Message from Sam, captain Turf team
RD12 v Northcote
Arriving at our home ground under a cloudy sky and after the Saturday rain we were curious about the pitch.
Our recently recruited ground-keeper Patty Niblett had already removed the cover (and let us all know it), to reveal a green deck with plenty of moisture. Playing the undefeated Northcote was a huge game, a win would guarantee a finals berth.
Winning the toss, the captain elected to bowl as the sun started to break through. Niblett (3/18 off 8) and W.Hussain (0/10 off 8) took the new ball and had the Northcote openers wishing they had never left their Bill Lawry Oval. Hussain bowled a brilliant spell and was just too good, beating the bat again and again, while Niblett struck early sending the stumps flying, 1/8 after 8 overs. Northcote put on a 50 run partnership for the second wicket before Lakmal (2/18 off 6.3) came on spun one past the bat and Wood whipped the bails off, 2/63 in the 20th over – well on top and the pressure was building.
Dimopoulos (2/25 off 5), B.Park (1/27 off 5) and Lavender (1/8 off 4) bowled in the middle claiming a succession of wickets as Northcote tried to lift the scoring rate. This included the first father son bowled and caught when Baden and Dale Park combined and three brilliant catches by Lavender in the outfield, D.Park in gully and a diving Wood behind the stumps- 6/80 when Hussain, Niblett and Lakmal returned to finish off the tail, Northcote offered some late order resistance but all out for 113 in the 34th over.
Afternoon tea was great, cordial mix a little too strong, resulting in sugar highs across both teams.
A pep talk to the openers to get on with it saw Campbell (14) and Singh (25) open up with a 47 run partnership for the first wicket, with shots across the ground and some brilliant running, Chip Campbell wound back the clock to 1988 under 16’s. Any concern about the pitch keeping low was quickly forgotten as Dale Park entered (25 not out). Mikel Gutesky (0) soon joined him and danced down the wicket, unfortunately he had swung before the ball left the bowlers hand and was bowled, but it could have also been stumped – Hussain commenting in the scorebook ‘offered little resistance’. Lakmal came in (19 not out) and with Dale steered the ship home in the 27th over.
A big win that ensures finals. We have a bye this week followed by our last home and away game on Sunday 24 February v MCC at Donald McDonald Oval, Stawell St in Beaumaris. Please come down and support the team, we will have beer ($2 a can) and soft drink ($1 a can).