Without the stats to back it up there may be a couple figures quoted that won’t be believed but we had a comprehensive victory over a very pedestrian Paramount side by 169 runs at JPO.

Batting first on a typically stinking hot day in West Bay, we were restricted in the first 10 overs with some honest, if not very threatening bowling. Paul fell pushing the pace with a skied pull shot, then I fell over without facing a ball with a quad strain, but was rewarded with Rups younger legs and a barrage of waist high full tosses that were paddled to the fence. Tommy ran up 59 with some fine strokes and plenty of legwork. Rups limped off after prompting from the opposition (and later bowled like a demon) so Joe could have a nice run around in the sun. I brought up 50 before being caught by alligator jaw man in the deep (same man who dropped 4 other catches and every ball passed to him on the way back to the bowler) so I was none to thrilled when it was so easy with Margison doing the running. Jacko and Ledge made smaller contributions so the projected score we were looking for of 225 was still some way off and the door was open for a collapse.

Not to be as Smith no doubt inspired by his mentor Cuffy’s appearance earlier belted a huge 6 early on and followed later with another to make a rapid 30 odd, but Margison stole the show after talking it up as a specialist batsman blazing 47 off 25 balls with 4 sixes. The highlight was firmly standing his ground after nicking one through to the keeper which was heard in the stands. Then, as if to vindicate the appeal was invalid, he flat-batted a full toss over the ropes to square leg. Rups even avoided the fine bottle and with a last dash between McGrath and Red we reached an imposing 279 on a slow outfield off the allotted 48 overs.

Colless bowled his spell of the season taking 3-12 off 5 fast and furious overs which also included a slower ball which rattled the ducking batsman on the helmet and I dunno how it was not out LBW. Rups was even quicker at the other end picking up another wicket and the match was for the best part a foregone conclusion. Special mention for Jacko’s catch at second slip off Colless’ bowling - the ball was really flying and well brought in. Wickets fell steadily caught Colless bowled Ledge while McGrath, after settling in, mesmerized away at the other end taking 3 for. As if it wasn’t hot enough and we were not thirsty enough or bored shitless by some dogged defence from the tailenders there was only one thing left to do to liven things up and that was bring on a particularly quiet Big Red who duly did not fail in an over (or 2) that had everything except a wicket and a vehement self sledge in the square leg umpire's direction. With Margison warming his shoulders, McGrath decided he could stay away from the Heinekens no longer and mopped it up – all out for 110.

Fine session as always would have made for quality reality TV viewing which spilled over to Stingers. Tommy was naked in the ice bin and we had a newly crowned rum bong champion - a 50+ year old woman. I believe the mop was also called for later. A good time had by all.


League Div I Village Greenies 1 v Paramount XI
Sunday, July 01 2007 (11:22) at Jimmy Powell Oval
Village Greenies 1 Won By 169 runs
Village Greenies 1 won toss and decided to bat
T Stephens+ c D O'Connor b A Plowright 59
P Monico c L Smith b P Buchanan 7
S Watson* c J Shirley b A Plowright 54
M Jackson b A Plowright 24
C Smith c L Watson b B Thomas 33
A Ledger c K Dilchand b P Buchanan 7
J Margison c K Dilchand b D O'Connor 47
R Bool not out 18
S O'Connor c D O'Connor b B Thomas 3
D McGrath not out 5
Extras b5 lb3 w13 nb1 pen0 22
Total (48.0 overs) 279
 
1-33 2-112 3-149 4-176 5-189 6-227 7-259 8-271 9- 10-
 
Bowler O M R W Wd Nb
J Shirley 5.0 2 16 0 2 (3) 1 (1)
M Reid 5.0 0 25 0 1 (1) 0 (0)
K Dilchand 5.0 0 15 0 0 (0) 0 (0)
P Buchanan 6.0 0 35 2 3 (3) 0 (0)
A Plowright 10.0 0 40 3 0 (0) 0 (0)
K Morrison 7.0 0 60 0 2 (2) 0 (0)
D O'Connor 5.0 0 33 1 2 (4) 0 (0)
D McInnis 2.0 0 19 0 0 (0) 0 (0)
B Thomas 3.0 0 28 2 0 (0) 0 (0)
 
K Morrison c M Jackson b M Colless 2
D McInnis*+ c P Monico b M Colless 6
M Reid lbw b M Colless 21
A Plowright c M Colless b A Ledger 11
L Watson c S Watson b R Bool 1
J Shirley c M Colless b A Ledger 1
K Dilchand c J Margison b D McGrath 10
D O'Connor c M Colless b M Jackson 10
B Thomas not out 11
L Smith c A Ledger b D McGrath 6
P Buchanan c M Jackson b D McGrath 4
Extras b4 lb3 w19 nb1 pen0 27
Total (28.2 overs) 110
 
1-5 2-23 3-43 4-44 5-53 6-62 7-78 8-81 9-92 10-110
 
Bowler O M R W Wd Nb
R Bool 8.-5 1 28 1 6 (6) 0 (0)
M Colless 5.0 0 12 3 0 (0) 0 (0)
A Ledger 4.0 0 14 2 1 (1) 0 (0)
D McGrath 7.2 1 27 3 5 (6) 0 (0)
M Jackson 4.0 0 11 1 1 (1) 0 (0)
S O'Connor 1.0 0 11 0 5 (5) 1 (1)
 
Weather: Sunny Pitch: Hard
Scorers: I Bugess R Sawle-Thomas