Unley Cricket Club

Match Report Round 10, v Golden Grove – Away

Unley took on Golden Grove, in the longest drive of the year (Harpers Field), needing an outright win to have a chance of making the finals.

We were dealt a blow on Selection night, with Benny Barratt (our highest run scorer and wicket taker) being called up to the B’s in their bid to avoid relegation.

This meant Saf was stand in captain & he proceeded to win the toss & decide to bat on one of the strangest pitches seen in recent times (a combination of dirt & rolled in grass).
Saf & Bowny opened up (as Morris was running late) & Saf tried to run himself out 1^st ball, but was soon dismissed LBW for 2. Hoggy went soon after in similar fashion & when Nobby Kemp was squared up & well caught at slip, we were 3/14 & looking down the barrel.
Fortunately, Morris & James Quire then really knuckled down & built an innings. Both of them proving strong on the drive.
It was a real surprise then, when James got out, caught at mid off for 23, but the pair has put on 54 together.
Tommy Wilkins came & went for 1 then Jake Lowe had a brain fade, smashing a full toss straight to mid on (first ball). Lenny & Morris then held firm, but at tea we were already 6/87.
Immediately at the resumption, Morris’ innings came to an end, but he had put on 37 & faced 115 balls (probably as many as the rest of us combined).
Late on Mav came in and hit a boundary laden 22 to get us past the 100, whilst Lenny went for 6 & Beetle 0. Matty Gray was again denied a 50, being stranded on 2*
In the end we made a paltry 112 in 46 overs, meaning we had to bowl 23 at the end of the day.
Whilst the bowling was tight, none of us looked particularly dangerous & they closed at 1/43.

At the start of the 2^nd Saturday we lost J-low, with a buttock related injury. So we knew it would be hard to get the 9/69 (or less) required for victory.
Mav & Matty Gray opened up & both bowled well without looking penetrative. As Golden Grove moved to within sight of victory we opted for the spin twins, Lenny Cohen & Nathan ‘Beetle’ Crossman. Both immediately looked dangerous, with Beetle getting a wicket in his first over (well stumped by Hoggy!), whilst Lee took 2 in 4 overs to have Golden Grove at 4/86 at one stage.
Unfortunately we then grassed 3 chances (all difficult) and they passed us 4 down.
At that point we really took our foot off the accelerator & paid the price. 2 Grove batsmen made 70’s as we struggled to stem the tide.
We eventually bowled them out for 259, Matty Gray bowled a marathon 22 overs, 6 maidens, 1/40, Beetle took 1/54 off 12 (he bowled better than the figures suggest), whilst Lee Cohen was dangerous all day with 3/59 off 16 overs with 5 maidens. Saf cleaned up the tail claiming 3/31.
The bowlers who didn’t get a wicket were Mav (9 overs 0/22), Nobby Kemp (5 overs, 0/21) & Morris 1100, 1 over for 1.
Disappointing result, only 1 game to go for the season & not much to play for other than pride.

Saf

C Grade match Report – Round 9 vs Woodville Rech away.

The C’s this week took on Woodie Rech’s in a must win game, with both teams sitting just outside the top 4, a win could propel us into finals reckoning, whilst a loss could end our season.

Benny won the toss (finally) and decided to bat on what looked like a magnificent track. Nobby Kemp & Morris ‘1100’opened up & when the first ball was dispatched for 4 I thought this would be our day. 10 balls later, with Nobby and Chad both gone for ducks we were in trouble.
Dicko & Morris then decided to live charmed lives (both being dropped in the slips), as the Woodville bowling was accurate & probing, but as time wore on they both started to come to terms with it.
It was disappointing then that Dicko was run out for 20 pushing for 3. It was Dicko’s call, he called loudly ‘Yes’ but for some reason Morris just stopped & looked the other way, resulting in both boys being at the same end & the simplest of run outs being effected.
Morris was soon dismissed for a workman-like 27 & at 4/58 we could have been in real trouble.
Benny & J-Lo though had different plans, as both of them put on the accelerator until Jake was dismissed for 28, but the partnership had been 57 in quick time.
Soon after, Benny fell for 40 (mostly scored in 4’s & 6’s), but Tommy Wilkins & Justin Bailey continued the mood, with Tommy making an entertaining 27 & Bails remained undefeated on 25*. Unfortunately the tail (Jonny & Saf) weren’t quite in the same league & the last 2 overs we struggled to score.
In the end though 8/175 wasn’t a bad score & it was certainly defendable.

