The Pinjarra Cricket Club today were welcomed like royalty to the BEL (BharatElectronics Limited) Sports Club for their final match of the tour. We assembled in front of the pavilion and received a formal welcome, introduction and handshake from the president of the BEL Sports Club and were then introduced to all of the players.
The ground was like nothing we had ever seen. A terrific grandstand, with our change room on the top level. As we walked the steps we were very pleased to see a welcome poster for us, as well as another poster advertising our match. The outfield was orange clay without any grass at all. Dusty and hard. Incredible. The wicket was clay with a matting cover, similar to what we played on in Chennai but in better condition.
The match was to be 30 overs each, and was umpired by state level umpires. Included in the onlookers was the captain of the Indian men’s Hockey Team, Sandeep Michael, who apparently now enjoys cricket as a growing hobby. Our touring group was very pleased to meet him and happy that he appeared to enjoy meeting us.
Also surrounding the ground, much to our interest, was about 30 to 40 members of the Indian Army Artillary Division, who were conducting a product acceptance test of what appeared to be some battery powered communication devices. We felt very safe.
BEL captain Shakir Hussain won the toss and elected to bowl. Miller and Ford opened, and got off to a flying start. Miller got off the mark with a quick single and managed to collide heavily with a fielder at the bowlers end, but earnt 4 overthrows in the process. Ford dispatched several balls to the boundary. The matting wicket was playing true although the bounce was a little high and slow compared to the turf wickets we had been playing on.
In the 4th over Ford fell victim to the different bounce, popping a square cut to point to make it one for 25. Ford gone for 18 off only 11 balls. Miller and Narayana pushed the score along steadily. Spin was then introduced and the tidy bowling slowed the scoring rate, although there were plenty of singles. Miller decided to take on off spinner Gangadhar attempting to hit him for six over deep long off, only to stand in shock as it went straight to the fielder who spilled it. Miller was still standing in his crease and never even took a run (and subsequently incurred a 200 Rp fine from the fines master).
Runs continued to flow steadily, until the 14th over when Narayana snicked a cut to the gloves of keeper to go for 15 off 32 balls. Now 2 for 76.
Four overs later, Miller again tried to hit Gangadhar for six, this time over mid wicket, but fell 2 metres short and was gone for 46 off 39 balls. Now 3 for 95 after 18 overs.
The next few wickets fell a little more frequently than what the tourists would have liked, and it began to look shaky whether they would last out the overs. McKay made only 3 before he was caught off a leading edge, Burley made a 2 ball duck, and Davidson made a golden duck. Meanwhile Pack had made a good 14 until he pushed a drive in the air to cover. Now 6 for 110 in the 22nd over.
Hallyburton and Hennessy built a good partnership, scoring freely, until Hennessy top edged a pull shot to be gone for a well made 17. Riley came to the wicket and he also looked comfortable, until Hallyburton misjudged a single and called Riley through to see him short of his ground and run out for 4. 8 for 151 in the 27th.
Hallyburton then took to the bowling, hitting several boundaries, including a six over long on. Davidson lasted only 1 ball, spooning an easy catch. Turner then hit a massive six over long on before being caught off Singh. 12th batsmen (as agreed between the captains) saw Miles come in who managed to get 2 and the tourists finished with a very competitive 178 off their 30 overs.
After a 10 minute break, which included very nice refreshments thanks to our hosts, we were out in the field for the final time. What an experience. Red and hard as rock, and dusty. The strong wind not only kept blowing the bails off, it kept creating small dust storms.
McKay opened and struggled in the windy conditions, the first over going for 15. Hennessy also took a while to get his rhythm. Apparently one of the bolts that was holding the matting down was located right where he was landing his back foot. This got rectified and soon Hennessy’s bowling was looking very tidy.
Runs flowed fairly freely however, the tourists incurring several miss-fields as they attempted to adapt to the alien conditions. The frequent dust storms and particles of red grit in the eyes and mouth adding to the challenge of fielding in these conditions. At one stage, Riley was observed to be running in to bowl with his eyes closed to keep the dust out.
Captain Shakhir (former state junior cricketer for Karnataka) was the main contributor to the runs, with several well played shots to the boundary. The other opener Sudhakar was also batting well, until being hit on the wrist by a Hennessy bouncer, having to retire hurt for 16.
Riley replaced McKay but the runs kept ticking over. Captain Miller gave spinner Narayana a bowl in an attempt to buy a wicket, and after conceding 15 runs in his first over, successfully had Shakhir stumped. There was conjecture however, Pack had fumbled the ball, and Shakhir did not attempt to make his ground. The umpire suggested he was actually out retired as the batsmen was half way to the pavilion by the time Pack took the bails off. One for 106 in the 14th over.
Runs continued to flow without success for the tourists, and it was looking like we were in for another comfortable defeat. Miller came on to bowl for the first time of the tour, and had some success in slowing the run rate. As did Ford at the other end. After a few tidy overs, Ford claimed Arun lbw for 34 in the 24th over, but with only 18 required it looked inevitable that the BEL side would coast to victory. But the tourists rallied.
Miller and Ford continued to bowl tidily, and the fielders lifted their game. After Miller bowled his last over (the 27th) the tourists still needed 7 runs off the final 3 overs. And then Ford claimed 2 wickets for only 2 runs and the tourists were somehow in with a sniff. 5 runs needed off the final 2 overs with new batsmen at the crease.
McKay returned to the attack, only to see an edgy shot go down to Hennessy at deep 3rd man. Hennessy made a mess of it and it went through for 4. Hennessy would claim later that it deflected off the only patch of grass in the whole outfield. The scores were now level. McKay unfortunately strayed the next one down the leg side for a wide, and it was over.
The tourists were happy to have played a competitive match to finish off their tour. The captain was especially proud of how the team fought to the end for the final half hour, making the hosts earn their victory.
After the match, we were honoured to receive a wonderful lunch of curries, parathas, rice, soup and fruit salad and icecream. Followed by a special presentation of mementos. The Pinjarra Cricket Club was privileged to receive such hospitality, and this will be remembered for a long, long time by each member of the touring party.
The day was a wonderful finale for our tour. A good game of cricket, on facilities that we would never experience in Australia, and welcomed so warmly by our hosts. Thank you so much to the BEL sports club for providing us with the opportunity.
Pinjarra 178 defeated by BEL Sports Club 4 for 179 with 1.4 overs to spare.
1 comment:
It would be great to have Cricket Supporters Tours from ITC Sports and see you play.
Post a Comment