Muddies C Grade report
Muddies C-Grade report
Thursday December 4 2014, 1:50pm
By Steve Doble
A minute's silence was proudly observed by both teams prior to commencement with "Vale #408" painted on the outfield in respect of lost cricketer Phil Hughes.
Carrying on from a sound position of 2/54 from last week chasing United's 132 The Astute Financial Muddies C grade side faltered with 3 wickets lost for just 7 runs, including former openers Darlington and Doble for LBW ducks and giving United bowlers renewed hope.
Enter debutant Ged - "Yes I'm a Pom" Walsh who did a sterling job keeping wicket week 1.
He and Keith "Golden Rock" Taylor combined for a 49 run stand before Ged was bowled for 33.
Taylor had at this stage had been at the wicket for 50 overs, Muddies 6/110. It took Muddies a patient 17 overs including 11 maidens to reach the United total of 132 but a further 3 wickets fell on the way including "Good Bloke" Redderz for a duck when the scores were level.
A tie would see Muddies miss a semi final chance which only came about due to points gained from a forfeit (Muddies C had their worst first half of a season with no direct wins).
The rules for forfeits are to be assigned the highest points earned in that round and on this occasion it took the team from forth to second place. Therefore a partnership of at least one was required by the unbeaten Taylor and #11 Doug "I can bat too" Barnes.
No one expected the pair to bludgeon a further 82 runs however and bat the remaining time in the match before Barnes who claimed "he had a plan" was clean bowled for 44, leaving the opener Taylor having carried the bat with an unbeaten 58 off a massive 87 overs of pure selfish-less concentration.
Astute Financial Muddies C grade should now have the opportunity to compete as they usually have in a two day series semi final starting next week against Rovers at Griffith Park 1 Sunday 8.30am.
