Round 1 - 16B's vs. DLS Caringbah

Last Updated (Monday, 21 September 2009 20:33) Written by Clark Kent Monday, 21 September 2009 18:36

Result: Won by 146 Runs 1^st Innings.

Well dear readers, another season of sweat and toil and other frustrations is upon 'us', with the 'us' equating to parents and friends that follow with an undying keenness the happenings of the amalgam of players that is the 16B side for St. Pat's this season. A number of familiar faces and masks are filling the ranks with a splattering of new faces from other clubs that have been drawn to the flickering flame of St Pat's in much the same way a moth finds lights irresistible. We welcome to the club Anthony, Ben H (B2 – making his cricket debut) and Brad all of whom have slotted into the side nicely. That may seem a simple task but when you consider some of the up and coming psychos that populate the team list, then it is no mean feat to achieve! We welcome back to the international game after their short semi-retirement from competitive cricket, the Anderson twins (Martin and Peter) now formally recognised as Hands (our keeper) and Christian. For the slow reader, well...don't worry. You probably did not read anything by that famous author... Returning from the previous season are Ryan – the team's skipper; Doug – Vice Captain, Ben (B1) – part of the “brains trust”;Matt O (Mo), Matt S (Mats); Liam and the jolly giant Etone. There you have the cast that will entertain and delight the crowds that will surely follow this side during the coming matches. But what of the result? Well, the suspense has been utterly destroyed by the headline so we can jump to the details...

Ryan did what is expected of every captain that ever walks onto the field and won the toss. His decision to bat was a good one. Batting was an interesting affair with most batsmen dismissing themselves. This incurred the wrath of the coach for having put a low price on their wicket and playing what can only be called silly shots and that is with great generosity!

Liam was taken with a very nice out swinger after being embroiled in controversy early in the match. You see readers, his iridescent blue shoes that so perfectly complimented his eyes were not appreciated by the match official. He was asked to change them, then told he could wait until drinks and then perhaps just fix it next week. Sadly the edge came next. It was all “ok” with no anger being present. The arrival at the wicket of B1 saw a shift in proceedings and a trend that favoured St Pat's. Perhaps a slight understatement? Yes. But it reads so nicely! B1 with good support from Mo proceeded to compile a tidy sum of runs with only one shot that was a chance – a very HOT chance but still, a chance. B1 showed patience that has been absent in years past and that most famous cut-shot to gully or backward point was absent. It was replaced by back-foot drive or defence and so the shot that undid B1 so often over the last few years was not used. Timing on the drives improved at his innings progressed. Much debate in the cricketing world is happening presently regarding whether or not his timing was a product of being tired or having just played some serious action on his PS3 the previous afternoon! Mo was just like Mo. Any pies were simply put away. Any balls that were in his hitting arc were hit. Each time, the ball was simply smashed with fields-men hoping they would not have to put their hands in harm's way. Mo's self-destruction introduced Christian and after showing some nice shorts, made a simple error and his brother Hands arrived. B1 continued the pressure and soon reached is ton. Having past that, he carefully applied a touch more pressure and accelerated the run rate as the team passed 200. Hands showed a fine selection of shots on his way to a marvellous 48 without blunder and cool timing on the front foot. Both batsmen retained their wickets and St Pat's finished with 4 / 282.

The 16B's bowling attack has some known quantities and some unknowns. The known in the form of Mats opened up and with some nerves and bowling well within himself, he still managed to trouble the openers for DLS but without any luck. Mats late in the innings hit the off-stump, bail was airborne, keeper and slips up to appeal, bail back onto stump, back into groove and 4 byes. Oh dear. The unknown was Brad who is now known. With some excellent bounce and lift of the deck, he worried the openers greatly but again, without any luck! Ryan's introduction of Anthony and Doug saw the luck of the Shamrocks change. Anthony completed his spell with fine figures of 3/13 off 5. He attacked the stumps and while at times his action let his line waver, he maintained a constant pace and length that was just tough to get away. The movement he get was ample to create doubt in the DLS batsmen's mind. Better batsmen might have found the edge from his bowling more often as he was too good at times. His support from the other end from Doug was much the same. Doug's movement both ways had the batsmen confused as well as some fields-men. Finding the edge a few times, somehow swinging between bat, pads and missing stumps Doug finished with the tidy figures of 1/15 of his 5. Like Anthony, stronger batsmen might have been able to edge the balls. That is not to take away from the application that DLS had while batting. It is more a reflection on these two bowlers. Similarly for Ryan and Ben who followed. With figures of 2/23 off 12 and 2/28 off 12 respectively, these spinners who compliment each other nicely tied just kept the pressure on DLS that started from the first ball. Flight, accuracy and the daring to try a different ball brought them the wickets and each could have had many more. A mighty fine stumping by Hands off the bowling of Ryan was seen as well and didn't Grandstand (Mr Stanton) like it!?! Mo had a brief shot at the tail-end and pick up a wicket (1/9 – 3) with Mats completing the task (1/11 – 9). B2 showed some good form (and poor luck) with his four overs of good pace and accuracy. B2 proved what was expected from his net work – a bowler damn tough to score off and finishing with 0/3 is evidence enough. Etone's spell was....well...typing the word “promising” implies he did not bowl well. With figures of 0/11 he did bowl well. His action, pace and lift all point to more to come...hence promising fits. But with 282 on the board, DLS had to maintain a steady run rate to make the total. St Pat's simply denied them that.

Very fine win to start with. Nice team work in the field with catches to Ben and Liam and over all an impressive fielding display.

They must keep this form and pressure throughout the season though and are capable of doing that.