C&S ROUND 18 v BEAVERS AT CAMPERDOWN OVAL, CAMPERDOWN ON SATURDAY 25 MARCH 2023: REPORT BY JAMES MURTHA

The season’s final C&S game on lively Camperdown pitch unfortunately cut short by rain.

We turned up to Camperdown oval with grey skies overhead, some players inspected the rather soft wicket, others practiced on the outfield and a few groups chatted amongst themselves. Beavers won the toss and elected to bat, a good toss to lose Jamie  Murtha thought.

Ian Robertson took the new ball from the Australia Street end, and ‘Jonno’ Shaw from the Rotunda end. Line and length was a slight issue early on as Beavers pounced on anything wide and started strong with 20 runs off the first 4 overs. Ian and Jonno took control and tightened the run rate up in the second halves of their spell, both bowled well in the end without any luck going their way.

Soren Hughes(“Sooz”) replaced Ian and struck in his second over, with their best batter misjudging the slower bounce off the pitch and chipping one to Ian at mid-off. Soon after the teams took drinks with Beavers at 1-78.

Jonno completed his spell and was replaced by Matt Edge who despite a couple of loose balls made good use of the conditions and nabbed two important wickets, the first wicket produced by a yorker, bowled. And the second to remove ‘Mr. GoPro’ which was a long hop down leg side hit straight to Jamie at short square leg who took the catch on the second attempt, no doubt that footage will be erased!

Jamie Murtha replaced Sooz and bowled his spell of 7 overs straight, using cutters to good effect. He had the ball rise sharply off a length, unplayable for the batters who at this point were really struggling to score. During this spell Ed Robertson contributed with an excellent direct hit run-out from mid-wicket that began a Beavers collapse!

With a queue of bowlers eager to make sure of the conditions, the ball was thrown to Adam Khamis, his leggies troubled the batters considerably. Adam took two in two and found himself bowling an excellent hat-trick ball which was fortuitously negotiated by the tail-ender. No matter, Adam struck again soon after ripping a leggie that passed the opposition captain and Weaves was quick to whip the bails off.

Matt Leong bowled  2 overs at the death and was unlucky not to get a wicket with a ball that sliced away from Jamie Murtha clipping his fingertips behind point. The innings was wrapped up off the last ball, the batters tried to take two runs with a shot through cover and Ed Robertson  fired a great throw into the keepers gloves, Mike Weaver made it look easy as he whipped the bails off.

With Beavers all out for 138 in 35 overs, the teams retired to the sheds for a quick drink and changeover. 

Requiring 139 to win, once again, the Tom (Robertson) and Gerry (O’Shea) show got underway. Batting conditions were extremely challenging as the light deteriorated and rain appeared imminent.  Both batters were forced to concentrate against one particularly decent bowler from the Australia Street end, Tom and Gerry were struck on the pads multiple times but the ball was doing far too much and fading light made it difficult to judge for everyone.

At the 14 over mark the rain started to come down and Tom’s luck ran out, hit on the pads one too many times. Matt Edge who was umpiring, decided and up went the finger. At that moment the skippers decided the rain was too heavy to continue and players departed from the field.

There would be no more play that day, after 30 minutes the teams agreed to shake hands and call it a draw, (despite Duckworth-Lewis having CCNSW ahead by 9 runs).(Ed note: There are no provisions in C&S social games to use any method of determining a commenced but subsequently  rained off match. In Jack Pace Shield games they use average run rate))

After a solid hour’s work returning the kit and covers beneath the Rotunda (NB: Careful to anyone who opens our gate!! It’s jammed in there) the guys went down the road to the Lady Hampshire for a few pints and to reflect on some highlights and enjoyable moments from the season.

Great work and thank you to each of the 50 C&S players this season, there were plenty of positives to take away and I am looking forward to seeing you next season where we will no doubt improve on some of this year’s JPS matches!

The Team was (playing 12): – Tom Robertson 36 (50 balls), Gerald O’Shea 13* (35 balls), Edward Robertson dnb, Mike Weaver dnb, Adam Khamis dnb, James Murtha dnb, Soren Hughes dnb, Adam Durant, dnb, Matt Edge dnb, Matt Leong dnb, Jonathan Shaw dnb,  Ian Robertson dnb

The Result was: –

Beavers CC: – 10-138 (35 overs) (A. Khamis 3-18) (NB Beavers only had 10 players)

Drew with

C.C.N.S.W.: – 1-50 (14.4 overs) (T. Robertson 36)

Because of rain

FoW: – 1- 50 (T. Robertson)

The Bowling was: – Ian Robertson 4-0-15-0; J. Shaw 7-1-34-0; S. Hughes 5-0-18-1; J. Murtha 7-0-15-1, M. Leong 2-0-15-0; M. Edge 5-0-19-2; A Khamis 5-0-16-3

The Fielding was: –

Stumpings: – One to M. Weaver

Catches: – Two to A, Khamis; one each to M. Edge, J. Murtha and Ian Robertson

Run outs: -Two: – one to Ian Robertson; one to Ed Robertson (asst. M Weaver (w))

Player points (awarded by captain): – 3 points to A. Khamis; 2 points to M. Edge; one point to M. Weaver