LMS T20 (8-a-SIDE) EASTERN SYDNEY SUNDAY DIVISION 3 ROUND 7 v HIGH STREET CC AT MP8, ROBERTSON ROAD, MOORE PARK ON SUNDAY 18 JUNE 2023: REPORT BYJAMIE MURTHA
Playing the same team as the previous week, we lost the toss and they elected to bat. Unfortunately we started with only 6 on the field, both opening batters sauntered on the field in the 4th over.
Despite only having six players, opening bowler Gerry O’Shea bowled a rare maiden over! The batter played and missed each ball through to the keeper. Ming Heng bowled a good spell at the other end. It was a solid but wicketless start after 5 overs, but then Richard Clark struck with the first ball of his spell thanks to a sharp catch from Gerry O’Shea in the gully.
Jim Hadley kept the batters tied down with his leggies, backed up by good fielding from the boundary riders. Jamie Murtha picked up a lucky run out, a straight drive deflected off his fingers onto the stumps and caught the non-striker off guard. He followed that up with a wicket at deep square, Jim safely taking a bullet at chest height. Shivam Agarval on debut took a wicket after another super catch from Gerry, it was a particularly athletic piece of fielding, taken low and on the slide from deep cover. Thanks to tight bowling and good ground fielding, we were able to restrict them to 124 in the 20 overs.
In response, James Bonkowski opened his account with a big six over deep mid-wicket; he made a good start. Richard Clark was less fortunate, trying to play the same shot but nicked his through to the keeper for a golden duck! Scott Williams wasted no time, hitting his first ball cleanly over deep mid-wicket for 6 as well. It looked like it could be another big score from Scott, but he was unluckily caught by the wicket-keeper down the leg side. Ming Heng too was a bit unlucky to go for a first ball duck, a well struck ball taken just inside the rope at long off. Jim Hadley faced the hat-trick ball, and showing total contempt for the bowler slogged it over deep mid-wicket for 6, but this wasn’t enough for Jim who proceeded to do the same again the very next ball!
The fielding was a highlight for the opposition who took another catch to remove Shivam Agarval cheaply. At this point we were reeling around 5-50 and in a bit of trouble. Jim and Jamie Murtha steadied, rotating the strike and seeing off good balls for a few overs. With 5 overs to go we brought the runs required down to 27 runs. Jamie was bowled soon after, but the opposition was no match for Jim and Gerry who dealt in dots and boundaries for the remainder of the innings. Gerry scored back to back fours in the 19th over to secure our 6th win for the season.
We hope to field a strong side next week and make it 3 in a row after the top of the table clash.
The Team was: – James Bonkowski 16, Richard Clark 0, Scott Williams (w) 15, Shivam Agarval 6, Ming Heng 0, Jim Hadley 53*. James Murtha (c) 21, Gerard O’Shea 13*
The Result was:-
High Street CC: – 4-124 (20 overs)
Lost to
CCNSW: – 6-128 (19 overs) (J. Hadley 53*)
By 2 wickets
The Bowling was: – M. Heng 4-0-34-0; G. O’Shea 3-1-8-0; J. Hadley 3-0-21-0; R. Clark 3-0-16-1; J. Murtha 4-0-19-1; S. Agarval 2-0-18-1, J. Bonkowski 1-0-2-0
The Fielding was:-
Stumpings: – Nil
Catches: – Two to G. O’Shea and one to J. Hadley
Run outs: – One to J. Murtha
Player points (awarded by captain): – 3 points to J. Hadley; 2 points to G. O’Shea; 1 point to J. Murtha
See: https://www.lastmanstands.com/leagues/scorecard/1st-innings?fixtureid=389000