If the Toos title chances were to have any hope of being re-kindled they needed to rebound quickly after a disappointing loss and very mediocre all round display against Welly’s the previous week. There were a number of notable absentees from the Toos but Dickie bolstered the team by the selection of a number of regular first team players. On paper the Toos looked strong in spite of Dickie himself succumbing to a mid week finger injury and removing himself from the line-up.
On a stinking hot afternoon, on an artificial pitch and with short boundaries and a very quick outfield, Pro Plus’ decision to put Greenies in to bat first seemed a very curious one indeed.
Steve Smith rallied the troops with a rousing call to arms: echoes of Winston Churchill meets Henry V as the team was readied for battle in robust and determined language. Concentration, focus and application were the watchwords of the day. (More of this speech below in the daily awards section).
The introduction of a fairly benign Pro Plus bowling attack did nothing to explain the decision to field either but perhaps Sam Suberan knew more about our top order’s level of hangover than we did as inexplicably we folded like a cheap suit to be 37 for 4 after 10 overs. Needless to say amongst the top four to fall was Steve Smith.
With less than 40 on the board and on a ground were 240 would be about par things did not look promising. Alex Porter and Chris Smith came together at a very difficult time and applied themselves in resolute fashion to put on about 110 in about as many balls. Alex made a gritty 50 and eventually just ran out of steam in the heat. Chris fell in the 40’s but their partnership had changed the complexion of the match.
With a relatively solid base set and with at least a target to bowl at, Dogga Dean came in at number 7 with about 9 overs to go to try and push things along and give us a proper score for the particular playing conditions of the schools ground. Dogga batted aggressively and effortlessly making 52 of 36 balls without taking too many chances. He was supported ably at the end by cameo knocks from Grover and Sam Dawson as we posted 224.
This was less than we would have hoped for at the outset but more than would have seemed possible after the top order collapse. Pro Plus left the field at the half way stage tired, hot and slightly dejected after a difficult last 30 overs in the field.
Chris Troskie took the new ball from the Hell
end. He was lively, bouncy and menacing and it was the spell of opening bowling
that he has been threatening to bowl for a while. Figures of 6 overs 3 for 23 do
not really do him justice. At the other end Sam Dawson pitched in with what can
only be described as a Jekyll and Hyde performance. His first two over spell
included 9 wides as he struggled to control the swing of the new ball. He was
quickly sent to stand in the shade at fine leg – the Hyde
spell.
Dogga bowled a typical tight and mean 6 over spell without claiming any wickets. The introduction of spin (Watto and McGrath) did not do the Greenies any favours as the ball disappeared over the short, straight boundaries with unsurprising regularity.
Pro Plus was always marginally off the pace but never quite out of it. In the end the match probably turned on two defining moments in the field. Sam Suberan was run out by a sharp, direct hit by McGrath and Chris Smith took a brilliant over the shoulder, running catch (almost colliding with the telegraph pole) to remove Pro Plus’ top scorer Jamie Weir (63).
Having enjoyed a decent rest in the shade Sam re-entered the attack. The first 3 balls of his second spell were not indicative of what lay ahead as they were dispatched around and over the boundary. But Sam composed himself and made a remarkable come back to clean up the tail finishing with 4 wickets for about 30 – the Jekyll spell.
Wicket takers: Troskie (3), Dawson (4), McGrath (2).
Pro Plus were all out for 160ish as the Toos improved their league record to two and one. After a very shaky opening 45 minutes to the game this was ultimately a solid and thorough performance and a deserved win for the Toos as they now ready themselves for a tour fixture and Big Red’s testimonial in the Brac on 26 April.
Daily awards were accompanied by “the gayest
fine bottle of all time” prepared by McGrath –
Man of the Match – Dogga Dean – performed with bat and ball
Play of the day – McGrath’s direct hit run out
COTD – Steve Smith - calling for determination, concentration, and graft and returning to the side line with his words virtually still echoing around the ground.