2013 Nudeballers Goldfield Ashes
Game 1 (Match 13) v Salisbury Boys 1
The one with Bald Tav’s “dive”
26 January 2013 at Carr's Huntley Park, Sellheim, Field 68
Batting first, Salisbury Boys 1 8/144; 35 overs. Nudeballers 7/221; 35 overs.
Nudeballers win by 4 wkts in 25.5 overs
An “out of towner” for our first game.
Keefey (making a return after a couple of seasons off) and The Soiler got the Nudies off to a perfect start with just 12 runs and a wicket coming from the first six overs. Another wicket to Half-A-Night in the 7th and it was 2/13. Salisbury Boys fought back with a 51 run 3rd wicket partnership, including an explosive 16 balls that went .11616 41111. 41444 before Trust Me broke through on the last ball of his over and everyone just calmed-TF-down. A wicket to #pooinsink in the next over made it 4/64, the the inappropriately named “Half-Price” actually got full value retiring on 50.
The next wicket was a moment of drama as a skied ball off debutant Cam, hung in the air, Bald Tav charging toward it, forgetting he was over 50. A stretch, the ball found the hands. A dive, a tumble an “agghhh” and Bald Tav got up and limped from the field. What-a-catch! Medic!
Salisbury Boys were so shocked they could barely score a run for the next 10 overs; adding just 25. Then Donald took a catch off Eagle, Eagle took a catch off Chief King and Chief King took a catch off Keefey to wrap up the innings on 144. Remarkably, eight bowlers took a wicket each with The Soiler’s 3-1-1-2 the best of the bowling figures.
At 1/48 from 7 overs, the chase was going pretty well, but in the space of five overs, the Nudies had collapsed to 5/58. A rescue mission was needed and it came in the form of Cam and #pooinsink who added 76 from 80 balls for the 6th wicket to take the Nudies to within ten runs of victory, before #pooinsink was out. Cam and Wondergai polished off the deficit pretty quickly, Cam going on to complete a 50 on debut and Wondergai retiring on 42 to allow some batting for the lower order. The Nudies went on to record 221 - an unlikely total from 5/58.
Game 2 (Match 14) v Just Us
The One with the Name Drop
27 January 2013 at CT Airport Reserve Field 40
Batting first, Just Us 6/86; 20 overs. Nudeballers 5/176; 20 overs
Nudeballers win by 9 Wkts in 11.4 overs
Unfortunately, the less said about this game, the better. The opposition was playing out of their grade as a favour to organisers and were clearly outclassed. In the 20/20 format, #pooinsink stole most of the highlights with 3-1-2-3; a catch and 36 from 16 balls. There was a catch about a metre over the boundary to dismiss Chief King, which he graciously accepted. Nudeballers piled on 176 in reply to the oppositions 86 from 20 overs.
To my mind, the Nudeballers attempted to maintain a “fun” atmosphere on the day. As is always the case, it just takes one individual with a unique version of the truth, to turn a good time into a “reality show” drama. When the suggestion was made that Russ would be reported for some misunderstood comments, the come-back will live on in Nudeballers lore:
“My name’s Russ Cook. Drop it!”
I still maintain this should’ve been a campaign slogan.
Game 3 (Match 15) v Wreck ‘Em XI
The One without the sweet revenge
28 January 2013 at Blackjack Rd, Field 63
Batting first, Wreck ‘em XI All Out 201; 32.4 overs. Nudeballers 9/168; 29.1 overs.
Nudeballers loss by 33 runs
The only team to have previously defeated the Nudeballers at the Ashes was our final day opponent. In the last encounter, Wreck’Em piled on 22 fours and 18 sixes. This time it was 16 and 15; so some improvement there 😬. Once again, Wreck ‘Em exploited the short boundary to leg for the left hander. The Nudeballers were more seasoned on this occasion, restricting Wreck'Em to just 201. #pooinsink, Uncle Bob, Cam and Keefey picked up two wickets each. Keefey the pick of the bowlers with an amazing 2/9 from 4 overs. Cam became the first Nudeballer to go for 50 in an innings; all the more remarkable in that one of his five overs was a maiden! Chief King picked up a couple of catches and a run out and Bald Tav also grabbed a couple of catches.
The chase was going well with 90 on the board after just 11 overs. Then 4/16, in the space of five overs, plus the retirement of Chief King for 50, set the Nudeballers’ cause back somewhat. Partnerships of 24 between Half-A-Night and Statz, then 33 between Donald and Statz, took the Nudeballers within 35 with 32 balls remaining, but just one wicket in hand. It was not to be, however, Statz falling in the 30th over with Nudeballers 33 runs adrift.
“Sweet Revenge” would have to wait.
Retrospective Weekend Awards
Pink Cap: Chief King
Purple Cap: #pooinsink
Orange Cap: Wondergai
