I'd like to tell you a story - of David vs Goliath, of the White Knight
vs the Dragon. It's a story of heroes and of amazing deeds. Where names
like Matthew Clapham, Jan Haubruck, Jake Lee, Reece Conley and Tom Dowd
will shine like diamonds.
OK, so it was just a cricket match, but
it was one like I have never experienced before, and in many ways I
never wish to experience again.
The Kiama 3rd Grade Gold
(Academy) side travelled to Bonaira Street Oval to take on Oak Flats -
the current premiers, the current leaders, and having only lost one game
this season, to our Blue brothers before the Xmas break. The day was
quite ridiculous. I have no idea what the temperature made it to, but
I've never played at Bonaira Street when there has not been a breath of
wind, and none made its presence felt until well after 5pm that day.
Drinks breaks were taken every 10-12 overs, and both umpires held
bottles of water for batsmen and fielders alike - something I have ever
experienced on a cricket field. One of the toughest days weather-wise I
have ever played.
Joe again gave us the perfect start by winning
the toss and batting. General consensus was that if we batted out our 50
overs and made around 150 we would be in a good position. Despite the
early loss of Reece Conley to a good outswinger, the innings moved
forward slowly and steadily with Gary Koks and Jan Haubruck. The bowling
was tight, but the batsmen took no risks and squeezed out runs where
possible in the stifling heat. The conclusion of the opening salvos from
the Rats young fast bowlers brought a change with instant results. The
score had reached 1/42 when Nick Maloney began from the Kendall's End,
and who then snared Gary for 23, Jani for 13 and Joe for 14 in a period
of three overs. Add to this the run out of Jake Ashley for a duck, and
Kiama had lost four wickets for just the addition of 14 runs, leaving
the team slumped at 5/56.
Enter Matt Clapham, nerveless and seemingly
untroubled by the daunting scenario. He was immediately at ease, and
dominated the partnership of 48 for the sixth wicket. He picked the
right ball to hit, pouncing on the short ball from the off spinner, as
well as thumping him over long on for six. He also played the Rats best
and paciest bowler, Peter Dalley, well, nudging him around the corner
for singles, and keeping out the good deliveries. It was certainly the
best innings I have seen Matt play.
The second drinks break was a
much required pitstop for the batsmen and fielding team, but it also
proved to be Kiama's undoing, with the five remaining wickets falling
for just ten runs upon resumption. Matt's 23 was equal top score of the
innings and was fully deserved.
Though the total of 114 did
appear to be 20 or 30 runs short of what was required, Joe's message of
"they still have to make them" rang in the team's ears as they took the
field. Early wickets appeared to be the key, as it was obvious that Oak
Flats would go at the total hard to try and wipe it out as quickly as
possible. This they did in the first three overs, as poor Mitch Nevins
channelled the spirit of his namesake Mitch Johnson, and couldn't get
the ball to behave. The Rats batsmen took advantage, racing to 0/26 off
the first four overs. A wicket in the fifth over helped to settle down
the run rate, and the Oak Flats batsmen set themselves to see off Gavin
Hartley without forfeiting their wickets. When the first drinks break
was taken the score had reached 1/54, and the batsmen appeared in
control.
However, the drinks break struck again, with four
wickets falling for just a single run, revitalising the match as a
contest. Dowell and Morrow were dismissed in the same over, before Matt
Clapham, who had replaced Gavin at the Kendall's End, took two wickets
in two deliveries - the skipper MacPherson caught well down the leg side
by Jani (who had taken the keeping gloves at the drinks break), and
then trapping the dangerous Brad Morey LBW for a golden duck (though the
batsman claimed to have edged it, and from side on he was a looooong
way down the wicket. Having said this, the umpire gave him out quickly
and without fuss, so it must have been pretty plumb). Oak Flats had
crumbled to 5/59, and the whole atmosphere of the game changed with it.
Now, rather than taking on the bowling the batsmen had to exercise some
caution, or risk losing more wickets in the short term. This they did,
with Billet looking to be the more aggressive when possible. When the
second drinks break was taken they had consolidated their position, and
after 27 overs they were 5/81, still 34 runs from victory, but with
enough overs left to do it comfortably.
More change was
necessary, with Jani taking off the pads so he could take up the attack
from the Kendall's end with his leg spin, and Joe becoming the third
keeper for Kiama for the afternoon. With Jani and Jake Ashley bowling in
tandem runs were still not flowing, and it was obvious that this was
becoming a problem for Billet. Finally he could take no more, and tried
to put Jani over the fence at long on. He was beaten in the flight
however, and only managed to sky the ball about a thousand metres in the
air, to where Jake Lee was perched at a regulation mid-on. The ball was
in the air for about thirty seconds, while Jake set himself underneath
its flight. Then (somewhat strangely) he hopped in the air three times
as he waited for the ball to descend. After an eternity the ball
returned to earth - straight into the middle of Jake's hands, completing
a brilliant catch. Kiama erupted, both on the field and from the
sidelines. It brought to an end a terrific innings from Billet, who had
batted for over 30 overs in the fiercest heat to score 44 runs.
