OSCC 1^st XI v Old Brighton Match Report- Traviss Orr

 

Brighton once again failed to arrive with all 11 players. I’m not sure which sports require 9 players but it certainly isn’t cricket. Perhaps Dools could start a rowing crew; 8 oarsmen and a cox. Obviously they would christen the boat “Bowlers Name”. The General decided to show sympathy to the Brighton outfit and allowed them to bat first. Could the once ruthless Ashton have begun to soften now that he’s engaged? Who knows.

OSCC took to the field beneath an angry sun. Orr opened the attack from the “Government Tollway Cash Bonanza” End and was “pretty straight up and down” according to the Brighton players. But, straight up and down can get wickets and it didn’t take long for Orr to dismiss the Brighton opening bat. Sharply caught by Oliver behind the stumps.

Meanwhile Bennet took precisely one ball to hit his trademark line and length and immediately proceeded to take several out-swingers past the outside edge. Unfortunately for Bennet, Orr and Thomas failed to lay skin on a regulation slips catch which sailed harmlessly between 2^nd and 3^rd slip. Needless to say Thomas ended up on the ground. Whilst line and length isn’t an issue for Gary, his sick desire to wear the Stuart Appleby white visor on the cricket field is a hot topic amongst the OSCC leadership group.

Pressure gets wickets. But so do fresh legs in the covers. New recruit Fraser swooped on an innocent push to cover like Butler swooping on an innocent bar girl. In one swift motion he gathered the ball, became horizontal, lost his cap and sent the cherry into the only stump he had to aim at and another Brighton batsmen was sent back to the sheds.

After 4 largely harmless overs Orr was replaced by Gary Bennet’s new protégé, Chris Wood, who had arrived looking introspective after a recent family get together in Tasmania. Bowling “these ones” Wood was more controlled than his previous outing against Old Geelong and looked crafty. However this wasn’t a problem he could simply “throw money at” and he managed to claim just the 1 scalp this week.

General Ashton replaced Bennet and relished his opportunity to leave the kennel. Sporting a new shortened run-up, Ashton immediately began to ask questions of the Brighton middle order. After what most people would consider a solid interrogation, Ashton just kept coming with the questions and Orr managed to latch on to a sharp chance at first slip.

Thomas was next to bowl from the top end and immediately a deep low pressure system began to swirl. His slippery left armers unsettled the batsmen, as well as the slips cordon. The 2009-10 season might not only see Thomas attend an OSCC social function, but also as an integral part of the OSCC bowling unit. 

After early drinks were taken, George Dick parachuted into the attack to clean-up what was left of the Brighton middle order. Clearly discipline isn’t high on the curriculum at Brighton Grammar and Dick dangled several half-track carrots in front of the eager Brightonians, which they dutifully hit down the throats of Fraser and Morton, who both took sharp catches.

Desmond Haynes was nimble in the field and the crowd left disappointed having not seen his delicious leg spinners.

In the end Brighton were bowled out for 112. Dick bought 3 wickets with the other 5 shared amongst the Scotch attack.

After the break Thomas and Dickenson marched out to face the Brighton attack. Dickenson was watchful once again and gave Brighton nothing. Thomas on the other hand has only one gear and fancied his chances with only 7 fielders and super fast outfield. The Sanath Jayasuriya of the OSCC line-up thrashed the Brighton bowlers however was dismissed in the 6^th over, but not before launching a maximum into row 16.

This brought Orr to the crease and his innings went as follows; dot-6-4-2-6-4-out. 22 runs in 6 minutes.

Ashton replaced Orr and set about bringing some normality back to the innings. After a lean season in 2008-09 Ashton looked solid at the crease and went about asserting his influence. Dickenson departed after a rare rush of blood and George Dick joined Ashton…and was promptly bowled by an innocent full toss.

Oliver managed to negotiate his first ball and ably assisted Ashton as they guided the OSCC 1^st XI to victory inside 3 hours. 

Mt Erica Hotel Player of the Day: George Dick

OSCC 2^nd XI v Old Wesley Match Report – Nich Hildebrandt

Not a day has passed in the past year where James 'Plugger' Simon has not thought about last years final round capitulation to MCC that cost his side a place in the finals. An OSCC icon, the two's skipper has been burdened by a burning desire to avenge that fateful day, where a top order collapse saw his dreams of finals glory come crashing down around him. His warm blanket in the cold winter nights has provided no comfort, as the peoples Skip has twisted and turned with nightmares of a mistimed Nick Spargo pull shot and a Hank Taylor short ball. But that was last year, and a very different looking side greeted him down at Syndal on Sunday. Oh yes, their were his devoted few, names such as Crozier Durham, Hildebrandt, Griffiths, Penman, Sinclair and a surbrisingly sober Lake. But many an introductory handshake were offered to firstgamers Stewart, Bowden, Parisi and Strange. Over his journey plug has been no stranger to newcomers, and with open arms the consummate professional greeted them like brothers, rather than teammates. After two false starts, this was the Second X1 first chance to make amends for last season and proving that some things never change, Plugger lost the toss and in searing heat OS2 were sent into the field for the first 40.

