Warehouse Centennial v Bulls Masters
Celebrating 100 Years of Warehouse Cricket
18 March 2022 at Filmer Park
It was a perfect evening at Woody Point. A lovely light breeze, a beautifully presented Filmer Park, a coaching clinic for the kids, a sausage sizzle, fireworks 💥; it was all happening! There was also some cricket. Having been postponed from last August due to COVID, organisers had worked hard to mark Warehouse Cricket’s 100 years with a special match between an Invitational XI and the Bulls Masters.
Warehouse took the field first and were off to a good start when Ben Laughlin popped one up to Steven Rees off the bowling of Ashleigh Sims in the second over. However, the Warehouse joy was short-lived. Bryce Street and Nathan Reardon dominated over the next eleven overs in an entertaining 92 run partnership. Street finally succumbed in the 13th over when he attempted to loft James Smith over the long-on boundary, but found the safe hands of Tom English. Reardon fell in similar fashion in the next over finding Hayden Marks on the straight boundary and when Charlie Hemphrey ran past one two balls later, a Mick Turner stumping gave Chris Allison an enviable 2-2. 1/100 was suddenly 4/108. The run rate slowed briefly over the next few overs and when English snuck one through the defences of Bulls Masters skipper Jimmy Maher with the last ball of the 17th, the score was 5/122. Bulls Masters then exploded into action. Glen Batticiotto clubbed 21 off the next 10 balls before holing out to Hayden Marks off Tom English in the penultimate over. Then Cameron Boyce smashed 26 from the final over to elevate Bulls Masters to a formidable 175 from the allocated 20 overs.
In the chase, Warehouse lost James Smith in the first over by Joe Dawes. Marks and Turner added 23 before Turner edged to Gavin Fitness off Ben Laughlin. Evergreen Michael Munro joined Marks to add 26 for the 3rd wicket, then fell from the first ball of a Luke Feldman wicket-maiden. Bruce Hintz wound back the clock with two lusty sixes off Warehouse president Andrew Middleton, but was undone by the crafty Middleton, trapped in front. A double-strike by Cameron Boyce in the next over saw Warehouse reduced to 6/75 with just 8 overs remaining. Marks and skipper Rees added 30 before Jimmy Maher introduced himself and snapped up both with his first two balls thanks to a couple of great catches by Hemphrey on the long-on boundary and Boyce at gully. Maher picked up a 3rd wicket in his next over and despite some late order hitting by Oscar Patch, Warehouse were bundled out for 127 in the 19th over.
Medals were presented to all participants. Player of the match honours went to Nathan Reardon for his 65 from 40 balls including five 4s and four 6s.
Team captains were effusive in their praise for organisers of the event. Well done to all for an enjoyable evening.