With
the mainstay of the innings gone, the pressure fell back on the Oak
Flats team, and their indecision meant that the runs had dried up almost
completely. Jake was again bowling a good tight spell, and was
eventually rewarded with the wicket of Dalley late in his spell. The
score was now 7/96.
In the next seven overs, only 6 runs were added
as the game tightened up even further. Eight overs to go, 12 runs to win
and three wickets in hand. Joe had by now brought the field in, meaning
it was difficult to find any runs. With Jake Ashley's spell of six
overs at an end, Matt came back on from the Easts Beach end, and
immediately broke through by picking up Herbert, and at 8/102 the good
guys were still in it.
Enter Nick Maloney, who only ever plays
one way, and he deposited his first ball over cover for four. Another
slash went in the air, rocketing towards the mid on boundary. At
regulation mid-on, Reece Conley ran, dived full length airborne, getting
his right hand to the ball, but unable to hold what would have been an
absolute screamer of a catch. Though the wicket may not have been taken,
Reece's great effort had saved three runs, as there would have been no
hope of cutting off the boundary if it had gotten past him. And at that
stage of the match, three runs saved was worth a fortune...
45
overs gone, Oak Flats are four runs from victory, Kiama are two wickets
from victory. Jan Haubruck commences his tenth and final over. He has
bowled beautifully, getting good turn and bounce, flighting the ball
perfectly. He admits later that it was almost impossible for him to keep
throwing the ball up there, feeling that he should be darting it in to
the batsmen. Fortunately he fought his instincts and bowled exactly as a
leg spinner must to the tail - try to tempt them into false shots. He
has beaten the bat a dozen times for no reward, and yet he continues to
give the ball air. His second ball tempts Maloney into a big drive,
which is edged to where a wide 2nd slip may have been. The ball rushes
away, and the batsmen look for two. At deep point, Tom Dowd, who has
again excelled in the field as he did against Gerringong in December,
rushes around. As the batsmen turn and confirm their intentions for two,
Tom picks up and throws almost in one action, sends the ball careering
into keeper Murphy's gloves, and the bails are taken with Maloney about
15 centimetres short of his ground. A brilliant piece of fielding has
brought about an almost incalculably valuable run out, and Oak Flats are
9/112.
You almost had to feel for Brownlee as he comes to the
crease. He has taken 5/16 with the ball, and now must try to find the
three runs required for victory with the bat. You could sense his
nerves. For Kiama, Joe decides to keep all of the field up to make the
batsmen try and hit the ball over the top. Gutsy. Jani also continues to
toss the ball up to the batsman, tempting him like the snake with the
apple in the garden of Eden. Gutsy. Two balls are thrown up, and the
batsman is beaten prodding. Anguish amongst the Kiama team.
The fifth
ball is a gem, well flighted and pitched, drawing the batsman down the
wicket in an attempt to get at it. The ball dips, hits the pitch and
rips past the bat into the waiting gloves of Joe Murphy, who crashes the
stumps down in earnest, and the game is over. Kiama win by two runs, in
a game that many of us will remember for a long time to come.
Stars
are everywhere. Gavin Hartley's great bowling is complemented by his
efforts in the field, with one attempted catch going wrong as he rolled
over the ball, causing what must have been a very painful crack in the
spine and kidney area. Jake Lee's marvellous catch. Reece Conley's save
at mid-on, that turned out to be a match-saving one. Tom Dowd's
fantastic run out under enormous pressure. Jake Ashley's solid six over
spell of bowling at the most important stage of the match. Matt
Clapham's fantastic all round effort with bat, ball and in the field.
Gary Koks fielding in just about every position on the field throughout
the 46 overs. Jani being good with the gloves, and exceptional with the
ball.
And a special mention to the captain. Once again Joe was cool
under pressure, almost always pulling the right rein at the right time
with both bowling options and field placements. He took a catch at first
slip, catches as keeper and the final wonderful stumping. There is not a
better person in this Club that our 15 to 17 year olds can learn from
about the game of cricket. There is at least one 41 year old in the Club
who is still learning from him, and admiring his ability to make this
team as competitive and tough as it is.
In the toughest
conditions that I have played in, Kiama Gold move to within one game of
first place in the 3rd Grade competition. Special thanks should also go
to our hardy supporters, especially Brendan and Adam, Brad and Ernie and
Morty, who spent all or most of the day at the game helping us get
home, and Pearso who made sure he got there to mark out the boundaries
etc.
