FLANNELLED FOOLERY: 18 DECEMBER 2018

Cricket Round-Up By GREG PRINGLE*

Magpies claim wooden spoon early

A swashbuckling century from Ben Brown wasn’t enough for Magpies to beat Country on the weekend, whilst Millthorpe started to gain momentum and easily beat the inconsistent Molong Bowlers.

Magpies have the wooden spoon firmly in their grasp, as they lost their sixth game in a row and now sit well last on the ladder.

Batting first, openers Ben Brown and Michael Thompson got Magpies off to a great start.

Magpies didn’t lose their first wicket until the 23rd over when the score was on 88 and Thompson was dismissed for 41.

After that Ben Brown plundered the bland Country bowlers all over Hunter Caldwell, scoring his first century and finishing 108 not out and

Magpies finishing their 40 overs at 1/183.

Jock Haynes the only bowler to grab a wicket, taking 1/29.

Trent Frazer was bowling beautifully from the northern end of the ground, stemming the run rate well, when he was inexplicably changed to bowl from the southern end.

With a strong wind behind the batsmen, Trent was smashed all over the ground by Brown in what can only be described as a very strange move.

No doubt absent captain and Euchareena Mayor Nigel Brazier will be briefed and there will be a formal inquiry despite the side being assured of the Minor Premiership again.

In reply, Country openers Trent Frazer and Brett Wykes batted very well with an opening partnership of 67 before Wykes was bowled by Jacob Evans for 27.

Frazer continued on and was not dismissed until he reached 74.

James Brazier also batted well for Country, scoring 42 and putting his team into a winning position before being dismissed late in the game.

Requiring six an over late in the game was little trouble for the Premiers and they passed Magpies’ total with two overs to go after some big hitting from Damien Hayes (24 not out).

Tim Milne (1/38), Jake Evans (2/19) and Brett Johnson (1/34) were Magpies’ best bowlers.

Another loss for Magpies and with the bye next week the wooden spoon is in the mail. Jacob Evans, call into the post office and sign for it please.

At the Rec, the much sought-after third spot was at stake when Millthorpe played the Molong Bowlers.

After a good win last week against Magpies, Bowlers went into the game as slight favorites and were confident playing at home.

Winning the toss and batting, Bowlers got off to a bright start with Andrew Drady (62) and Chris Beatty (23) leading the way and putting them in a great position and looking for a big total at 2/93.

However, for the second week in a row evidence of a very brittle batting line-up raised its ugly head, with not one of the next seven batsman able to score double figures.

Bowlers were all out for 142. Get in the nets and practice Bowlers. That is rubbish.

M Fisher was the chief destroyer for Millthorpe, taking 5/13.

S Redfern (2/31) and N Gronger (2/24) also bowled well. 

There was a scare in the Millthorpe camp when their superstar Will Oldham missed the game when he accidentally double booked his hair stylist and manicurist.

Will chose the latter over cricket due to cracked finger nails.

However his team mates rallied and they had little trouble passing Bowlers’ modest total in the 37th over.

M Fisher (28) and S Pearce (28) batted well but it was Low top scoring with 51 before being run out.

Millthorpe were victors at 3/144, gaining some great momentum not far out from the Xmas break.

Molong Bowlers were best served by Ed Twiss, taking 1/34 from his 10 overs.

A real test of Millthorpe’s credentials will occur this week when they host Premiers Country at home.

In the other game, Cudal will travel to the Rec and face Molong Bowlers who are starting to look wobbly.

After two complete series of home-and-away games, when all teams have played each other twice and had two byes apiece, the competiton table stands at Country 52, Cudal 40, Bowlers 36, Millthorpe 36, Magpies 32 (outrageous).

*Greg Pringle is Secretary/Treasurer of Molong District Cricket. He plays for Molong Magpies but swears he is as hard, if not harder, on his own guys as the opposition.