We opened up with Sam ‘Sgt’ Schulz and Jonny ‘Perth’ Aspin (who lived up to his nickname by being 2 hrs late), but neither one of them really found their rhythm. Saf followed up Schulz, but was equally ineffective as Woodie Rech’s openers really got off to a flyer. It took the captain Benny to finally get the breakthrough, but by then they were 1/80 & cruising to victory.
Benny then brought J-Low on to bowl & from the outset he was on the target. Soon the runs began to dry up & Benny soon had a 2^nd wicket.
Dicko came on for a rare bowl and was immediately dispatched for 2 6’s, the punt soon paid off though, as the next 2 balls were wickets.
In the end though, they passed us with 10 balls to go. The fight back in the 2^nd half of our fielding stint was excellent, but we’d lost the game in the first 15 overs in the field.
Pick of the bowling was Jake Low who finished with 0/23 off 9 (2 maidens), and barely bowled a bad ball. Benny also bowled well, with 2/42, whilst Dicko & Saf also claimed 2 wickets each.
Very disappointing result in the end though, as our finals hopes now rest with other teams losing.
Still need a win against cellar dwellers Golden Grove, to give ourselves the slightest sniff.

Saf.

Unley C1's vs Hectorville @ Away – Round 7

We rocked up to Norwood-Morialta HS confident as we had a strong team - the additions of Ben McConnell for his first game of the season and Luke Kirkbright down from the B's to get some overs under his belt had me quite excited. We were confronted by potentially the worst pitch I have seen, when there should have been no excuse from the conditions. I have played on better tracks that Dad has mowed me in the backyard, but regardless I was to bat if we had won the toss - it wasn't gonna get any better. As is becoming habit-forming, I lost the toss, and the other captain had ideas to match mine, he elected to bat.
With two wickets for just one run in the first four overs, I was beginning to think it was a good toss to lose. Hectorville did put on a bit of a fightback with some streaky boundaries, and their number three clocking Morris in the head with a cover drive (to which Morris stood his ground and
glared). But when the captain fell to a great catch by Morris in close, the precession resumed. Excellent bowling, great fielding and one of the sharpest stumpings I have seen (Benny standing up to Jake Lowe) has us roll through them, and we had them 7 for 60-odd at tea - Kirky with 4, J-Lowe with 2 and 1 to Saf. Just prior to tea, we lost Beetle to a freak accident at gully where his knee, and his bodyweight (what little of it there is) landed on his foot - how this actually happened I'm not too sure. But Beetle had to leave the field not to return, and we were reduced to ten. 2 wickets in the first over after tea and Hectorville were reeling. Kirky missed a couple of chances before finally snaring his 5th wicket in a great performance - he finished with 5 for 18 off 17 overs. He was helped by Mav who was unlucky to go wicketless, J-Lowe with 2/12 off 10, the miserly Saf with 1/6 off 6 and myself who snagged 1/12 off 6. We had 24 overs to bat, and started off slowly, but solid enough until the 10th over. Between the 10th and the 12th over we lost 3 for 2 leaving us in big trouble at 3/12 off 12. I joined Benny at the crease, and tried to get out, but was dropped, but then Ben and I forged a partnership that lasted until stumps. We finished day 1 on 3 for 50, with Ben McConnell making it look very easy. Day 2 started badly with the news that Tommy Wilkins and Beetle would be unavailble to bat, and Morris was also unable to attend (although he had already batted). It didn't get much better with myself going reasonably early. Jake came in, and he and Benny got us past the target - the win was ours. We continued on, and while batsmen fell from one end, Benny made the minefield look like Adelaide Oval at the other. After we lost our 8th and final wicket, we were 160 - Benny scoring the biggest chunk, and his maiden ton with 109 not out. Next top scorer was extras with 11. We went out to bowl needing 10 wickets for 88 or less off 44 overs to
secure the outright victory - a tough ask with just 9 fielders (including Fabes who substituted). We pressed on regardless, chopping and changing the attack regularly, and wickets came at a steady pace. We ended up snaring all ten in 42 overs, but alas Hectorville had made 91... and the time was 5:21, so with the ten minute changeover, the game was over. A gallant second innings fight for Hectorville, but a very polished and impressive performance from Unley... 3 minutes short of victory. Luke Kirkbright was magnificent, with match figures of 9 for 30 off 28 overs... incredible, at times he was unplayable. Saf, Mav and Leigh Cohen provided excellent second innings support.
A good win, and now within sight of the top 4... a good result is needed at home against SPOC this week. Fire up lads

