2011 Nudeballers Goldfield Ashes
Irish Molly’s again
The legend of:
Steve Stevenson and Pumpkins ‘R’ Us
Donald’s Duck
The Soiler
Game 1 (Match 7) v Wreck ‘em XI
The one with 18 sixes.
21 January 2011 at Blackjack Rd Field 63
Batting first, Wreck’ em XI 8/256; 34.2 overs. Nudeballers 8/207; 27.3 overs.
Nudeballers loss by 49 runs
A Hot Wreck ‘Em, playing to their home conditions (short boundaries square to the left handers), plundered the Nudie bowling for 40 boundaries, 18 of them sixes. Wreck' Em rocketed to 96 in the first ten overs, but were then restricted to about 6 an over. Chief King returned figures of 1/14 from 5, conceding just one boundary; amazing given the circumstances. Wondergai picked up 2 catches and 3 Questions, 2 wickets in an over.
The 257 target was by far the biggest challenge for the Nudeballers to date. Trust Me anchored the top half of the order, completing his maiden Nudeballer 50. A 9-over, 74 run partnership between Donald and Wondergai provided some hope, but Donald’s dismissal and Wondergai’s retirement left just four wickets to score the remaining 102. The Nudies got half of them, but Wreck 'Em got the chocolates.
Game 2 (Match 8) v Filthy Animals
The one with Donald’s duck.
22 January 2011 at CT Airport Reserve Field 32
Batting first, Filthy Animals All Out 105; 23.4 overs. Nudeballers 9/219; 31.5 overs
Nudeballers win by 9 Wkts in 10.2 overs
The Soiler, #pooinsink and Half-A-Night picked up two wickets each. Chief King and #pooinsink took a couple of catches each. All were keen to erase the previous day’s bad memories. Hence, the Animals were rolled in 22.4 overs.
The story goes that after rolling the Animals for 105, Donald (then Panther) was heard to utter “It’d be pretty embarrassing to get a duck against these guys wouldn’t it?”. I’m not sure if this is really true, but why spoil a good story with facts?
The Nudies were equally enthusiastic in the chase. Half-A-Night and Chief King started proceedings with a 69-run opening stand in just 7 overs. The dismissal of Half-A-Night and the retirement of Chief King shortly after, brought Anal and Trust Me together for a 33-run partnership which overhauled the target in the 11th over.
Panther came to the crease at the fall of Trust Me’s wicket in the 14th over. Unable to convert his free hit, Panther faced two dots in the 14th, three dots in the 15th, three in the 16th; none in the 17th. Trust Me took over umpire duties. 😬 Finally, a tickle to fine leg for a single on the first ball of the 18th…No…Wait….a leg bye signalled 😳 Dot…single… Oh No Panther! The Nudies went on to post 219, but that hardly seemed to matter.. “Donald” was born.
Game 3 (Match 9) v NACL
The one with the baby wipes.
23 January 2011 at CT Airport Reserve Field 38
Batting first, NACL 9/115; 31.5 overs. Nudeballers 8/137 from 35 overs
Nudeballers win by 3 wkts in 28.1 overs
“Cookie. You’re up next over, get loose.”
“Nah Gian. Let someone else bowl mate. I’m not feeling well".
“Ok”
A couple of overs later….
“Cookie. Are you right yet?”
“Well… Oh…. Jeez! I think I’ve Sh$t myself!”
“What?” When I said “get loose”…….and “The Soiler” was born.
Thank goodness Shazza had made the trip from Townsville to watch her beloved and had a stash of Baby Wipes. The weird thing was that for some reason, she also had a pair of undies for Russ. 🤔
There was also some cricket. Despite an early loss, a 50 to Tim Mills and partnerships of 33 and 53 had NACL on 2/93 in the 21st over. However, a capitulation of massive proportions, 7/22 in the next 11 overs, saw NACL bundled out for 115. Trust Me took an amazing 3/9 from five, including two maidens, Chief King took two in an over and somehow, despite his condition, Cookey recovered to take three, including a double wicket maiden at the end of the innings.
In contrast, Nudeballers had a disastrous start with four wickets in the first 9 overs. Statz and Trust Me steadied the ship in a 48-run partnership, but when they exited in the 21st and 22nd over, it was 6/91. Donald and Half-A-Night added 12 to take the Nudeballers to within a dozen, then, The Soiler partnered Donald for a valuable 17 to take Nudeballers past the target in the 29th over.
An unforgettable day!
Retrospective Weekend Awards
Orange Cap: Trust Me; 113 - one 50
Purple Cap: Cookey (The Soiler); 13-0-6-76
Pink Cap: #pooinsink/Chief King; 3 catches, Old Tav; 2 catches, 1 stumping
