5th Grade White's debut match in the Cricket Illawarra competition will go down as one of the more exciting games you're likely to hear about; notwithstanding the fact the recruited were comprised mostly of fathers who's sons had surpassed the U16 barrier - this tale is likely to grow in coming years. Having been denied the opportunity to dust off the proverbial cobwebs in the actual season opener (Keira forfeited); Murphy's newly assembled army of semi-retired, completely retired and Scott Perkiss took on the old enemy Wests at Hollymount Park on October 17th, 2009.
After winning the toss skipper Murphy decided for no particular reason to bowl. Openers Marcel Van Wijk (0/26) and David "Davo" Bateman (1/13) kept things tight, Wests scratching along at three per over early on. Steve Kempton (0/24) and Lee Cummins (0/40) replaced the openers and bowled without luck to have Wests cruising to 0/72 in what looked to be a long day.
In true Butcher Spirit the new (old) boys never gave up and when Murphy (2/14) induced a thick edge Mark Smith took a great catch in the dynamic slips/gully region to register the first ever wicket and catch respectively. Buoyed by the breakthrough Jason Dunn (1/15) was given an over before the interval; going for plenty but prized out the other opener - Wests still well on top at 2/92.
After the break a match winning bowling change was made in the ever reliable Scott Perkiss (4/27). Perkiss bamboozled the opposing batsmen, causing four wickets to fall in quick succession to finish with 2nd best career figures. Bateman, showing little regard for his torn groin muscle came back and snared a wicket whilst Smith (2/15) rattled timber twice just as Wests were getting away. Finally Murphy ended proceedings with the innings 5th' castling and Wests had an even 200 to defend. A mammoth score became just a big score.
After a stirring motivational speech from Jason Dunn the Butchers came out blazing, rushing along to what would be their best first wicket partnership all season. Dunn (10) and Garry Crawford (10) made the kind of start needed before the wheels simply fell off. From 0/28 to reeling at 6/56; it was a precursory glance to what would happen on occasion throughout the year.
Enter #8 Perkiss (92*), the toast of the Butchers for his second match winning effort in one afternoon. Teaming up with #7 Murphy (56), the two rebuilt what was rusting fast into the gutsiest of 117-run partnerships. A dream debut for skipper Murphy as he began leading from the front some months prior when he decided the competition was lacking men of 50+; today a half century on debut. Not many Butchers have that etched beside their names.
Murphy will say that he mistimed his way to fifty before running out of puff - however he managed six boundaries in his knock. More importantly he was the rock in both body and mind as the carefree Perko let loose up the other end. Seventeen (count them seventeen) boundaries and two sixes rained from his bat as he smashed 80 of his 92 to and over the cones.
Perhaps not satisfied with his bowling exploits, Perkiss would soar past his previous (recorded) best of 28* en route to a maiden half ton and, were there runs left to chase, what would have been a harder than usual night of drinking to celebrate the big one. Cruelly, especially to the owners of The Ryans Hotel Thirroul, Wests just didn't have enough runs on the board. The excitement was far from over though as Murphy, Cummins (0) and David Stalker (4) each fell leaving ten to get with one wicket in hand.
An incapacitated Bateman (5*) batted with a runner and relieved some tension with a boundary of his own. Now, ever so close to a barely believable victory, Perkiss rightfully stepped up and slammed home the winning runs with three balls to spare. See the scorecard here.
A brilliant and most exciting come from behind victory is made all the more apparent when you realize that 5th Grade White would be dismissed for less than fifty on five occasions later on in the season. Yes, chasing down 200 when 6/56 is definitely another Butcher Top 50 moment.
The # in the title of this article in no way represents the ranking of the 50 Greatest Moments - it merely represents the order in which the article was submitted.
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