Match Report :: Champs vs MUCC Braves at Fernvale, 22nd May, 2010

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
It was bowling to a plan, it was batting without one
It began as a day of hope and turned into a day of darkness

And so it was. Saturday afternoon at Fernvale, the scene of so many happy ANZA memories in recent times. The rain had stopped and the ground looked a little slow and to our surprise their captain said “you blokes have a bowl we’ll bat first”.

New chum Lawrence Heavey opened from one end and James Howlett from the other. Both bowled with superb control and soon had the opening batsmen struggling to score on the normally free flowing Fernvale. Two quick wickets from James and suddenly MUCC was struggling at 2 for 20 odd after 6.

Inspired bowling changes kept the pressure on with Feroze and Munib replacing the openers and keeping the scoring in check. A wicket to Munib’s had us on top and with “Ferocious” bowling beautifully from the other end the runs had really dried up. Then just on drinks Feroze struck a vital blow trapping one of MUCC’s batsmen dead in front (and for once the umpires finger went up). Drinks – MUCC 4for 66…and immediately after Feroze struck again trapping the second victim in front. 2 in 2 balls and when Munib picked up his second the Champs were sensing it was going to be our day.

Plenty of spirit from the boys with lots of” let’s not let it slip”. And we didn’t. Ben Yeoh and Phil the Younger came on and kept things tight despite the batsmen starting to have a go. B1 yet again broke a dangerous partnership before James and Lawrence returned to close out the innings. The fielding was on song and the Champs were on top.

A run out off the last ball say MUCC all out for 146. James 3/37, Munib 2/29 (and because you’re a client Munib I won’t mention how many wides), Ben Yeoh 1/15, Lawry 0/33, Phil 0/16 and Feroze was back to his awesome best with 2/15 off six with that rarest of Champs events; a maiden over!

147 to win at Fernvale and we thought here’s the Champs first victory of 2010. The game was ours to lose and in true Champs style that’s when it went pear shaped.

Geoff and Younger opened and looked good for the first 17 balls. Then Geoff unsheathed his infamous pull shot on a slow low pitch and was caught at square leg.

1 for 12.

Homi joined Phil until Phil got a good one and was skittled.

2 for 15.

The procession had begun, as Feroze strode out confidently and expectations were high following his return to form at the bowling crease. Less than 3 over’s later Feroze was caught in the deep and the Champs were a little rattled at 3 for 24.

B2 joined Homi and then had a brain explosion running himself out, ensuring Kit Packing Duties remained in rightful hands.

4 for 26.

Chiro came and went (5 for 29) and when Homi departed with the score at 44, the top six batsmen had contributed a grand total of 24 runs from the bat. The celebration from the MUCC bowler at the fall of Homi’s wicket was a new low and rubbed more than salt into a very raw wound.

Josh Ghosh and Fearless Leader set about holding the innings together, but Munib was bowled and the Champs were plunging deeper into a batting abyss at 7 for 50. Plenty of glum faces and mutterings about “how had it come to this?” in the change rooms. Seven bats back in the shed and half the overs more or less gone…forget the points we were now playing for what was left of our dignity. And any dignity the top 6 had left was completely shredded when Josh and James Howlett set about playing straight, preserving their wickets and pushing the singles for the next 12 overs. But unfortunately the top order had left them too much to do in too little time and eventually Josh fell trying to lift the run rate with the overs running out. Lawrence came and went but B1 steady as a rock along with Jimmy H saw the side past 112 which gave us 2 points.

What started out so promisingly ended with a whimper. Full credit to Josh and James for showing the top  order how it is done…

I’d like to say at least we got two points or blame Spainy for hanging around like some ghoulish Angel of Death, but the fact is if the batsmen had applied themselves in the same manner that the bowlers did we would have romped home. Too often we played cavalier shots and lacked a feel for the situation which really just required occupation. It shouldn’t escape that Josh and James had the highest partnership of the match and we still found a way to lose.

The bowlers were excellent, the fielding on song but the guys occupying the top 6-7 spots have to do more than set out to avoid kit packing duties.

The positive is we still have plenty of the season left but it’s a pretty empty feeling to keep losing these games we should be winning. Let’s stick together and make sure the next one counts.