Unley Cricket Club

B Grade Report Round 9 - Unley v Goodwood

The B Grade left the leafy surrounds of Kingswood to take on top four side Goodwood. About 10 minutes before the start of the game we were waiting to see if the Maestro of Spin would arrive. Anyway he eventually did after having been to Marion and Kingswood before eventually finding Goodwood oval - not bad for a bloke that until recently was living around the corner from the oval. Mmm end of season fine pending.

The captaincy hot seat fell to Burts this week - the fourth captain in as many games. On a hot day we won the toss and decided to have a bat. Opening the batting was the whore "Nick Hussey" and Paul Dickson who got us of to a solid start. Soon after drinks Hussey went for 22 for an opening partnership of 22. Next Riggles came in made 19, looking solid as ever and then the Rock of Gibraltar aka "Dicko" was joined by James Rutter in his second B grade game. At this stage Dicko had gotten of the mark and was starting to score singles more regularly and we went into tea at a very satisfying 2/80 with Dicko on 8. After tea the boys upped the tempo before Rutts was out for 23 and a collapse followed Wilb 5, Burts back from the A's a duck and Deany "see my legs" also a duck before Dicko fell for 33. Now in trouble at 7/115 Dr Phil and young Mike Tyson Smith put on a very good partnership before the Doctor fell for 32. Mike went on to make 38 and we were dismissed for 195.

On the second week we needed a very disciplined bowling performance against a good batting line up. We opened with the Doctor and as captain Burts also took the option of opening the bowling (after all no-one else is going to let him take the new ball - new captain next game). Both bowlers put in good spells without success before Burts finally replaced himself with Beachy, who was playing his first B Grade game since coming back from Cairns. Beachy took a wicket with his first ball to rub it into Burts and Mike Tyson taking the ball from the other end also got an early wicket. The opposition progressed slowly and when the Doctor taking the ball again after Mike completely his spell got the opposition captain out with a ripper and with Beachy pocketing the wicket of new batsman Stagg they went into tea at around 4/90, evenly poised. Early wickets after tea to Beachy (getting Unley team of the Century all-rounder Jim Llewelyn) and the Doctor came on for his third spell ripped out another wicket they were 6/120. A 30 run stand was broken by Beachy getting his fourth wicket and 7/150. There number nine came in and made a streaky 33 and was dismissed two runs short of the target and they finished the day at 8/198.

Overall it was a very good bowling performance but not enough runs were made. Doctor Phil was the pick of the bowlers with 2/30 from 21 overs. Beachy took 4/84 of 25. Mike Tyson Smith 2/27 of 11. Cohen also sent down 6 overs for 0/14. I can't talk about Burts (0/40 to go with his duck). The boys will definitely have to win one, if not both of the remaining games to avoid relegation now - it's all about results.

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