A GRADE: DOGS BEAT THE HEAT
North 2/142 (Jurd 90*, Bomford 31) defeated Central 6/106 (Skinner 50*, Vella 2/16) by 36 runs
It was an absolutely sweltering 41 degrees when the players arrived at the Jubilee Oval for the Round 7 clash against the Pies. Only the bravest of supporters battled the heat with most (very smartly) choosing to catch the game via Frogbox from their air-conditioned lounge rooms. Due to the temperature, the game was shortened to a T20 to ensure none of the players ended up with heat stroke.
Central skipper Jarred Paull won the bat toss and elected to have a bowl on a wicket that was extremely hard to bat on early, with some variable bounce early causing the batsmen some drama.
Opener Riley Bomford at one stage screamed fearfully at his teammates to deliver him a helmet after one went fizzing past his head. Luckily, Riley kept his head – but he did lose his opening partner in Luke Hall (six) after a leading edge was snaffled up by Jones at short cover.
This bought Ben Jurd to the crease to join Bomford and the pair set upon building a strong foundation. Bomford played his role to perfection, rotating the strike while Jurd took on the role of aggressor, dispatching multiple balls over the fence.
The middle overs saw an escalation of the run rate, North moving from 1/11 after seven overs to be 1/91 after 14, when a second drinks break was taken for the players to rehydrate.
Jurd cruised past 50 for the second time this season and when a reasonable chance was put down in the outfield, he decided it was time to put the foot down.
Bomford had front row seats as the ball flew to all parts of the ground before he was eventually dismissed, bowled for a great supporting innings of 31.
This bought Captain Hack to the crease to try and will Jurd over the line towards three figures.
Unfortunately, Ben simply ran out of balls as he finished with 90 not out in a memorable innings which included seven fours and five towering sixes. This gave the Dogs a great total of 142 for the loss of just two wickets with Hack finishing on zero not out.
Returning from injury after missing the first six weeks of the season, Jordan Vella was given the new ball to start the innings off with spin – much to the disgust of some teammates.
The success was immediate, with Jacob McMahon taking a nice catch at short cover off the second ball of the innings to have Central 1/0.
After a short partnership and a change of ends, Vella then had the Central skipper Paull (six) caught at mid-on by another returning player in Bailey Shepherd, who took a sharp chance with ease.
Central’s new man Ninovic played some nice shots before the man of the hour Jurd (1/11) had him out caught and bowled after a leading edge.
The remainder of the Central innings was built around Skinners knock of 50*, in which he managed to find gaps in the field time and time again.
Wilson (0/22) & Cain (0/21) both bowled well without luck, mostly into the strong Southerly breeze that was causing havoc on and off the field. A few spectators were wondering if they’d gone back in time when Victory took a wicket to break a frustrating partnership between Skinner and Turley.
A great bit of fielding from Shepherd, Wilson and Hack saw a great team run out before Luke Hall had a trundle and claimed a wicket in the last over – Central falling 36 runs short of the North total.
We now have one game left prior to Christmas against South next weekend at the Alma Oval – we are all praying for some respite from the weather, so hopefully we will catch you all there.
B GRADE: CENTRAL IN A SPIN AS NORTH GAIN BACK-TO-BACK WINS
Central 9/79 (Kumar 21, H Curtis 19 not out, Sheppard 4/12, Tidball 3/17) defeated by North 7/84 (De Vries 15, Kelly 3/5, George 2/17, Kumar 2/23)
With a scorching 41 degrees forecast, the much-anticipated clash between North and Central was reduced to a T20. With South forfeiting against the Warriors, both teams also negotiated a venue change from the Zinc Oval to Norm Fox Oval.
Central captain Ethan Kelly had little hesitation in choosing to bat first and he walked out to the crease with fellow opener James Young. The pair were unable to really to put their foot on the gas, but rather negated the North attack reaching 0/24 off seven overs at the drinks break.
Captain Kieran McEvoy decided to change things up introducing spin after the break with Joel Sheppard taking up the opportunity to bowl into a strong wind. The move proved immediately successful. With a ball that deserved to end up in a dryer at Wilson’s laundromat. Kelly on 10 gleefully chipped the rank long hop into the waiting hands of McEvoy at cover. Central 1/25.
