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 GBTCC v Australia

Hinton Charterhouse CC  - 18th -19th July 2006
2 Day game - minimum 90 overs per day

This match would decide the outcome of the series and whoever won the toss should be able to dictate the pace of the match.     If GB win the toss, normal cricket would and should see them through.   If the Aussies were to win the toss they would need to score a lot of runs at a quicker rate than they did in the first Test at PMCC and then try and bowl out GB twice.   We shall see.

Yet again it was hot and sunny.     Set in magnificent surroundings with a wicket full of runs and an outfield that would give up lots of boundaries once the ball had past the fielder.

GB won the toss and elected to bat.

GBTCC First Innings

Bowling:

Yet another wonderful innings, this time from Simon Harris.   His 158 included 14 fours and 1 five and every shot was played along the ground in classical style.   Our opening partnership was a best ever 84 before I was out lbbw (left breast before wicket).   A solid start from which we only added another 200 runs.   At one point we were172 -2.    Ian Hillier's 28 coming in at number eight was another vital contribution.

Chris Wills took another 4 wickets and Phil Walker bowling leggies, I think, got a 'five for'.   284 was OK but an Aussie win could not be ruled out.   They had to score their runs at a quicker pace than they had previously and either (a) get close and declare (b) pass our total and bowl us out cheaply.

ATCC First Innings

Bowling:

It has to be said, the Aussies batted really well and scored their runs at a rate of 6 per over, which takes some doing through 67 overs.   This made their batting at PMCC look positively pedestrian and in hindsight a mistake.

Phil Walker blasted 69 runs to add to his 5 wicket haul and 'Nick the skip' smashed another quickfire 43.   Wulffy (44no) and Muzza (28no) batted down the order in cavalier fashion putting on 61 priceless runs.   Murray hit his first ever six in proper cricket and was seen to kiss his green baggie in a tribute to Joanne back in Sydney.   Great stuff boys.

This was all made possible by the stand out cricketer of the series from either team, Chris Wills.   Chris scored a magnificent 163, including 23 fours and did not spare any of our bowlers, never mind the horses.   It was an innings I shall never forget and would like to thank our captain Colin Mitchell for removing me from the attack after just four expensive overs.   Pies were no good on this track, be they albatross or 'roo.

Mattie Coombs bowled with heart and pace all day and had no luck at all.   He will bowl much worse and get loads of wickets.   Our bowling star today was  Brian Witham, who recorded the best ever figures in the competition with 7 - 95.   Line and length with a touch of movement bowled at a deceptive lively medium pace brought handsome rewards for the 'big fella'.   Fully deserved from this Kentish Man or is he a Man of Kent?

With 66 overs left to be bowled in the match, GB are 117 runs behind on first innings.   There can only be one of two outcomes (1) A draw (2) An Aussie victory.   We resumed our second innings with just over an hour to go before lunch.   Our objective - don't lose wickets.

GBTCC Second Innings

Bowling:

I managed to bat (17) with Simon until 15 minutes before lunch, putting on 49 for the first wicket, we went in at 60 odd for 1, which was OK.   Nigel (13) and Colin (14) stayed with Simon, he was making batting look so easy and we reached parity before going 118 - 3.   An Aussie win was still possible, but at this point out came Alistair Hedderwick to join Simon.

Simon went serenely on to his second hundred of the match, another first, and was eventually out on 125 (12 fours) having saved the match.   His batting has a beauty about it as he defends the good ball and despatches the bad whilst working the singles off decent deliveries.

Alistair simply went ballistic on his home ground from the first ball he faced.   He lofted the ball to all parts of the boundary, hitting 16 fours and 2 sixes along the way.   The match was effectively over before he reached three figures but 'Nick the skip' sportingly played on until Alistair claimed his century or was out (he wasn't).  

The captains shook hands at 5.20pm and agreed a draw.

GBTCC had won the David Hookes Memorial Shield.

Result:   Match Drawn      Series:   GBTCC 2 - 1 ATCC

Men of the Match: Matt Coombs (GBTCC)  / Phil Walker (Australia)  

Umpires:    ????(Eng) &  ????(Eng)                   

Scorers:    Howard Watts (Aus) / Ian Hillier & John Soldan (Eng)

Summary:

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