CLASSICS vs GEORGES RIVER 26/10/2025

OICC 177 defeated by Georges River 7/181

A very disappointing loss with a steady flow of early wickets to be 4/44 after 10, with Lanham (0), Craig Bomber Mackenzie (8), Neil Painter McLeod (4), Steve Sloppy Geyer (14), looking great once again, but cleaned up leaving one that jagged back in.

Nick The Chairman Garling (48) produced one of those innings we’ve seen so often, carving out 30 off 14 balls to get back to the shed, while Frawls (5) also departed to a shocking shot to put us in a terrible position at 5/61 after 14.

Mick Toal (26) & Rav Hybrid Goradia (36*) steadied the ship and pushed us to 98 at the 20th over drinks break. Rav got back in the shed, and Toalie just fell short of 30.

Zelly (17) played a sweet cameo with 4 boundaries to keep our score ticking along, with Nick B1 Buttsy Butler (8) & Gordon Salier (2) rounded out our batting before Garlo and Rav returned to the wicket.

They managed to put on a further 30 before Garlo was dismissed on 48 LBW to a bottom edge, and Rav to finish an excellently controlled innings on 36*, with 8 overs to spare.

Congratulations to Garlo who became the 2nd player to bring up 2000 runs for the Redmen Veterans. Excellent effort Garlo.

177 on Ryde’s quick outfield was probably was never going to be enough, but all our bowlers did an excellent job, and kept us in the game the whole 40 overs.

Buttsy (3/29) bowled an excellent 8 straight overs to remove 3 of their first 4 batsmen, and we got a run out to Steve Sloppy Geyer with a direct hit, to have them 4/48 off 12, (We were 4/48 off 11) so we were definitely in the game.

They got 2 back in the shed, and Zelly (0/33 off 8) ably supported Buttsy from the other end with 27 dot balls.

Neil (0/26) & Gordo (0/22) both bowled well keeping the game within our grasp, and they went to the 20 over drinks break at 4/88, needing 90 of the last 20.

Rav (2/33) continued his excellent form with the bat, bowling beautifully to keep the runs in check, supported by the run miser Toalie (1/33).

They needed 48 off the last 10, and were literally crawling to the target, requiring 19 from 3. Unfortunately they threw the long handle at it in the 3rd last over, then only requiring 6 off the last 2 overs, and alas, they won the game with 4 balls to spare.

Again, excellent work behind the stumps from Bomber, with an excellent day with the gloves, and The Chairman Garlo, a sharp catch at 1st slip, with Steve Geyer rounding out our fielding efforts, and just like Garlo, showing the benefits of our pre-season juggling training.