STUMPS

By Rog Moore

B3 Round 13 v Seaforth, Balgowlah Oval
Result: Patience! We'll know next week!
Players Player: See previous comment (or ask Hansie)
Toss: MBCC

Seaforth 168/9 (Sumpter 59, Wiles 22, Halvarsen 21, Reckerman 4-35, C.Sweet 2-46) vs Manly Breakers 37/3 (Hopper 11*, Fisher 2*) stumps day 1 of 2

Manly Breakers C1 Matt Fisher (cap), Chris Sweet (vc), Tony Brown, Ash Hopper, Rob Lavery, Al Le Marchand, James Johnston (wk), Shiven Naidoo, Ryan Reckerman, Richard Smith, Ben Stivens, Rog Moore (12th man), Unit Waugh (Unit), U.Waugh jnr (Unit jnr)

Balgowlah Oval was the scene of the first of the two day matches for 2004. It was a baking (30+oC) hot day in Sydney, so this was not the best ground to be at, since a cooling breeze certainly wasn't. That, plus the rough, slow outfield, meant the Seaforth total of 168 wasn't a bad effort, although they only slipped away from tight bowling and fielding briefly, albeit effectively, after tea.

Breakers re-claimed possible future Zimbabwean player (if injuries keep occurring) Ash Hooper to strengthen the batting, and Ryan Reckerman with the new ball. Also there for the fun were the stately presence the again un-required-as-a-player Unit Waugh, joining U.Waugh Jnr in the spectators team with Polly, Anna and Ros. Naturally, the women stayed out of the sun, proving once again who is the brighter of the species.

Winning the toss, Matt Fisher decided to bowl. The injection of Hurricane Ryan on his favourite ground, showed how wise a decision this was. Ryan removed obstacles from the previous match, openers Alexander and Fox. The smashed leg and off stumps respectively left Balgowlah at 28/2, the first one being among his best deliveries. As Rob Lavery, MBCC's resident stump destroyer was temporarily absent at the time, for a change the phrase was not literal.

Ryan reduced the Balgowlah side to 49/4 (three bowled and a marvellous caught and bowled), before having to rest in the heat. Chris "Dude" Sweet announced he'd had enough in the heat. He then promptly removed a set Halvarsen (21) with a an equally marvellous caught and bowled effort. The usual comment from some nameless ex New Zealander, "Here comes the middle ball of a hat-trick" followed. Crispy obliged by removing new batsman Harris first ball, caught by Jimmy "Stormboy" Johnston, who had a great day with the gloves.

Field all in, drum rolls, the drunks at the far end of the ground chanting... And the hat-trick ball didn't claim a wicket. Toyota. Chris decided in the circumstances another couple of overs would be on his agenda.

Tony Brown's tight bowling then struck a blow for the Breakers when batsman Wiles went for a pull shot, missed, and received a blow in the reproductive equipment. Not to be outdone, Breakers' Rog Moore, a veteran of this rather silly game of low blow entertainment, promptly mis-fielded at gully, and put his "body" on the line to stop the ball. Breakers 1, Seaforth 1.

Although he recovered to hit the next ball over long off Wiles (22) was out soon after, skying to Richo "Boof" Smith who took the second highest catch of the season (behind Matty Phillips' effort at Newport a few weeks back).

Meanwhile, the real game continued when Al Lemarchand, destroyer (well, wounder anyway) of Cromer a few weeks back, came on to bowl. Briefly topping the bowling stats, Al was evidently marked as a danger man this time. Sumpter chanced his arm and took 16 runs of Big Al's 3rd over, including several divets on the gold course. At that point, tea was taken and a lot of well earned fluid consumed.

After tea Seaforth got away a little, scoring quickly. Chris Sweet took over from Jimmy Johnston as keeper with a solid display. Jimmy's had to leave early, meaning Matt Fisher only had to puzzle about what to do with 11 fielders briefly, as Stivo had just arrived a couple of overs earlier.

Back to the old game plan, and innings over. Seaforth survived a few more overs from Typhoon Reckerman (who finished early, with 4/35), hit some quick runs (including more WMDs at the golfers) before Shiven Naidoo finished off the innings via an excellent catch by Stivo (I think). 168 all out was possibly worth more due the outfield, and excellent Breakers fielding. The only Team Fine this week being a disputed one (well, disputed by C.Sweet) for, um, Chris Sweet after bowling a no-ball which would have been a wicket - and a third catch for Richo.

Poor Shivs then discovered the hazards of opening the batting. Wiles delivered the perfect first ball (hate it when...), Naidoo had to play and he was caught in the slips. Ash Hooper made his way to the middle and promptly received several similar balls. Ash and Tony Brown dug in as the infamous Balgowlah pitch played it's usual trick - same ball, same spot on pitch, three different results. Ash and Wiles had words (not unplesantly so) after several off the pitch balls came back to narrowly miss his head - which lets face it, with Ash's height takes some doing.

Seaforth bowled well, Breakers losing Brown (11, at 22) and Smith (3) as both had dug in rough batting conditions. Captain Matt Fisher (2 not out) came in and batted out the day with Ash (11 not out), leaving Breakers to 132 win with 7 wickets in hand. Next week should be exciting. Though being cheerful biased about it, the scribe would settle for incredibly boring and a Breaker's victory. Golfers, hopefully, beware.