DAY 1: MBCC won the toss and were all out for 308.
Lead imperially by Lloyd Walker's steel-and-style maiden MBCC century, and a club record 6^th wicket stand with Dave Elliott, the Breakers created a huge fortress of strength in the first of two critical (and grudge) matches for the 2006/07 season.

It's always dangerous to declare victory after the first day of battle (see any number of real-world battles for examples), so we won't. Still the B3s certainly hold the high ground. By batting all day, and reaching 300-plus on a pitch when 200 would have been good and 250 extremely difficult, The Breakers team, initially dogged and then during the sixth wicket utterly brilliant, now have all of day 2 to establish a first innings win (and, dare we hope, an possible outright one). The day was hot, the ground gave value for shots (amazingly, for a desert), and captain Rob Lavery felt vindicated after winning the coin toss and batting.

Collaroy and Manly Breakers share sponsors (Go the Brookvale Hotel!), stories over beers, and even players (on the Ashes tour 2006/06). However, this was destined to be a critical encounter, as both table position, and bragging rights in The Bar on offer. As well as probably the most queasy trophy ever seen in the sporting world.

After a two week break due to the erroneous (and annoying) B3 grade bye, the latest B3 team was exceptionally strong in batting, although with gun bowler, the multi-nicknamed Chris Sweet, resting. Now established opening pair Jimmy Johnston and Angavin Gunasehar took the stage and a slow packed wicket. Pelican, serene and secure against the fast bowling of the last few matches, found problems with the deceptive left arm spin-seam of Bruchand. An excellent delivery was nicked to slip, and #3 Fisher walked out un-expectedly early with the score at 3/1.

Jimmy's departure was a huge departure from recent B3 scripts, in terms of time batting and runs scored. The Breakers batsmen worked very hard on a wicket where the ball never quite "arrived". Angivn (21 including three boundaries), Fish 27 (four 4s) and Capt'n Lavery (16 runs, all in boundaries) all got starts, and then fell to Ireland, trapped by the slow arrival of the ball as well as the effectiveness of Collaroy's opening bowlers. Lloyd Walker started brightly, and looked secure after what was to prove a critical miss at first slip. However at 80/4, a rebuilding of the innings was needed.

Stabilisation came in the fortified (well, carbonated) form of Richo Smith. A patient Boof was prepared to wait and attack, and his frustration at getting out just before tea for a stabilising and critical 22 featuring more singles than usual, in a stand of 57 with Lloyd, was obvious. At least one of his nameless team mates (Al) should have recognised this.

At tea, and with the score at 137/5, the match was still in the balance. At this point, a score of 200 seemed useful and realistic. After tea, and a changed ball just before after the seam went, the steam came back into the Breakers, courtesy of Dave Elliot and Mittens Walker.

Lloyd Walker: Imperial maiden century for the Breakers

After that early chance sharp slip chance, Lloyd "Mittens" Walker settled in with a class innings, surely equal to anything seen this season. With shots everywhere, and particularly productive flicks off his legs and well weighted on-drives to exploit a slightly too deep off-side field, Mittens was immovable to shift, and preputial motion on the scorecard. Wearing a non-Breakers cap he'll no doubt be reluctant to lose when the official ones eventually become available, he reached his second 50 of the season, and moved deceptively quickly towards his maiden century.

Dave Elliott: Hard hitting 59 in a record stand

Dave Elliot's contribution, equally important in the record 122 run stand for the 6th wicket, was muscular and watchful. Batting well down the wicket, to the Shane Warne-ish howls of tireless Collaroy bowler Horstead for LBW (none were close), and hitting two 6s and seven 4s, he helped Lloyd add a record 122 runs for the sixth wicket. As the heat bore down and the bowlers tired, there were too many short pitched deliveries, and both batsmen cashed in after absorbing the early threats.

After a loud appeal for a catch that bounced in front of the keeper (who sport-manly admitted he wasn't sure it had carried), Lloyd late cut, and ran the two runs needed to being up his century. Unsure of his score - some boundary calls had been in dispute throughout the day - he was, indeed, on 101. (Fish and Legoman had re-counted and checked the scores very carefully to be sure). Hitting out, Lloyd was eventually well caught deep on 111, off the persevering Horstead. Lloyd's score of "Nelson" (if we were English) was far more unlucky for Collaroy than the batsman, unlike the superstition, and had lead his side from an each-way tea position to a dominant 259/6.

The last choice bowlers had success, both from the continuing difficulties on the wicket and the simple virtues of actually bowling on length and straight. The Breakers crept closer to the wall of 300, in progress of two steps forward (vital runs) and one half step back (wickets falling as described). DC picked the right ball to hit except it didn't arrive, and Northy fell LBW, both scoring 5.

Number 11 Al Lemarchand sensibly and termitiously kept out the two remaining deliveries of the 65th over, thereby ensuring the Breakers would not have to fling the leather at Collaroy this week. Doug Alley promptly smashed a 6, bring up the psychological barrier of 300 runs.

Bring It On week 2.