VECC Senior Reds make it 3 in a row with tight victory

GAME EIGHT 29/11/08
VS WALLSEND RSL

With rain forecast, and falling, the Reds travelled to Minmi for what looked likely to be a wasted trip, and having lost the toss, were forced to bowl with a wet ball on a slippery, concrete pitch.

Things were not looking good, particularly when the Wallsend opening batsmen defied the new ball bowlers with ease. Both Rohan Kennedy and Matt Keast were unsuccessful, their five overs going for 15 and 16 runs respectively, without a wicket. Dave Lowry (0/17) was equally wicketless, and it took youngsters Matt Steele and Elliot Best to bring the Reds back into the game. Matt struck in his third over, but there was a touch of luck involved, the Wallsend vice-captain mis-hitting a full toss to the safe hands of Matt Hardaker. Leg-spinner Elliot then took the next three wickets. The left handed number three tried to pull a well pitched up delivery, only to sky the ball high in the air where Elliot took an excellent catch running forward. Another dropping legspinner caused the captain to mishit to Dave Lowry at mid-on, and a beautifully flighted delivery lured Wallsend’s best bat out of the crease, where he found himself not quite to the pitch and forced to loft high to mid-off, where Matt Barker made a difficult catch look easy. Matt Hardaker then took control, bowling an excellent line and length inn the difficult conditions. He forced a high mishit from the remaining opener into the covers, where Peter Steele made an easy catch look difficult. (As Peter said later, “not only did I have to contend with taking the catch, I had to get up to the looks of amazement from the rest of the team!”)

Matt bowled two more batsmen, and Matt Steele returned to the crease to fire out the last two batsmen in successive balls, Wallsend finally falling for 116, one batsman retired hurt because of a knee injury.

Missing big name batsmen Farnham, Gustard, D’Elboux, Pidutti and Stiller, the Reds were under pressure – and it didn’t help when Captain Kennedy hit his first delivery straight to mid-off and Neil Best failed to make it home after taking on a fieldsman. Matt Barker’s snick to the keeper left the Reds at 3 for 8 in the second over, and in a spot of trouble!!

Enter Super-Veteran Justin Dunne to join Dave Lowry. Justin and Dave showed their experience by calmly knocking the balls into the gaps and defending resolutely when required, slowly bringing the Reds back into the game. With the score at 59 Dave holed out to mid-on, but his well compiled 24 had brought the Reds back into the game. Matt Hardaker (1), Peter Steele (1) and Elliot Best (6) followed Dave back to the pavilion in a short time, and at the end of the 21st over the Reds were 7 for 69, some 48 runs short and 14 overs in which to score them.

By this stage the drizzling rain had left the ball sodden and slippery, and the run-ups were also difficult. With the departure of a Wallsend player, the opposition were left with only 9 fielders – and Matt Steele and Justin took full advantage. Justin was the calming influence, nonchalantly easing the balls into gaps and calling decisively. Matt played his most important innings in three seasons, the 15 year old blocking well directed balls but hitting powerfully and confidently when the opportunity arose – one straight hit for four was a devastating psychological blow. With his score at 21, and the Reds at 113, Matt played a loose drive and was caught in the covers. Enter the nerveless Michael Taylor, who kept out a number of deliveries before driving a single. Justin calmly hit two more singles, and then loudly called Michael through for a bye, the winning runs being achieved in the 34th over, Justin Dunne the architect of the victory with an undefeated 38, having arrived when the score was 3 for 8.