APJCC Under 13’s: Semi-Final vs The Rail at Myimbar East Oval

Albion Park’s Under 13’s Eagles fought through some nerves, some forgetfulness and some drama in competing in the final stages of the season, and despite a scorecard that suggests otherwise they found a way to get past a gutsy and tough Rail outfit to book a place in next weekend’s Final with a victory by 105 runs.

 
The Rail won the toss and somewhat surprisingly elected to field, giving the Eagles bats the chance to go out and put runs on the board. Kasey Barton and Tristan Denmeade resumed their opening partnership and worked well together on an outfield that was not offering value for shots. The partnership had reached 30 before Tristan responded to a call of ‘wait’ that he took as ‘yes’, and the excellent fielding found him short of regaining his ground and he was run out for 7. That’s becoming an all too familiar story between these two. Noah Black joined Kasey, and while scoring was still difficult Kasey played a sensible innings before reaching his retirement quota and leaving the field on 20 not out. Lucas Brown came out at four and played a couple of nice straight pulls and looked to be getting into his innings, only to edge a ball behind to be caught for 4. Aiden Campion replaced him and struck a couple of well timed pull shots to the boundary and he and Noah looked as though they were going to consolidate the innings for their team, being 2/75 at drinks. This went out the window when both were dismissed in the two overs after the drinks break, with Aiden picking out the only player on the legside boundary to be caught for 11, and Noah missing a straight ball and being bowled for 7. Hopefully both are saving their runs for next week.
Logan Goodway was joined by Josh Peters, and Logan looked great again as he has in recent weeks, but made an error in judgement in coming through for a second run where it didn’t appear likely and was run out for 4. Josh Schofield replaced him and again showed himself to be busy, looking to score off every ball and scurry for quick runs. He was then undone by a reasonable delivery to be bowled for 4. TJ Nasome came out after last week’s unfortunate run out, but today also proved not to be his day, getting and excellent offcutter to be bowled. Suddenly the Eagles were 7/98 with almost ten overs remaining, and the game was well and truly open for The Rail.

 
Kasey returned to join Josh, and these two again proved how terrifically well they bat together. There was no panic, there was no hesitation, there was no bad shots. They were both prepared to see off the good deliveries and take maximum benefit from the wide or short deliveries. They missed a few runs in their running, but given the heat of the day and the importance of not adding to the two run outs they could be forgiven for this. They batted together until the end, putting on an unbroken partnership of 66 from just over nine overs, stretching the final score for the Eagles to 7/164 from their alloted 30 overs. Kasey played brilliantly, yet another captains knock under pressure at the top of the order and the end of the innings, finishing on 57 not out, while Josh played his role perfectly again, batting with the bottom of the order but also contributing when the retired batsmen come back in, and finished on 26 not out.
The running between the wickets today was particularly average, and while excuses could be made it was unfortunate to see that in such a big game the kids had seemingly forgotten some of those things we have been training for all season.

 
With a bigger total to defend than looked likely an hour before, the kids then found the pressure of the situation still on their shoulders, and the fielding and bowling was not at the standard they have set for most of the season. Too short and too wide with the ball, and out of position in the field, these things along with some sensible early batting from The Rail kids meant that it was the batting team that was putting the pressure on the fielding team. Lucas Brown was not bad but he was not his at his usual best either, just failing to find that line he usually bowls. His two overs finished with 0/7, and hopefully next week will be his time to truly shine. Ryan Cergovski played his role perfectly, keeping the ball where he does best and tying up the scoring, finishing with 0/5 from his two overs. Tristan and TJ replaced them with mixed results. TJ has spent most of the season getting the ball right up to the stumps, but today he could barely land in beyond his half of the pitch. In his favour was that at least the balls were straight meaning they had to be played at. He finished his spell with 0/11. Tristan too was just a metre short of the perfect length, but he is still very difficult to get away, and he eventually drew a pull shot in the air that was excellently taken by Kasey low down at mid-wicket to dismiss the first wicket of the innings. Tristan will be pleased with his figures of 1/5. Josh Peters and Noah came on for the third wave. Josh was too short today, not really dragging the batters forward and suffered somewhat as a result. He still beat the bat a couple of times but is another that is hopefully just saving up for next week, finishing with 0/8. Noah continued his role of being full and making the batters play and tying up the runs as a result. He did his job well today in finishing with 0/7. Kasey bowled well today, again perhaps just a tad wide of the off stump, but at the time dot balls were like gold, and he managed ten of them in his 12 deliveries to finish with 0/3.

 
At 2/48 in the 14th over, Albion Park had squeezed the runs but The Rail had kept their wickets in hand, and the game looked as though it would go to the end. The fact that the game lasted only 36 more deliveries is somewhat remarkable. The chief destroyer was a familiar name in Logan Goodway. Logan has form for this, destroying Kiama Gold earlier in the season. Today he had three deliveries for two runs, and then... carnage. A great straight ball beat the batter and took the middle stump for his first wicket and the team’s third. The very next ball he drew a legside flick from the young representative batter that caught the top edge and was excellently taken by Aiden at keeper. The hat-trick ball failed to find the desired result, but in his next over he drew the lofted drive to mid-on where Tristan came in and took a terrific catch. Logan had destroyed the middle order, putting his team back on top, and finished with 3/4 from his two overs. Brilliant stuff Logan.
From here the boom fell quickly. Ethan and Aiden came on for their regular bowling partnership and shared the final three wickets between them. Aiden first found the off stump with his first ball to dismiss the sixth batter, before Ethan coaxed a drive in the air that was taken well by Aiden at cover. Aiden then finished it off by wrecking the stumps again. Ethan again finished with excellent figures of 1/4 and continues to be a wicket taker when the team needs it, while Aiden just continues to prove the theory that line and length will get wickets, completing the day with 2/2. The Rail was dismissed for 59 runs, with Albion Park running out winner by 105 runs.

 
Today was not this team’s best performance of the season, but again they all dug deep when they needed to and they found a way to get over the line. The scoreline suggests this match was easier than it actually was. The Rail played some good cricket and tested the Eagles team.

 
And so it comes to the final match of the season. Finals matches are different beasts, and previous results mean nothing. The Eagles have been fortunate enough to have won in narrow results in both games against Oak Flats this season, and they know they will have to be at their best next week if they are going to be a chance of winning again. The two best teams in the competition will square off against each other one more time. Whatever happens, win or lose, it is likely to be a terrific game of cricket.
Thanks to Mark and Waz for scoring today, and for all of the support from the families of the kids, and from players and officials from the Albion Park Cricket Club. Your support today was part of the reason these kids got the win.

 
Lastly, all the very best to our Under 15B team in their finals clash with Port Kembla tomorrow. A great win today by them over Keira sees them play the preliminary final for a spot in next week’s final. To Anthony and his charges... go get ‘em!!