Your skipper

Benn Barratt

Unley C1's vs Grange @ Away – Round 5

The C's took on Grange, at Grange Number 2 oval (with creek & waders) in what was to be a One Day game due to the test last week. As so often happens, the dramas began well before the game, with our 2 strike bowlers both being late withdrawals, Sam Shulz being promoted to the B's, whilst Beachy was in hospital Friday night with appendicitis. After calling half the club, Benny was left to enlist 2 of his mates for their first games for Unley (and first for 11 years), Pete 'Vettori' Tuppin & Shaun 'Southee' Nalder. In addition to this, Douggy Stevens & Jonny Aspin were welcomed back for their first games for the season. In wet & Cloudy conditions, Ben did the right thing & won the toss & we had a bowl.

Perth Aspin & Saf opened up with Saf getting a breakthrough in his 1st over & Jonny was keeping it tight at the other end when the rain began to come down, fortunately we stayed on the ground. Saf was able to then claim another wicket after an excellent 1 handed catch from 'MTV' Wilkins, whilst Jonny proceeded to bowl 4 maidens on the trot & drop a one hander of his own in the slippery conditions. At the half way point Grange had battled to 2/40 before Benny made an inspired move. With no other recognised seamers in the team, Odd's came on to replace Saf.. His first over brought back memories of a middle aged Rick Bowyer, with 2 wides, 2 no balls & the crucial wicket of the Grange opener (who before that had looked very solid). Benny came on to replace Jonny & extracted huge amounts of turn, but Shoab Odlum again got the important breakthrough to keep Grange at 4/75. Beetle then came on & with the spinners bowling in tandem, we created many chances without gaining a breakthrough, as an extremely plucky young batsman from Grange & his senior partner dug their heels in. Shaun Nalder replaced Ben for 2 overs & really showed some promise, before Saf & Jonny were given the final overs. In the end Grange had worked extremely hard for 5/130 in difficult conditions. Saf claimed 3/28, whilst Odd's was the surprise packet with 2/17 off 5 entertaining overs.. Jonny and Beetle both bowled superbly & had catches dropped finishing with economical figures of 0/22 (9 overs, 4 maidens) and 0/18 off 6, whilst Benny was 0/33 & Shauny 0/4 off 2 were the other bowlers used. In the field, Pete Tuppin was handing out a clinic to the more experienced fielders & is surely already a standout for the coveted captain’s award.

At the break, as if by magic, the sun came out & for the 2nd time in successive matches we'd got the better of the conditions. Odds & Saf opened up & both looked comfortable until Odd's went to leave one & inside edged it onto his stumps, whilst James 'Catholic Boys' Quire continued his horror run, out for not many. Douggy came in for his first bat of the year & despite not timing the ball at all, steadied the ship, only for Saf to run himself out for 20 soon after. Captain Barratt was next in & after hitting a couple of 4's was gone for 10 & at that point the game was evenly poised with Unley 4/75. Tommy 'Richard' Wilkins then came in wielding a broken Albion bat & within the space of 5 overs, him & Douggy had taken the game by the scruff of the neck. With Douggy smashing 4's square & Wilko hitting long & straight, we passed Grange's score with about 7 overs to play. The boys batted on, with Wilko hitting a sublime 60 (out in the last over) & Douggy undefeated on 79* (Jonny made 1 not out). In the end, a good win, even with the favourable conditions. Nice one boys.

