
The second pair was Serry Senior and Sery Junior. The first over was bowled by the fastest bowler the All Ords have faced. Serry Senior was glad that supermarkets stock nappies for the mature person. Despite the nervousness, they batted carefully and took 5 runs off the over. The second over went well early but two run outs off the last two balls and 2/0 off the over was disappointing. The next over, despite the loss of a wicket was quite an improvement, with 11 runs off the over and the highlight being the first, and we suspect, the only 6 ever to be hit by Serry Senior. Some have suggested that it was Serry Senior's sneeze just as the ball arrived that gave him the extra impetus. Serry Senior is consulting his lawyers. The last over was extremely controversial. After having 7 runs hit off the first three balls, the opposition, in a pique of what Serry Senior proclaimed to all and sundry was an act of extreme bad sportsmanship, mankaded young Serry Junior. The very next ball, with Serry Senior's blood boiling, they did it again. The over was completed and the opposition took 3/1, with Serry Senior seen to be having a long chat to Serry Junior about the learning of lessons. It should be noted that at the end of the match, Mrs Serry was seen having a long chat to Serry Senior about good sportsmanship and later Serry Senior was seen having a long chat to Serry Junior and apologising profusely in the process, though words such as "its only a game" did appear to stick in his throat. The pair scored 17 runs off their four overs (Serry Senior 15, Serry Junior 2) and the All Ords were on 44 and still just within reach. Apparently, Serry Senior is now worried that Serry brain explosions are hereditary.
The last pair, Smithy and Doc have been the rock upon which the team's wins have been built all season, but they were facing a very tough task. Needing 35 to win, they started beautifully, scoring 10 runs off the first over. Five runs came off the next over, with the pair unlucky to lose their one wicket to a catch near the back net. 21 runs to win with 2 overs left. The guys were batting very nicely against good opposition bowling and managed 9 off the third over. One over left. 12 runs to win. On came the fastest bowler we had seen for his second over. Our most consistent batsmen tried valiantly but struggled to hit this speed machine, taking just two runs off the first 5 balls and then Doc was stumped charging down the pitch attempting to hit a six. The pair had tried bravely putting on 21 (Smithy16, Doc 5) but the All Ords had just fallen short, making 65 and failing by just 14 runs. Serry Senior was heard to mutter "the mankads will be remembered the next time we play them". Mrs Serry was hear to mutter "wait till I get him home!".
All in all, it was a good team effort and could easily have gone either way. The general consensus of the team was wait till we meet them again (though Serry Senior is keen to stock up on those nappies!).