Vets Round 6
Match Report – Old Xaverians Vets vs Canterbury 21st January, 2024
On another wintry, breezy Melbourne summer day the Old Xav Vets took on top of the table side, Canterbury, on the hallowed Jackson oval at Xavier College.
Despite the misty rain falling the BOM was showing no sign of precipitation on the radar so a start was not in doubt.
The Xavs were looking to salvage some pride and an outside mathematical possibility of still making the finals with an upset victory, and came with a steely determination to cause the upset of the season.
Unlike our last game on the Jackson oval in the last round of last season, the pitch had been prepared with two games yielding over 200 runs in both innings so there were no gremlins lurking beneath its well grassed surface.
Paul Thommo Thomson was back after knee meniscus surgery only 6 weeks ago and despite John Harden, Jerome Whelan and the Martin brothers (Hugh and Simon) being unavailable, we still had a solid team to take on the ladder leaders.
With Canterbury electing to bat, the Xavs were pumped knowing this was effectively an elimination final, whereas a win could see us sneak in mathematically.
Sammy Nunan and Mick O’Dea opened the bowling and from their first deliveries were on the money but the opposition were stoic and hardened cricketers who withstood the barrage.
After 6 stingy overs Canterbury were meandering along at a paltry 3 runs per over which was even more impressive given the boundary cones were placed a long way in, and the outfield lightning quick akin to playing on green carpet!
Our first change combination consisting of Bernie Heaphy and Thommo continued to apply great pressure on the batters, and as Bernie was hooping the pill sideways at training assisted by a gale force wind there was an optimism that he could have day out which was to prove to be the case despite only a slight zephyr blowing…
An inspired change in the filed setting led to the first wicket to fall courtesy of a good catch by Pete McGarry at mid-wicket off Bernie’s bowling, and the Xavs were up and about.
Bernie had that look in his eye that it was going to be his day, and soon after cleaned bowled their number 3 batter and we had the top team 2 for less than 40 off 12 impressive overs from our opening 4 bowlers.
Canterbury had made over 200 every game with the bat leading up to this game, so we knew that they had plenty of batting to come, and alas that’s what was to transpire with their number 4 batter taking a liking to the short straight boundaries with a number of 6’s and 4’s in succession in the next few overs, and the score was suddenly 2 for 80 odd and our short-lived ascendancy had been snatched away.
After the opener and number 4 batters retired not out on 40, the Xavs came to life courtesy of an absolute blinder of a catch by Thommo at mid-wicket that most mere mortals would not have even seen let alone lay a glove on, as he nonchalantly snatched the cherry at full stretch that had been hit out of the screws much to the batters disbelief and his old Xavs team-mates.
At 5 for 120 with the two retired batsmen, the old Xavs were hopeful of curtailing the innings and keeping Canterbury to a score below 200 for the first time this season, but with a couple of grassed tough catches, they re-grouped and played very solidly until the end of their innings despite Bernie finishing his 6 overs with the season’s best figures of 4/24, and Thommo chiming in with a lovely in-swinging nut that cleaned up the batsman’s castle.
Honourable bowling mentions to Sammy and Mick O’Dea who toiled hard without success, and were very economical.
A score of 213 was posted by Canterbury which was not impossible on the reduced ground and quick outfield, but it was going to take a pretty special effort to knock over the target.
A delicious afternoon tea comprising of export quality cherries thanks to Brian again, fluffy scones with strawberry jam and fresh whipped cream courtesy of Pete, egg sangers and ham and cheese sangers from Rob and Dave, fresh fruit from Michael, tea cake from Thommo, Boothy’ slice and more…not to mention Mick O’Dea’s partner Ally’s chocolate brownies, the Xavs were re-fuelled to chase down the formidable target set.
Clarke and Rob McIsaac opened the batting and Canterbury’s two opening bowlers despite a couple of wayward looseners provided a stern test with good pace and accuracy.
After seeing off their first 6 overs, the run rate was below 2 and the change of bowler to spin was introduced.
This proved a master-stroke for Canterbury with the left-arm off-spinner perfectly suited to a slow pitch coupled with a head-wind enabling the ball to hold up not only in the air but also off the pitch.
Rob immediately became frustrated and played across the line and lost his off peg as a result.
Pete came to the crease looking to assert his power and authority on the game as we have come to know, but he was out without scoring to the spinner playing back to a full delivery caught at first slip.
At 2 for less than 20 and already 10 overs down, the run rate was already getting out of control, which was going to make it almost impossible to conjure a victory, but Michael strode to the crease unperturbed and after a shaky start knuckled down to play some very attractive strokes.
Clarke also began to play a few aggressive shots but made a poor decision not to cross after hitting a ball through point that stopped on the boundary rope only to be hauled in and as a result no run given.
Frustrated, the same thing happened shortly after, even though two runs were made, and with the scoreboard pressure mounting tried to force a slow, wide pie of a delivery only to drag it onto his stumps.
The captain, Dave came out to bat and after middling a few nice shots straight to the field he played slightly too early only to get a leading edge that sailed slowly into the waiting hands of the cover fieldsman.
With 4 down for only around 50 Terry O’Brien and Michael began to build a nice partnership and with plenty of overs left looked to put some respectability back on the scoreboard.
Unfortunately, Michael was adjudged lbw playing a pull shot that stayed low and at 5 for 70, Thommo and Terry knew that they were now playing for pride and both played a number of lovely square cuts that raced to the fence, before fatigue got the better of Thommo after his first game back after knee surgery and 6 tight overs of bowling, and of course the screamer in the field…
A lighter moment then occurred with Terry needing to leave the field due to a wardrobe malfunction that saw his boot come apart which we were told were his son’s ‘old pair’, despite being a neuro-surgeon! Lol 😊
Brian hurriedly replaced Terry at the crease and again looked very elegant playing some crisply struck drives down the ground until he mis-timed one that was brilliantly caught at long-on by a diving Canterbury vet.
Terry was so frazzled by his shoe mal-function that as he put on his replacement runners he proceeded to trip face first over an offending cricket bag but luckily no brain injury was sustained…lol and his innings ended not long after bowled out for a well-made 22.
Mick O’Dea had the look of a man on a mission even though Don Bradman would have struggled to save the sinking ship at 7 for 100 still over 100 adrift of Canterbury’s score.
His run a ball 16 was inspiring and unfortunately the Xavs ran out of overs, with only a paltry 7/133 off its 36 overs.
Overall, the game was played in great spirit, and a quiet cleansing ale or soft drink was enjoyed post match with the Canterbury side.
Thanks again to Ally (Mick’s better half) for supporting us on the day and for her scrumptious brownies, and all the other chefs who provided such yummy treats…😊
As our one and only female supporter Ali said, we “tried hard” but suggested the real winner on the day was Brian’s “amazing Tassie cherries”…Probably right about that said Mick!!
