CLASSICS ROUND 1: CCNSW vs MOSMAN AT CAMPERDOWN OVAL, CAMPERDOWN ON SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER 2023: REPORT BY SCOTT WELLS
A beautiful Spring-like day awaited us at our first day at Camperdown vs Mosman – mid 20s partly cloudy. The outfield looked as good as it ever has for this time of the year and the centre square on the dry side. We had beaten Mosman the previous two seasons so were quietly confident of keeping that going.
Scott Wells won the toss and elected to bat – knowing that the pitch does get lower later in the day. We had a very strong batting line-up for the day and as usual the bowling resources were plentiful as well. Mosman had found a couple of pretty useful opening bowlers with their normal openers put back to change bowlers.
Sherville (“Wes”) Hall and Tom Robertson made their debut for Classics. Tom opened up the batting with Mike Pinter in the hope of getting Tom off to a flier with Michael Weaver parked in at number 3 – just in case. Just as well as no sooner did Tom bludgeon their opener back over his head, he copped one that didn’t bounce as much as expected – in front lbw. “Weaves” on a golden run of form started solidly but soon punched one to cover to leave us at 2 for 17. Paul Nash copped a beautiful outswinger first ball and feel to a full stretch catch to the keeper (former CCNSW player Ash Perrot). Oh S***!
Wells came to the crease in hope of settling things down in a solid partnership with Pinter but the other opener bowled a very full length ball that rattled Pinter’s leg stump – 4 for 19 – oh double S***!
Andrew Dawson and Wells set about business as usual with watchful innings sprinkled with some cracking boundaries – putting away any loose ones particularly short. That was until Dawson copped one that kept low – and other lbw. Next ball – Andy Davis was rapped in front with one that cut back and kept low. 6 for 52 Holy S***!
But still with the batters remaining, there was hope – double cross your fingers and toes type hope. Ed Cross came to the crease but no sooner did he come than Wells spooned a mistimed drive to cover point. He was soon followed by Cross who fell to a spectacular caught and bowled – tie for catch of the season so far. So it was up to the bowlers to get us into a decent position.
Andy Bachelard sent balls to the boundary and Mick Tarrant middled everything except the one that bowled him after Bach retired at 40*. David Craig looked solid with one particular sweep (conventional) shot sent to the boundary. ‘Bach’ returned and continued playing them like a symphony but alas DC was bowled bringing the batting to an end at 123 – probably about 100 or so short of where we planned and probably should have got to. Well batted Andy Bachelard who chanced his arm but all the others barely troubled the scorers
With not much in the bank, a lot depended on the opening spell. Their opener Rose played the pitch well and quickly retired 30* off 30. The other opener was trapped lbw from a classic Tarrant in cutter.
None of the bowlers could seem to settle into a good line and length consistently with boundaries leaking at regular intervals – some due to some less than desperate fielding. David Craig was the pick of the bowlers dropping his ‘leggies’ and making them play every ball and was rewarded with two wickets. ‘Wes’ Hall also bowled a good line and length and got his wicket probably off his worst ball (full toss). Another batter retired and we were passed 4 down
Mosman were by far the better side on the day – they came to play well – performing much better with the ball, bat and their fielding was exceptional. The final result showed this – Here’s hoping for a better performance in all three facets next game. Much improvement and commitment is required if we are to remain a top 4 side in this comp.
The Team was (playing 12): – Tom Robertson 8, Mike Pinter 5, Mike Weaver 3, Paul Nash 0, Scott Wells (c) and (w) 15, Andrew Dawson 19, Andrew Davis 0, Ed Cross 9, Andrew Bachelard, 42* Mike Tarrant 4, David Craig 8, and Sherville Hall dnb
The Result was: –
C.C.N.S.W.: – 10-123 (29.2 Overs) (A. Bachelard 42*)
Lost to
Mosman CC.: – 4-125 (23.3 Overs)
By 6 wickets
FoWs: – 1-12 (T. Robertson); 2-17 (M. Weaver ); 3-17 (P. Nash ); 4-19 (M. Pinter); 5- 52 ( A. Dawson); 6-52 (A. Davis ); 7-56 (S. Wells ); 8- 94 (E. Cross); 9-103 (M. Tarrant ); 10-123 (D. Craig ).
The Bowling was: – M. Tarrant 6-0-29-1; A. Bachelard 3-0-15-0; P. Nash 4-1-20-0; E. Cross 2-0-15-0; D. Craig 4.3-1-22-2; S. Hall 4-0-18-1
The Fielding was: –
Stumpings: – One to S. Wells (w)
Catches: – One to A. Davis and one to E. Cross
Run outs: – Nil
Player points (awarded by umpire): 3 points to A. Bachelard; 2 points to D. Craig; one point to A. Dawson