Wanderers v Western Swelter U15
9 December 2019
Bichel Oval, Laidley
Warm conditions and a very tricky Bichel Oval wicket greeted the Wanderers at Laidley. Sheldon Stackpole didn’t have time to find out what the wicket was doing, a top edge went straight up second ball and was caught by the bowler. A 2nd wicket 32 run partnership between Byron Gale and Harry Carroll ended when Byron drove one into the hands of mid-off. 8 balls later Harry bunted a full toss back to the spinner and it was 3/36. James Girolami, could not come to terms with the variable bounce and lobbed one to mid-wicket to make it 4/48.
Andrew Walsh and Lewis Robinson dug in for a 45 run, 5th wicket stand. There were few boundary balls and a lot of frustration. 4/93 became 7/93 as Andrew’s fall was followed by Lewis and Nick Parrott in quick succession.
Matt Kennedy and Andrew Bertram stuck around for a couple of quick partnerships with Allan Meincke, then when Allan fell in the final over, it brought veterans Brad Murphy (batting with a runner) and Troy Robbins together for the final few balls. Troy was out on the second last ball with the total on 136; probably about 20 too few.
Swelter were in trouble early as Matt Kennedy and Andrew Bertram probed the batsmen, sneaking through the defences and disturbing the stumps. Veteran keeper Andrew Walsh, also nabbed one to have the Swelter 3/14 in short time. Callum Galvin and Regan Liebcke settled the innings with 33 for the 4th before the mercurial James Girolami enticed a cut which was plucked out of the air by Troy Robbins at backward point. Liebcke fell shortly after to a Matt Kennedy catch off Lewis Robinson and it was 5/66.
Another fine catch, this time at backward square, by Troy Robbins off Girolami,made it 6/77 and all of a sudden 134 looked a good score. There were plenty of overs left though and Will Nason was patient at one end while partner, Isaac Hardy, smashed boundaries in a 50 run, 7th wicket partnership.
Just 10 runs were needed when Brad Murphy pouched one at slip off Nick Parrott, behind a diving Girolami, to dismiss Hardy. Parrott picked up the new batsman shortly after to make it 8fa, but, Will Nason completed a fine 34 not out bringing up the winning runs in the 35th over.
An enthralling game of cricket. Well done to both teams and a big Thank You to Simon and his team for making the day possible.
