STUMPS-The Lavery Letter

23th June 2007
Divison 4, Round 05, 20007
Manly Breakers: Manly Breakers v Edgemasters B (Moore Park 12)
Match summary: MBCC 248/8 beat Edgemasters B 198
Result: VI.SA won
Toss won by: VI.SA


Rob's pre-match musings

Rob

Edgemasters Caught - And Caught Short - at Moore Park
by Rog Moore

The successful Manly Breakers mid-season overseas tour (well, we crossed the Harbour Bridge) continued, defeating Edgemasters B in a game the erudite Breakers captain described as won by excellent catching.

A hiccup early on was the unavailability of Guna, who injured his neck in the gym.

  • Or, "A pain in the neck Guna couldn't play".
  • Or, Or, if you prefer, "A pain in the neck. Guna Couldn't Play".
    • The late inclusion was Richard "Boof" Smith, who should have known he was tempting fate by emailing "It’s winter. No cricket." earlier that week. While Richo made a duck, it hardly mattered, as he performed his other role as "banker" to perfection, sharing 3 catches.

    A fairly minor second change was moving the game from Tempe to Moore Park. Something about not wanting to have to write a rulebook for "Underwater Cricket", apparently.

    Saturday morning dawned fine and cold. Beanies were the standard attire, and the road boundary was ridiculously short. After an eventful trip for five players, which answered the age-old question "how many cricketers, cricket coffins and team cricket gear[1] can you fit into one car", discussions about American alcoholic beverages and small boring tools, Rob Lavery won the toss and elected to bat after the three week break (Moore Park Winter Comp being sensible, and not playing over holiday weekends).
    [1](minus the stumps - hang your head, Rog Moore)

    Rob decided to open the batting with the slightly in form Oli Thomas, announced to his partner they would take it easy. After failing to score off the first delivery of the game (no-one can say he didn’t try though), Rob "Lavery Nurdled" 15 runs off the first over. A casual 72 run stand for the first wicket, at an acceptable 12 runs an over, and then well into the century before the first wicket fell. Rob and Oli happily smashed 40s, with lots of boundaries and some running between the wickets so slick that speed cameras were being set off.

    Edgemaster Gardner caused a momentary halt to proceedings, removing Bally (two boundaries and out), and Richo to claim a double wicket maiden (whoops...) Lloyd Walker and Wallace Footrot Sweet, tall and short, took the Breakers to a tenuous position at tea, with a run rate below double figures. In that time, a bloke called Kumar couldn’t decide which game to play in - bowling one over, then leaving to bat on the next ground. Hopefully his calling while batting is better, for his partner's sake.

    Mittens fell after the interval, however Rum Rebellion veteran Sweet rolled back the clock (and scared a few birds, pedestrians and trees) with rollicking 35. With Oli and Rob still on hand, the remaining Breakers batsmen hit and ran at everything. Fish (13), Skid (his highest winter tally of 23, including a massive straight hit six) and Mr Bond (a desperate 15, including a failure to hit a free delivery and being bowled with the bails refusing to budge) attacked happily, also known as "batting in the highlights' package".

    A few wickets claimed by the Edges may not have worked in their favour. Oli and Rob returned, with the skipper reaching his fifty first, and Oli remaining unbeaten and top scoring for the second match in a row, as the tourists reached 248/8.

    Although opener Gowrisankar was effective in reply with 27, the Edgemasters elected to get the runs in 10 overs or get out. Reunited opening bowlers Sweet (3-52) and Fish (2-44) held their nerve in the onslaught, and the Breakers, led by Richo, held their catches. Fresh from his excellent batting, Oli, loving playing cricket, producing a stunning chase and drive on the fence to claim an excellent catch off Fopper (I think. Yes, occasionally I do think).

    The Edgemasters never stopped chasing, last man Venkat adding a 50 to his (probably too late) bowling of 2-15 . After the Edgemasters got too close, big guns Lloyd and Rob retuned to the crease, Laves finishing things off with a dead centre LWB as his side held on (mainly catches) to win by 50 runs. Rob was player’s player, Oli again finishing in the placings, and Mrs Ball got to see her son playing in another winning cricket match.

    TLG, TLF, A-OK and other postive acronyns. And well done Angivan, for staying in the cold to support us, and pass on tips about the best suburbs in Sydney for various food!!!!!


    Rob's (w)Rap Howdy,



    Rob

    TLG, TLF, etc.