Hollymount Park - NDCC 2nd Grade has started their 2009/10 campaign off in grand fashion by rolling Corrimal for 81 shortly before tea on Saturday. Winning the toss and electing to field in gloomy conditions, seamers Rob Sheeley (1/9) and Graeme Sismey (3/20) responded by having Corrimal 4/19 early on.
Corrimal seemed to either want to slog or retreat and rarely found any middle ground. This was fully evident when a six that was blasted in Sismey's opening over was followed by a wicket the next ball. Geordie Crawford leapt high and intercepted the ball in his fingertips, preventing what looked like a four over cover and started the rot.
Michael Doig pulled off a diving stunner at mid off before Neil Ryan snatched the grab of the game in third slip; a one handed effort that had partially deflected off John Robinson in 2nd slip. How he hung on will remain a mystery. When Sismey pegged back the off stump of last years 3rd Grade centurion the Butchers might have thought they would have less than 50 to chase.
Corrimal began a short rebuilding phase and passed 50 before Robinson (1/19) foxed Hunter into playing uppishly towards mid-wicket, Crawford completing his 2nd catch of the day. Captain Mick Allen (2/8), who was penciled in the scorebooks as Mick Crews, went about setting precise fields to quieten the hard hitting keeper. He also brought himself on and didn't take long to rattle timber with his direct gentle seamers. Twice the Corrimal batsmen played all around him but credit really needs to be given to Ryan (3/5) who's off spin did much the same and ensured that there would be no repeat of last years game. Then the last 3 put on 73, this time it would be 7 as Allen and Ryan accounted for the final five in, at times, amusing circumstances.
The top scoring keeper was outfoxed in such a way that he ended up playing a french cricket looking shot straight to 1st slip and the final wicket was tricked into leaving a ball down leg that took leg.
The fielding effort today was particularly impressive with only one tough half chance grassed. Everything else went to hand, three of the catches were deemed 'cracking catches' and rarely was a misfield witnessed.
Chasing the Butchers were 1/23 before the rain halted the days play, the openers very solid in their start. The only mistake was fatal as Crawford (9*) and Luke Coleman (4) were involved in a poor call and eventual run out. Ean Martin (3*) was looking good with Crawford when the heavens opened up.
The Butchers will hope to chase down the score quickly next week and have a crack at outright.
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