Season ‘24/25. It’s a TIE. Vet’s Round 2 “Dead Heat”
OXCC vs.LYNDALE :
OXCC Vets Match Report
Round 2: Lyndale v OXCC
Barry Powell Oval #2, 27 October 2024
By Bryan Caresa, as edited & told by Scotty Palmer.
INTRO
The last time I was scribe for a match report, OXCC drew with Mont Albert in our inaugural season.
Fitting therefore, that I submit my next match report, on the occasion of yet another exciting, thriller result - A TIE – between OXCC and Lyndale, at the spiritual Noble Park home of Glenn Archer, North Melbourne Shinboner of the Century.
As a TIE brings it’s own drama, I thought I would add some extra mayo by reporting the match in horse racing parlance, given we are in the midst of Cup season.
THE MATCH:
The OXCC lads arrived at the Barry Powell Oval #2 , and were presented with a Good 4 track.
The pitch run ups were solid, the outfield verdant & lush, like a Hunter Valley equine stud, so fair to say that all starters had every opportunity to perform to their potential.
In keeping with the horse racing theme, for the remainder of this report, our skipper will be referred to as master handler & Cup’s King, JB (Bart) Cummings.
Regrettably, Bart “fell” at the first hurdle by losing the toss & OX were consigned to the field.
The majority of our opposition seemed to be overwhelmingly bred to Northern Hemisphere time, given it was clear to the naked eye, that their roots had their origins in the sub-continent.
OXCC had our own Northern Hemisphere influence in the form of Colin Moorhead, who made a spirited return from a “short spell “in Mongolia, in time to take the field for Game 2 of the season.
We thank Colin for the big effort & indeed synchronizing his world clock to ensure he presented in time for the game.
Lyndale Innings:
Given the bloodlines of our opposition, OXCC prepared ourselves for much wristy stroke making from the batting team.
How wrong were we!
For as soon as the “gates crashed open & the field was away”, it was clear that Lyndale were intent on hitting hard with much cross batting.
Fortunately we were graced with OX debutant, Ed Burnes, who, after being introduced by past premiership teammate Bernie Heaphy, as being “a handy medium pacer “, Ed was summarily thrown the ball as part of the opening bowling attack !
Ed struck first for OX after some fine probing line & length, with our skipper (Bart) taking a solid catch at mid-on, despite shielding his face at the point of impact.
A salutary fielding lesson there for our strike bowler Bernie; to shield your face from the ball & not use your face to halt its path!!!
Unfortunately, the fall of this first wicket brought to the crease Lyndale’s master blaster, who proceeded to thrash to all parts of the ground, those who had the misfortune of having to bowl to him - 41n.o. in 25 something balls consisting of 4 x 6’s & 3 x 4’s - we were all relieved that he was soon retired to the paddock.
Lyndale: 2/81 after 12 overs.
Enter skipper (Bart), in tandem with R.Booth.
Both our lads kept a “tight hold of the reins” & commenced strangling the scoring; Bart with flight & Boothy with wobble.
Significantly slowing the scoring rate plus chiming in with a wicket each, it was soon clear that the strategy had to be - keep the pace off the ball.
Together with Mick O’Dea’s line & length, and your scribe with his leggies that for once were landing consistently on the spot, the four pronged OX “slow ball” attack, restricted Lyndale to only 25 runs in their next 16 overs, whilst picking up a further 3 wickets.
Lyndale : 5/106 after 28 overs
Desperate measures required for desperate times, led Lyndale to commence a rear guard offensive of basically throwing the bat at everything.
Despite some good out fielding from the likes of Burnes, O’Dea & McGarry, plus a large dollop of luck with 3 (albeit tough) chances going down, Lyndale’s final 8 overs yielded 53 runs.
Final Lyndale Score: 7/159cc.
OXCC Innings:
OXCC commenced the run chase with our “thoroughbred” openers; Bart & JH.
Unusually, JH was “tardy out of the gates” & not middling them in the manner we have come to expect.
Although looking solid & with no wickets down, OX were however, getting behind in the run rate with 8 overs down, but with only 20 runs on the board.
A direct hit run out consigned our noble leader back to the sheds in the 9th over, BUT this brought OX’s own master blaster to the crease.
Bustling Pete McGarry, opened up his broad shoulders, cutting a swathe through the opposition bowling attack from the first ball he faced.