We need not remind you that Andrew Penman was the 'most talented player to go through the college', and the P-Man (not to be confused with OGG's Angus Perry) took the new ball under the proviso that he bowl in tandem with the Nich 'the workhorse' Hildebrandt. The two battled for line and length in their first up outing as the scorching heat was taking its toll on their finely tuned rigs. Fine leg was having an unusually quiet time, as new keeper Damien Stewart showed a lot of poise behind the stumps, going for the ball with two hands and actually diving for wayward balls (....Spargs).

In the 4th over, Penman struck, with a full toss outside off proving too much of a temptation to the batsmen, flicking it to Will Strange at point who comfortably chest marked it. Two overs later, Hildebrandt had his first with a regulation knick to the keeper safely gloved by Stewart. Deciding that the heat had got the best of him, Hildebrandt retired for the day after 3 overs with the Skip bringing himself in as a replacement.Matt 'Trojan Horse' Parisi was brought into the attack for Penman  and soon after OS2 had their third wicket to Parisi with a regulation catch at square leg. At 3/46 after 10 overs, OS2 felt comfortably placed to strike, but in the next 15 overs OW steadily began to get on top. Plugger put in a captains effort, bowling his 8 successive overs on the cusp of exhaustion, but, as the sun hung high above scorching 13 white figures, OW continued to plunder the runs.

Griffiths, Sinclair and Strange were all brought in to the attack to find that elusive wicket,  but it was left arm offie Sinclair who tasted first success breaking up the 80 run partnership after a regulation catch at midwicket. Several overs later medium quick Will Strange picked up his first and an over later after a special piece of fielding by Hugh Sinclair OS2 had another when his direct hit found the batsmen short of his crease.

With 10 overs to go OW were 6/157 and their innings was at the crossroads.

Cue some Matt Parisi heroics. Toying with their one last threat of a batsmen and bowling a nice line and length, the Trojan Horce forced the batsmen into a slog that skidded into the top edge and dollied 20 metres skyward. Sitting underneath it, Parisi had all the time in the world , but as it reached his outstretched fingers the ball popped forward and trickled down his leg onto the ground. Disappointed, Pav trotted back to his crease and in traditional cricketing karma next ball was slammed to the boundary for 4. The batsmen continued on his merry way pounding out 66 runs before Parisi (2/55) finally got his revenge in the final over but by then the damage was done. Penman (2/44) and Strange (2/28) both picked up their second wickets during the final overs but with energy levels sapped from the heat, OW put on 85 runs in the last 9 overs to finish up at 9/242.

A well earned break was shortlived with umpire Robin Bailhache keeping both teams on their toes and quickly pushing us back into action. Opening batsmen James 'Budwell' Bowden and Hugh 'The Sin-Eater' Sinclair went out with a high expectations, but 4 balls in these hopes were quashed as Sinclair was sent packing after a straight full toss planted itself on his pads and Robin's index finger went cloud bound. Damien Stewart found his way to the crease and the two began restoring some confidence in the innings, carefully watching the opening bowlers and tapping it through the gaps. Tragedy struck in the 11th over though when a mix up at the bowlers end found Bowden (13 runs) short of his crease and still running all the way back to the pavillion. Next over, Stewart (12 runs) let one through the gap only to hear the death rattle of the stumps behind, and then next ball Mark 'Money Shot' Griffiths 'allegedly' flicked one off his legs through to the keeper to have OS2 reeling at 4/31.

Step up John Crozier Durham and Andrew Penman.

With expectations now at a serious low back in the change rooms, Penman and 'Dipshit' Durham cared not for the struggling scoreline, but for only things that they could control. In a fighting display of tenacity and commitment, the two put on a 105 run stand that began to worry OW who were already dreaming of their celebratory beers. Crozier Durham was particularly vibrant, his first 5 scoring shots were boundaries and anything legside was treated with disdain. When Crazier -Durham (50 runs) forgot to acknowledge the crowd's applause for his 50, Penman jibed him with a playful taunt of 'is this your first one Croz?". Unfortunately, the call seemed to still resonate with JCD as next ball he slapped one to midwicket and his innings was over. At 5/136 and with 8 overs remaining, it was party time, and whilst new batsmen Sam Lake would normally be the one to respond to a call of 'party time', it was Penman who decided that he wanted to be the centre of attention. Boundary after boundary saw him race to 66 with 4 overs remaining. With the day coming to an end, the excitement certainly wasn't and in the PULSE PHARMACY PLAY OF THE DAY, the last 4 overs saw Penman take 48 runs including 6 sixes and race to 112 not out by Stumps. Lake did nothing for his average, bowled for 9 in the last over and Strange was not out for 1. OS2 finished at 6/212 in a fighting display that bodes well for the rest of the season.

 Mt Erica Hotel Player of the Day: Andrew Penman