Saf

Unley C1's vs Modbury @ Home - Round 4

The C's took on Modbury in a must win game, with both teams languishing at the bottom of the Ladder.

As per usual, there were numerous changes to the line-up, but prior to the game, Captain Barratt was pretty happy with his side.

The first Saturday was one of those perfect days for cricket, nice & warm & just a gentle breeze… Benny did the right thing & won the toss & we had a bat on what looked like an excellent deck.

Odds & Saf opened up & were ticking along nicely before Saf left one that nipped back & was clean bowled, James came & went quickly, lobbing a pull shot to mid on & when Odds was trapped in front for an elegant 19 we'd slumped to 3/32. Chad & Ben began to steady the ship, before Chad was surprisingly caught for 7, but this brought the barnacle Brad Bown to the crease. Brad & Benny weathered the storm & started to look comfortable against the Modbury mediums and had made a 50+ partnership coming in to tea & with the score at 4/100 things were evenly poised.

The first over after the break Brad had an error in judgement against the spinner & was bowled around his legs for a patient 17. At this point Modbury really could have finished us off, but Tom (Richard) Wilkins came in & attacked from the outset & with Benny firing off all cylinders at the other end, Unley started to take the ascendancy as both batsmen hit over the infield & the 4's & 6's started to flow.

Benny brought up his second ton for Unley with a rare 2, but was then out soon after for an exciting 108, laden with boundaries, the partnership was nearly 100.

Lee Cohen came in & and immediately hit a boundary, and then Tom inexplicably ran himself out for 41. Beetle & Beachy both were out cheaply, but our newly demoted number 11 Sam Schulz showed no fear as he slashed his way to 16. Lee was the not out batsman on 18 as we made 250, being bowled out in the 60th over.

Modbury decided not to bat, so we adjourned for an early beer relatively happy with the day.

The 2nd Saturday came & conditions were less than perfect, with showers the night before, there was some debate as to whether we'd play at all. In the end, the captains agreed to delay the start (I think by one hour), but the Unley pitch had actually held up extremely well, whilst the outfield was dry.

These were always going to be tough conditions to bat on for Modbury, with wind & cloud cover helping the bowlers, but the 2 openers did an excellent job blunting our attack of Beachy & Sgt Schulz.

Just before the drinks break Saf was brought on to relieve Shulzy & 1st ball was edged to slip in slow motion, but was grassed by the captain. Benny & Beetle then tackled each other for another drop (this time of Beachy), before the unluckiest man in cricket had yet another dropped off his bowling. Finally a little luck went our way, as Saf had one caught in close on the leg side. Beachy was continuing a massive 15 over spell & was finally rewarded for his efforts with 2 quick wickets to have Modbury under pressure at 3/50.

The Modbury number's 4 & 5 though steadied the ship & pushed the score to 100. Benny rung the changes, giving himself a short & unsuccessful bowl, before bringing Lee Cohen on who claimed an important wicket in his 1st over.

After the break, Benny made his most important decision of the game, bringing the Sergeant back on with the wind behind him. Sammy was almost unplayable in this 2nd spell, claiming his 1st senior wicket for the club, closely followed by 3 more.

When he'd finished his mandatory 8 overs, he’d claimed 4/27 (Off 15) & Beetle & Saf were left to clean up the tail.

Modbury had fought hard in making 177 in tough conditions, but the Unley boys bowled well. Beetle claimed 1/1 off 1.1, Lee had 1/19 off 7, while Beachy managed 2/43 off 17 & Saf was expensive bowling into the gale with 2/58 off 16.

Man of the match was probably Benny, but young Sam was the hero for the day… 1st win for the C's… Let’s get a few more.

Contact