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Hawkesbury 68 (D Mayes 3/8, A Boorer 3/25, B Eriksson 2/1, K Mason 2/19) defeated by OICC 4/72 (K Mason 33*, C Maconnachie 25)
Its early September, the start of the cricketing summer in Sydney, the draws have been completed for the coming season, and every cricketer in Sydney’s north quickly searches for their game vs Hawkesbury out at Benson’s Lane. Are we home or away……?
And so it was today. Away vs Hawkesbury, and so it was we were short players until the 11th hour. That being said, Bensons Lane is an awesome deck to play on and facilities are great, as well as the Hawkesbury BBQ.
A little bit of dampness beneath the surface, the toss won, and the Difference Maso decides, with 9 players, to field – better to bat 2nd on a pitch that will only get better.
With the wicket coming through really well at one end and keeping low at the other, bowling first was the right decision. Outfield was a beautiful carpet but also pretty long, so boundaries would be difficult. Other than a 6 off Mason there were 5 boundaries in the whole game.
C Mac was his usual miserly self with 0/8 from his 4, while ABs (Boorer) first 4 of 8 straight garnered 2/14. 2/23 after 8 we were looking good. Dorny Mayes then took over from C Mac and started with a wicket maiden, and also bowled his 8 straight to finish with 3/8 off 8. AB completed his 8 to have 3/25. The Difference Maso replaced Boorer and also took a wicket in his first over, bowling 5 for 2/19. Eric the Eel (Eriksson) took over from Dorny’s awesome spell and promptly cleaned up the tail, 2 for 1 from 1.5.
So, ably assisted by some very ordinary LBW decisions, a complete bowling effort supported by an excellent effort behind the stumps from Greenie and only 1 fielding error (Dorny nutmegged) Hawkesbury all out 68.
By the 6th over of our innings we were 3 for 9, having lost Wild Thing Grimes for 2, the Eel Eriksson for 5, and Nirav for 1. A few jitters, but the Difference Maso (33*) and C Mac put on a very controlled 54 run partnership.
With the score on 63, Dorny and Frawls had been padded up, a little bit nervously, for 12 overs. The comment was made to Dorny (next in) “looks like you won’t be required today, Dorny”, and Frawls proceeded to take off his pads.
If ever a batsman got cursed, it was C Mac (25) – out with 6 to get after an excellent innings. 2 singles, a 3 to Dorny and 4 to Maso to finish the game.
THE TRIP OUT TO BENSONS LANE FOR MASO’S 50TH GAME WELL WORTH IT.