Tom Thomas came and went in the same over for one run. Thomas looking to send a flighted delivery beyond McLeod’s Bakery could only edge through to Tommy Aylett. Central on the back foot at 2/27.
McEvoy elected to go with spin from both ends bringing Anthony Tidball on as well. In his second over Tidball tempted Young on 13 to loft him into the deep on the legside but could only find the safe hands of Dylan Millsteed taking a well-judged catch in swirly conditions. Very next ball Tidball got through the defences of Mitchell Bandiera to leave Central at 4/39. Aneesh George successfully negotiated the hat-trick ball.
Not to be outdone at the other end, Sheppard continued to pick up wickets as well. George on one attempted a big slog to the leg side straight into the hands of Dwayne De Vries at regulation mid-wicket. Koruth came and went the very next ball. Sheppard getting some spin and bounce as he clipped the top off Koruth’s off stump. Rhiann Curtis had only thing on his mind when walking out to face the hat-trick bowl; which street on the other side of the Line of Lode will I hit it into? Sheppard again finding spin and bounce on the hat trick ball with Curtis going for a huge slog, the ball just missed the off stump! Central now in a precarious position of 6/40.
Tidball continue to chip away at the other end. When R Curtis on two skied one to Harry Butcher at long on, Central were in tatters at 7/43. Central losing 7/24 in seven overs in the second session to be 7/48 at the second drinks break.
The spells of Sheppard and Tidball finished shortly after drinks. Sheppard finishing with 4/12 off four overs and Tidball 3/17 off his four overs. The duo really putting Central on the ropes.
With Central in a tight spot Hamish Curtis joined RV Kumar as the pair set about adding some respectability to the total with some good running between the wickets and finding the odd boundary. The pair were able to add 30, before the returning Dwayne De Vries got through the defences of Kumar for a crucial 21, Central 8/73.
Harry Butcher joined in to take the wicket of Sundar Subramani for two. Subramani sweeping Butcher into the safe hands of De Vries at square leg. Central 9/76.
Taking a break from auctioneering, Mitch Halpin joined H Curtis to get Central to 9/79 off their 20 overs. Curtis ending up unbeaten on 19 not out.
Dwayne De Vries and Harry Butcher both picked up tidy figures of 1/14 off their three overs. North content with their bowling performance but knew there was still some hard work to do to get over the line.
The dynamic duo of Scott Rogers and Dwayne De Vries were finally reunited as they strolled out to the crease. Rogers finding the boundary early on twice, dining out on two cut shots like a T-bone steak pub feed.
Rogers on 11 tried to take on more than he could chew, slapping an Aneesh George delivery to Ethan Kelly at mid-off. North 1/15.
Alpha shag Anthony Tidball was next to join De Vries. De Vries looked in ominous form hitting a tracer bullet down the ground which was close to decapitating the umpire. Just as De Vries had started to fire, he was bowled by a very excited George for 15. North 2/28.
Tidball was next joined by Tommy Aylett. Just as the pair started to build a partnership, RV Kumar bowled Tidball for three. North 3/43.
Harry Butcher was next to arrive at the crease. The pair guided North to 3/51 off seven at drinks. Aylett looked on song and played one of the more impressive leg glances off Ethan Kelly to the fine leg fence that you are ever likely to see. Just as Aylett had found his feet, on 14 he became Kelly’s first victim, caught behind. North 4/62.
Butcher had played some impressive shots on his way to 14 but was bowled by Kelly. Kelly wasn’t finished though. He then picked up Hibberd for zero caught behind. When Kumar trapped Lachie Bell LBW for one, there were a few murmurs in the dugout as North had slipped to 7/70. Davey and Sheppard scrambled to put the pads on if required.
This wasn’t necessary it would seem. The cool heads of captain McEvoy (two not out) and vice-captain Millsteed (five not out), guiding North home with three wickets and 6.3 overs to spare.
An important win for North who sit a win behind Central in third having played one less game. A solid team effort with some individual brilliance as well. North next take on South at the Alma Oval on Saturday, December 16 in a North men’s double header. A win against South will leave North in a good position to launch into the second half of the season and keep the pressure on Warriors and Central.
