While rain has continued to play it's part with the start of the Illawarra cricket season, NDCC 3rd grade were able to bringhten up their Round 2 match by bowling Corrimal out for a meagre 63. The Butcher's began the run chase in earnest before the rain returned and play was abandoned at 0/24 with David Joinking on 19* and Jackson Stewart on 3*.
The Butchers felt there was a score to settle with this match after last season's R13 match was washed out when the Butchers required only 27 runs with 8 wickets in hand and effectively ended their 08/09 finals campaign. Regular captain Pat Tobin was missing from the side this week, but stand-in captain David Joinking led the team with some inspirational words to fire the boys up (after realising today was his birthday) and had an instant impact by using his many years of cricket experience to go for a slightly different opening bowling option - the leg spin of Jason Wilson - into the strong southerly breeze.
Jason bowled with exceptional control into the wind and combined well with his captain to get the 1st wicket and have Corrimal reeling at 1-10. Rob Murphy had the wind at his back and bowled with great pace before a groin injury cut short his spell. The Corrimal #2 and #3 must have breathed a sigh of relief at that point until "Stone Cold" Jed Austin sent down his bullets at an almost similar pace before sending the other Cougar opening bat's off stump cartwheeling. Jed continued to bowl at great pace picking up another 2 wickets and finishing his spell with 3-12 from his six overs. Jason Wilson was able to snare the Corimal captain (ex Butcher Greg Behan) enticing him out of his crease for a great stumping by wicketkeeper Toby English. Toby had a great day with the gloves, picking up another 3 catches to add to his stumping while Jason eventually finished with figures of 2-35 from his 9 overs.
With the Cougars in trouble at 5-36 and the drinks break approaching they tried hard to consolidate as the Butchers looked to their "vetran players" of Matt Benstead and Curtis Wilson to work hard through to the drinks break. Curtis did exactly what was required, bowling exceptionally tight lines with four maidens, while at the southern end Matt "Killer" Benstead also toiled hard by picking up a wicket and backing Curtis up by also bowling 4 maidens in his first 5 overs taking the score at drinks to 6-58.
The Butchers could sniff the end of the Corrimal innings and with cloud around Dave Joinking once again reminded the boys about the job at hand. After drinks, The Butchers picked up where they left off and were able to collect the remaining 4 wickets for less than 5 runs bringing the corrimal innings to a close at 10/63.
In his first game for the Butchers, the experience of Curtis Wilson shone through doing exactly what was required, bowling to his field and bowling six straight maidens with only a single run coming off what was to be his last over, returning figures of 0-1 off 7 overs, while at the southern end Matt "Killer" Benstead picked up 4-8 off his 8.1 overs.
The Butchers were wrapped to have dismissed the Cougars for 63, but with dark clouds above and rain around, it would require some patient work with the bat by the NDCC openers. David Joinking reached 19* and Jackson Stewart 3* before the rain came and play was abandoned for the day.
The Butchers will be hoping the rain stays away next week and the 40 runs required for 1st innings victory can be achieved.
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