After the tip and run controversy in Chennai, there was considerable time spent confirming the rules of the match. 12 overs each, 3 overs max per bowler, no lbw, no leg byes and no tip and run. The surrounding wall marked the boundary.
The game was arranged for a bit later in the morning, 10:30am, so as to have fewer other games in progress. But as we started our game, there were 7 others in progress. We played on the best wicket - right in the middle of the ground. The pitch was red clay, and was reasonably smooth. Hammering the stumps in took some effort.
We won the toss and fielded. The opponents were made up of players that we will see later this week, and some of their friends. They batted with thin bladed bats, specifically made for hitting tennis balls.
As soon as we spread out in the field, we saw that we had given the locals a big advantage - our white tops making it easy for the batsmen to pick where our fielders were. (When we batted later, it was virtually impossible to know who was fielding against us.)
McKay bowled the first over and on the 5th ball was dispatched with the wind, high over square leg and over the wall into the street. This caused some delay as the ball was retrieved. This set the scene for the rest of the innings. Any short ball was dispatched with power.
Wallis had his first bowl of the tour but went for 10 in one over. Miller also had his first bowl and went for 12 and surprisingly was given a second over which went for just as many. Riley was the tidiest of the bowlers going for only 15 off his 3 overs.
The score finished on 109 with only 2 wickets having fallen, three batsmen retiring.
Our innings started with Pack taking a single and almost running out Hallyburton. Hallyburton then spooned his first ball to midwicket and was gone for a golden. Miller and Pack put on 15 before Pack was out caught. Miller holed out to cow shot corner. Rawling and Wallis made a few singles. Wallis presented a straight bat to a few balls and was then told to get on with it by the captain and succeeded in getting out caught immediately after.
This brought Narayana to the crease and with the required run rate now escalating to 12 an over (72 needed off 6) there were high hopes that Narayana's experience with this type of cricket would see him bring us back into the game. But it wasn't to be, Narayana spooning an easy catch second ball to be dismissed for a duck.
After getting his eye in, Shane Turner started some sort of rearguard action with a few boundaries and well placed shots. Hennessy also got a few away making 12. Turner went on to top score with 28 but it was too little too late. McKay and Turner adding a few in the final overs but Pinjarra were all out in the last over for 76.
No comments:
Post a Comment