2020 Nudeballers Goldfield Ashes
Chief King’s Pre-Ashes Analysis
Day 1 -Saturday Mick Downey’s XI – AM at Airport (41)
There is no real form on these blokes. They are coming down from A grade which they have been terrible at over the last 7 years. The news I have received is that they are terrible in A grade, which means they will give us a good run for our money. Day one after only drinking for one night we should be fine to knock them off. 1/1
Day 2 -Sunday Sharks – AM at Eventide
Old foes. We have been there done that before. We were victorious last time at the old peoples home against the Sharks and we plan on replicating that result. Gian will provide full match score card but from my hazy memory we copped it from one or two of their batters who could hit a big ball. (I think they played indoor cricket here in Townsville) They also had some blokes who were on their last legs. Lets take advantage of the weak this year and don’t get them out. They average 576 runs for the weekend and 24 wickets which is only slightly behind us. 2/2
Day 3 – Monday Yabulu – AM at Gun Club
A team that has been doing this a long time, much like us. Most years they have finished in the top 30 and accumulated 2/3 wins. They average more runs than us with 630 per year which means they can bat. I assume they will have a few blokes who hit a big ball, so make sure you have your catching hands on. Don’t bring your cooking or cleaning hands you wont need them. They average 24 wickets per years which is slightly less then us which definitely means they get it on the pitch but maybe bring their cooking hands some years. We will need to step up but I still have us ending 3/3.
Game 1 (Match 34) v Mick Downey’s XI
The one with the century partnership
25 January 2020 at Charters Towers Airport Reserve 41
Batting first, Mick Downey’s XI All Out 177; 18.4 overs. Nudeballers 3/295; 35 overs.
Nudeballers win by 8 wickets in 23.4 overs
Mick Downey’s faced just 18.4 overs and it could’ve been fewer when they found themselves 6/43 after just 10 overs. However, successive partnerships of 42 and 69 in just seven overs (16 an over) propelled Mick Downey’s to 177. The first four bowlers (Bonfire, Idiot, Cider and Trust Me) bowled a combined 4/25 from 8 overs; Idiot returned best figures of 2/9. Anal, and #pooinsink also picked up two each.
In the chase, Uncle Bob and Vulture put on a Nudeballers record 103-run partnership in their opening stand before Vulture retired with a 50 on debut. Stinky and #pooinsink added 76 from 38 in an unbeaten 3rd wicket partnership and were also retirees; the target eclipsed in the 24th over with just two wickets down.
Game 2 (Match 35) v Sharks
The one with seven dropped catches
26 January 2020 at Eventide
Batting first, Nudeballers 7/244 from 35 overs. Sharks 7/239 from 35 overs
Nudeballers win by 5 runs
Closest ever win for the Nudies.
It was a bad start. Shocking field conditions which became worse during our fielding innings. Half-a-Night lost the toss, we had to bat first and we were 5/41 at the 9 over mark.
The Nudies then kicked into action with partnerships of 52 from 62 between Anal and Cider Canary, 64 from 46 between Anal and Shut-the-f@#$-up and 51 from 35 between Shut-the-f@#$-up and Half-a-Night. The innings finished with a blistering 34 from 12 balls between #pooinsink and Half-a-Night to catapult the Nudeballers to 7/244 from their 35 overs.
Sharks started well with partnerships of 37 and 57. The rain did nothing to aid the Nudeballers as conditions became atrocious and the ball almost impossible to hold, so said Cider, Shut-the-f@#$-up (2), Vulture, Idiot and Rum Pig (2) who all dropped catches. The dress doing as many miles as the fielders. 😁
However, a few good catches were held by Shut-the-f@#$-up, Vulture and Chief King. After drinks at 18 overs, the Nudeballers applied the screws and restricted Sharks to singles. With 8 overs to go Sharks needed 73. With 6 wickets in hand. A couple of tight overs from Idiot and a wicket to Bonfire and the ask was 45 from the last 4 overs.
A few lucky boundaries off the next over.... 29 from 3.
Another beauty from Idiot and it was 25 from 2.
Just 5 off the second last by Rum Pig and it was 20 from 6.
Somehow, Shut-the f@#$-up had the ball for the last. How’d that happen?
Amazingly it was 20 from 5 after a wicket first ball. Could this actually happen? Then, a full toss, No Ball plus a bye.... 18 from 5.... get it on the pitch! Another full toss - FOUR - 14 from 4. Uh oh! Two singles... 12 from 2. Two sixes to win. Please no!..... a dot..... yoo hoo! A win.
The last one went for 6. Who cares? A win by five runs. The Nudies 30th GFA win. 11th in a row and the closest win ever.
Well done lads!
Game 3 (Match 36) v Yabulu
The one with all the partnerships
27 January 2020 at Charters Towers Gun Club Field 23
Batting first, Yabulu 8/182 from 35 overs. Nudeballers 5/257 from 35 overs
Nudeballers win by 6 wickets in 27.2 overs
Yabulu batted well, recording 3 partnerships over 30 (only Wreck ‘Em has had more against the Nudies), but Nudeballers did well to keep the run-rate to about 4.6 in the first 25 overs. With just 4 wickets down, Yabulu chanced their arm clubbing 66 from the last 10 to take their score to 182 from a full complement of overs. Wickets were shared amongst eight bowlers; Stinky and Bonfire both bowled maidens.
In the chase, Nudeballers recorded five partnerships over 30, the most in their history at the Ashes. Uncle Bob featured in four of these; two of which were 50 partnerships with Stinky and Chief King. Uncle Bob, Stinky and Chief King all got 50s in the Nudeballers chase which saw the total overhauled by a Chief King six in the 28th over. Nudeballers went on to take 68 from the last 46 balls to post 5/257 at the close.
This was the Nudeballers ninth consecutive total over 200 and 12th consecutive win at the Goldfield Ashes.
Weekend Awards
Pink Cap (Fielding)- Chief King & #pooinsink
Purple Cap (Bowling) - Idiot
Orange Cap (Batting) - Stinky
