South Brisbane v Redlands - 2nd Grade
Allan Pettigrew Shield - Round 14
11 and 18 December 2021 at Norman Gray Oval
DAY ONE:
On a glorious day at Fehlberg Park, Matt Casey won his fifth toss in a row (more correctly, the opposition called incorrectly đ), hesitated for show, then chose to bat! (I mightâve made some of that up đ€«)
The Redlands bowling was very tight early. Aaron Joby and Corbin Zeller held out until the 12th over when an edge from Zellerâs bat, off Klinton Goodridge found the hands of skipper, Nick Hurford, at slip. Liam OâHare joined Joby and the pair added 40 to take Souths to Lunch at 1/58 from 32 overs; a good over rate on a hot day.
Hard work and perseverance paid off for Redlandsâ Nathan Collins in the second over after lunch, when OâHare edged to the keeper off the first ball and Trent Pearce did the same five balls later; Souths 3/58. Collins picked up his third a few overs before drinks; Souths limping to the halfway mark at 4/87. A huge turning point for Souths came just five balls after drinks when Brendan McNae was dropped, while still on zero, with the score on 88. It was like a switch had been flicked! 16 runs came off the next two overs. Aaron Joby brought up 50 from 145 balls. McNae slammed three boundaries in the 53rd over, then plundered 18 from the 56th to bring up the 50 partnership from 75 balls. The 150 came up for Souths just 29 minutes after the 100 and McNae brought up his 50 from 47 balls two overs before Tea. 4/87 had become 4/161 in 15 overs.
Joby and McNae continued to dominate after Tea adding another 68 from 14 overs and bringing up the 100 partnership from 152 balls. McNae was finally out, caught on the boundary, two overs before drinks for a match-changing 88 from 95 balls; the partnership 146 from 201 balls in exactly 2 hours. Joby continued to defy the bowling and after a 10-over stay in the 90s, brought up a maiden century for Souths from 254 balls and a marathon five and a half hour stay at the wicket. Joby continued to accumulate runs as wickets fell around him. With the score on 298, Nathan Collins grabbed his 4th wicket, dismissing Joby for 124 from the last ball of the 94th over. A wicket off the final ball of the day saw Souths all out for 299; Nathan Collins rewarded with 5/52 from 22 overs.
to be continuedâŠ.
DAY TWO:
Chasing 300 for a first innings result, the day began poorly for Redlands when Nic Golding struck twice in the first 25 minutes; Matthew Taviani taking an edge and Brendan McNae getting under one at fine leg. However, the next hour belonged to Redlands as skipper, Nick Hurford, combined with Jason Grosvenor in a 65-run, 3rd wicket partnership. Souths skipper, Matt Casey intervened in the 22nd over - sneaking one through Grosvenor to crash into the stumps. Hurford continued on to a 50 from just 56 balls, but was out a couple of overs before lunch when he top-edged Arlen Wells-Peris for Golding to take a good catch overhead at point.
Resuming at 4/113 after lunch, both teams wouldâve considered first innings points within their grasp, but an outstanding partnership between Carter Pearson and Cameron French swung the match in Redlands favour. The pair added 57 in the hour after lunch; posting a 50 partnership from 98 balls along the way. A very tight period after the drinks break, restricted the partnership to just 10 runs in seven overs. Surviving dropped catches in successive overs, Pearson brought up his 50 and the Redlands 200, 15 minutes before the tea break. Two overs later, Pearson was dropped again off the first ball of Josh Bartlettâs over. However, French was not so lucky when he edged to Taviani from the last ball of the over to bring the two hour partnership to a close on 99; Redlands 5/208 at Tea.
Needing 92 from the remaining 29 overs, Redlands came out blazing after Tea smashing 16 from the first 15 balls, before a Bartlett bullet beat Pearson and scattered the stumps. Just 11 runs came from the next nine overs, culminating in a wicket to Mehta from a brilliant catch by Casey at mid-wicket; Redlands 7/235. Although the new ball was available, Casey persisted with spin and was rewarded when, in his 21st over of the day, Wells-Peris enticed another top edge, pouched by Mehta, to make it 8/248. Souths were now in the box seat, but nobody told Bailey Stewart who plundered the next over for 19 runs to take Redlands to drinks just 30 runs short of first innings.
In hot conditions, the dayâs over rate had been fantastic. 31 overs in the first session, 36 overs in the second and 18 overs in the hour after tea, meant that just 11 overs were required in the last hour of the day. Two balls into the last hour, the rampant Bailey Stewart smashed Wells-Perisâ worst ball of the day straight to Trent Pearce at cover; Redlands 9/270. The next 45 minutes was agonizing as Nathan Collins and James Pullar inched closer and closer to the 300 target. Casey continued to rely on the spin of Mehta and Wells-Peris until the end of the 90th over. With the score on 283, the new ball was taken and McNae and Bartlett re-introduced. Over the next four overs, the hush around the ground was interrupted by the occasional cautious applause as the batsmen eked out singles to get to 292. Two overs to go; eight to get for Redlands; one wicket for Souths. A two from McNae's first ball; six to get. Then, from the second last ball of the over, a lofted shotâŠ.oh noâŠ.but waitâŠ.CAUGHT!!!! by Golding at mid-off. First innings points to Souths. An amazing dayâs cricket. Well done to all players.
