Ipswich v Warehouse
Webb Shield 2023-24
10 December 2023 at Ivor Marsden (Ray Walker Oval)
It was a brilliant Sunday at Ivor Marsden Memorial Park in Ipswich. The first day of a rejuvenated Webb Shield competition beckoned. Warehouse skipper Stevo Rees called correctly and chose to field. The Ray Walker Oval pitch has traditionally played low and slow and this match was no exception.
Thienu Chandrasekaram struck in the 7th over bringing a lively open stand between Zac Fisher and Braydon Armstrong to a close on 23. Ravi Gandhi’s C&B in the 12th followed by his catch off Sunil Samchan in the 13th set the Ipswich cause back a little at 3/40, but a catch behind by Achal Patel off Sunil on the stroke of drinks put Warehouse on top at 4/54.
After drinks, Jack Hillier and Drew Stafford dug in to advance the score to 84 before disaster struck. “Disaster” took the form of Sean Walsh. From the second ball of his second over, Walsh crashed through Stafford’s defence…Bowled…5/84. The very next ball to the new batsman caught the top edge and ballooned high for Walsh to complete a C&B…6/84. The incoming Dom Salton, having been in the sheds padding up, bizarrely unaware of the hat-trick ball, slashed at one outside off and was brilliantly caught low down by Thienu at cover…7/84…HAT TRICK!!… Cal Wilton strode to the crease, played defensively, was beaten…Bowled…four in four…DOUBLE HAT TRICK!!!!!!! 8/84….What just happened?
The euphoria of the preceding events were like water of a duck’s back to a determined Jack Hillier. Cleverly farming the strike, Hillier added 16 with Luke Boettcher before Walsh trapped Boettcher in front in the 35th over to complete a five-fa. At 9/101, Warehouse might have thought they would be chasing 110/120, but Hillier resisted, playing out the dangerous Walsh and his partner the “dread spinner” Roberts (viz. The Princess Bride), then taking to the pace attack. Hillier (71) and an equally determined No. 11 Hayden Sippel (18), added a further 66 from a frustrating (for Warehouse) 12 overs, before Sippel holed out in the 47th over. Ipswich all out for 166.
Warehouse lost openers, Jacob Porter and Kauchal Patel in the 6th and 9th overs before Shreyas Vaidyanathan and Sunil Samchan came together with the score at 2/34. The pair batted beautifully, milking singles and punishing bad balls, to take the score to 105 before Sunil attempted to loft Drew Stafford and was caught at mid wicket by Braydon Armstrong. Two balls later Stafford trapped Dev Patel in front and it was 4/105. Then, Luke Boettcher chimed in enticing a top edge by Thienu to be caught by Jack Hillier…5/106. Uh oh!.
Shreyas found a willing partner in Ravi Gandhi. Together they consolidated and steered Warehouse to drinks at 5/133; 33 runs behind. Shreyas’ fine innings of 67 from 105 balls came to a close a couple of overs after drinks when he attempted to turn a ball to leg and was struck in front by Hayden Sippel..6/142. Ravi Gandhi and Fabian Roberts held firm to see Warehouse to the win in the 42nd over.
An enthralling game! Well done to both sides who played the game in excellent spirit. Thank you to the Ipswich faithful (especially Bron in the canteen) for their fine hospitality and great camaraderie after the game.
Toowoomba next - 21 January - Paul Jackson Oval
