“The Miracle at Marchant” Macgregor Mongrels v Nundah United
Warehouse 2015/16 B2
19 & 25 September 2015 at Marchant Park 4
DAY ONE:
"What's that stuff?"
"Turf boys; plays a little differently!"
Short of bowlers, the Mongrels won the toss and batted at Marchant Park 4 v Nundah United. The rain-affected pitch was tricky with some remarkable movement off the wicket, variable, trampoline bounce.... Just about everything really. Sabahat Mahmood, played well early; hitting through the line and playing straight for his 23. At 9/104, things looked pretty awful, but some very clever farming of the strike by Brent Cocker and some good hitting by stalwart, Matthew Windsor, resulted in a final wicket partnership of 41 and a 50 for Brent. The Mongrels finished on 145.
It was the turn of evergreen, Paul Jonas next. With Dave Corrigan applying pressure at one end, PJ, captured the first four wickets with the aid of two screamers from Michael Turner. Mick then came on to bowl and took two of his own and Nundah were 6/80 at the close.
A good day lads... Evenly poised.
We're going to need a some extra fieldsmen next week as we have four/five players from today unable to back up and only 2 subs. Please let PJ or Matty know if you can help.
DAY TWO:
What an amazing performance by the Mongrels at Marchant Park today!
Last week, the Mongrels managed just 145, but at the end of the day, the opposition was 6/80 thanks to a four wicket haul by Paul Jonas and two wickets at the death to Mick Turner. On Day Two, the Mongrels were decimated; only seven players were available. The entrepreneurial Michael Turner, gathered a couple of randoms from another field to assist in the field. PJ quickly named the pair Randy and Dominic 😁. Scorer, Gian Taviani, was coerced into donning the gloves; a master-stroke when he accepted a catch off the bowling of Turner in the second over of the day. Khaleel Waqar's bamboozling googlies picked up two wickets, one courtesy of a catch by PJ. A boundary catch off Turner by Matthew Taviani brought the Nundah innings to a close 11 runs short of the Mongrels total... Amazingly first Innings secured. How important was that final wicket partnership on Day One?
An unlucky run out and several dubious LBWs had the seven man, Mongrels in heaps of trouble. All but Sabahat Mahmood that is. Uncle clubbed an important 47 (out of 75) to go with his first innings 23. Nundah's target was 87 from 31 overs, but the Mongrels' spirits were high. Skipper, Matt Taviani, took the new ball and bowled beautifully; full, with movement in the air and off the wicket. Wickets came in each of Matt's first four overs. Catches taken by the Old Tav and the ever present PJ. 4/23. What? Could? Maybe!
Enter Mark Lyons another wicket and how were there not more with batsmen repeatedly beaten? Nundah rallied and 5/34 became 5/70 at drinks. After drinks, wickets to Matt and Khaleel once again ignited the Mongrels, but now only 4 more runs were needed. Then, 2 wickets in 2 balls! Matt Taviani had 7/18 from 7 overs! Four runs needed and one wicket needed for the Mongrels.
The ball was thrown to PJ and he began to amble in, the ball landed short, the batsman was in two minds. Will I hit it for six or four? He swung, the ball bounced. The stumps were broken. The game was won. OUTRIGHT! What? How? Euphoria!