There was nothing deft about Pete’s innings. Just pure striking out of the middle of the blade; a joy to witness turning the momentum of the game in a matter of overs.
A rapid fire 40n.o. off 29 balls – maximum game votes right there Mr McGarry!!
At the halfway mark, “turning out of the back straight”, OX 2/88 had the head in front compared with Lyndale’s 4/91 at the same juncture, with OX “travelling on the bit & well within itself “.
Lyndale must have thought this too, for as soon as the game resumed, they reintroduced to the attack their opening bowler, in combination with their own version of Bart, being their skipper.
Despite being only “pony” size at approx. “11 hands high”, their skipper bowled wily, probing spin & just as we had done to Lyndale, OX’s run rate got clamped & started to again slow.
Brandishing a brand new willow, a first ball 6 (was it assisted ? ) from our VC, Rob Mac, brother of Bart, unfortunately proved to be an outlier as the runs were now not flowing at the required rate.
Still, with the calibre of Michael Meehan & Mick O’Dea now at the crease, the onlookers in the sheds all still felt confident the target was within our reach.
Come the 30st over & now “at the top of the home straight “, OX 4/132, requiring 28 off the final 6 overs to claim victory.
Still gettable, but the equation took a turn for the worse, when soon after Meehan* was out stumped off the “pony”. (* it must be stated that Michael M. was again proving to be the “warhorse” we know him to be, having played under duress for the entire game, suffering from a bout of “colic” or in human terms, gastro)
Now 5 wickets down, equation 22 runs off 30 balls.
Entering the “final furlong”, with O’Dea joined at the crease by your scribe.
As always seems to be with this pairing, there was much high energy & plenty of scampering, littered with some “iffy” calling by yours truly
With 11 runs taken off the next 3 overs without the loss of a wicket, OX had now reached the famous ”Flemington straight clock tower” .
The “whips were indeed cracking”, with the equation having been whittled down to only 5 runs required off the last 7 balls.
Tight, but eminently gettable, despite the fact that Lyndale had lifted their bowling & were now providing nothing loose at all.
At this point, your scribe employed (unsuccessfully) an agricultural cross bat, in a bid to expose the unmanned legside that the “pony” had skillfully set.
Crash of stumps, pony whinnies, scribe an inglorious out & the tension lifts.
Enter Bernie – interestingly wearing no helmet despite his earlier facial altercation with the ball – to partner Mick O’D. in negotiating the final over.
Equation : 4 runs to draw, 5 runs to victory, 6 balls to face.
Mick takes a single, then Bernie does likewise.
3 off 4 for victory.
Then 3 off 3.
Then 3 off 2.
With the shadows of the post looming large, Mick O’D. makes the play with a 2.
Final ball, scores tied, “bob of the head as the finishing post “s finally reached…..AND …. Mick’s gutsy innings of 26 is brought to a close; stumped.
DEAD HEAT ; the judge not able to split the combatants even with the aid of the photo finish camera.
As they say, Cricket was the big winner.
The game was played in great spirit & the opposition proved to be really good blokes who bettered themselves even more so post-match, with the provision of free beer plus a decent spread ,including sausages and chiko rolls.
Special mention to the officiating OX “chief stewards” - Boothy & Sammy – both of whom umpired for the bulk of the game, having to adjudicate more tight decisions than one would have liked.
Another solid team effort with everyone contributing.
Our bowling was particularly good at resetting, considering it could have easily gone to custard after enduring the early brutal onslaught .
All our batsmen posted double figures ……….. other than Bernie who only faced the one ball in that pulsating final over.
A few of the Vets made the long cross town road trip for a “what might have been” beer at the finest pub in Kew ..... the 'Skinny Dog' Hotel (sponsor plug); reflecting that undefeated as we head into Game 3, the OX Vets sit handily placed with “the Spring Carnival” now well underway.
OX Batting:
· McGarry 40n.o.
· O’Dea 26
· Meehan 23
· Hardin 21
OX Bowling :
· D.MacIsaac: 6 overs 1/16
· Burnes : 6 overs 1/17
· Ceresa: 4 overs 2/13
· Booth : 4 overs 1/15
The Rudy Webster Medal Votes
Who will be taking Rudy home this year??
Round 2 (MAX of 5 players, voted from 5 - 1):
· 5 – P.McGarry
· 4- M.Meehan
· 3- D.MacIsaac
· 2- M.O’Dea
· 1- E.Burnes
