Match Report:: ANZA 5th Div versus Mariners CC 2

As Hannibal famously said 'I love it when a plan comes together!'

And that is what happened at Turf City on Sunday when Anza V's, strolled to victory over the hyped up and over excitable (for 8am on a Sunday morning) table topping Mariners XI.

The plan was that good, it was not shared with everyone, only a select few fielders were aware. It was though put into practice from the first over after Anza were put into the field and was repeated numerous times until I ran out of fingers and lost count. The plan was...drop catches.

This might seem strange, but it worked. You see the habit was, well, ahem, catching as Mariners proceeded to drop even more and thus make the chase a little bit easier for us.

This though should not detract from what was an outstanding win from an Anza team that was missing some key players.

After electing to bat the Mariners got off to a fair start as the wet ball proved difficult to control for Anza. Their number one and number 4 both got half century's but the bowlers put together some good spells and ensured the total didn't get out of control.

‎Younger was the pick, finishing up with a 'michelle' and strangling them at the death, as a score that was looking at the halfway point as though it may hit 250, stumbled to198 all out in the 27th. Spainy, Goodman, Howie and Clarkey all chipped in with wickets supporting the makeshift strike bowler

Honourable mentions must go to Tom 'Mitten Hands' Woods who took a great running catch, and also Clarkey who took what has now become known as the 'cleavage' catch!!

After a rain delay had cost us 2 overs, the Anza openers, Tom Woods and Younger wasted no time in getting stuck into the Mariners bowlers and assisted by 43 dropped catches by their fielders raced us to 79. In the 9th over when Tom left for a good 39 Geoff and Younger departed close together not long after, and this left Jodie and Mark to keep the scoreboard ticking over, which they did, with some lusty blows from Jodie, who eventually departed for an excellent 43. Mark was keeping Jodie company, but not quite middling the ball.

Mark's past though caught up with him soon after, as hidden in the grass in turf city was a disgruntled former debating opponent of his. In about the 20th over this sniper struck and after a quick single Mark hit the deck and we all thought he'd been shot. There was no movement. Turf city as a whole stood still. Clarkey and Younger rushed out to resuscitate him, and soon news filtered back.. He was ok... the shot had missed. He had just got a bit of cramp. After some rousing inspirational words from Clarkey (Man, up and princess, were three of them), Mark did just that and proceeded to middle just about everything including a huge straight six.

Eventually he was dismissed 6 runs shy of his 50, but by then the Mariners were beaten. Shoulders were slumped, their one man cheering band had gone home and Anza sensed the scalp.

Josh did the honours and put the game to bed with 5 balls remaining. A great win for this side against a team who turned up expecting an easy win and with this result Anza have confirmed they are a real chance this year for some silverware.

As BA Baracus, less famously said "I pity the fool who goes out tryin' a' take over da world, then runs home cryin' to his momma!

By Simon Goodman