Over 50s PJ Red - Orange Write Up

Day 1

The PJ Red team assembled at Wade Park for the opening game against the newly formed Illawarra Red team.

The weather was perfect, the pitch a bit damp from the storm that went through a couple of days before but still everyone was of the opinion we should bat. It took a little while for Warwick to click that Matthew ( the only opposing opinion ) was an opening Bowler and that his eyes were rolling when he noticed some moisture in the wicket.

Warwick waved his cries away lost the toss and we were sent in to bat anyway.

All batsmen contributed to the score of 3-291 which was a great sign.

We then went through the Illawarra batsman without too may issues. The hardest part at the end of the day was dismissing the number 12 Bat who we invited to have a hit and then refused to play a false shot for another 45 minutes.

MOM – Matthew Hardman – Scores on My Cricket Website Highlight of Day 1 – Having my 12 man Cheer Squad arrive an embarrass me for an hour 😊 Day 2 The Manager had informed all players the evening before that we would be playing Tamworth Hazelwoods at Riawena Oval. All turned up the next day which was a positive with a few groans and growls in the dressing room from Day 1 and a hazy smell of many different liniments spreading through the dressing room.

It turned out to be another Beautiful sunny day and this time around Warwick won the toss and we decided to have a bat. A shaky start being 2-1 after a couple of overs but a team recovery took place and we ended up with a very respectable 6-221 after our allocated Overs.

Tamworth started strong with all intention of hitting boundaries early but we knew if patient this would work against them in the end which it did. We frustrated them and the wickets turned over quickly and we ended up rolling them for 181. The downer of the day was the Manager not organising post-match beers. Thankfully Amanda Gowthorp looked after the boys by heading to the Bottle Shop and taking the heat of me – Thank you Amanda!! From here we knew we had done everything possible and could only hope that quotients would fall our way. Our 1st look on the website would show us that Riverina had won well and stepped over the top of us and sat at the top on Quotient and would defend their title.

What would happen with Central Coast Yellow ?

From there we started working out numbers or more like our Master of Mathematics Matthew started working out averages in his head and we started to understand what we needed out of the last game which was Central Coast to lose an amount of wickets and there quotient to suffer. The scores came in and within two minutes Matt had both our Quotient as well as Central Coasts down to the last decimal point and we had been lucky enough to move through to the Grand Final being played the day after at Wade Park. Dinner at the Conobolas was a very subdued affair with coke being the drink of choice for most. I only realised that after I had purchased my schooner of beer and felt a bit guilty. We were all fed and out of the pub at a very reasonable time and disappeared into the Orange evening to prepare for the next day.

MOM – Michael Hall – Scores on My Cricket Website Highlight of the Day – Finding out we had a Dr of Mathematics in the team and that we could work our own Quotients out within a minute. Day 3 The day didn’t start well for the Manager realising we didn’t have a scoresheet nor a new ball for the Day’s play. After making some phone calls and taking a few deep breaths a having then a proper look ( not a BOY look ) the ball was found at the bottom of the bag and there was a sigh of relief from the Manager.

Warwick lost the toss and we would field 1st in the Final.

As we thought would happen Riverina came out hard and fast and anything would be possible on what was a very difficult field to defend on with it being huge and into the bargain very fast. Disaster struck early when Rob Pagano was hit in the face after a scorching cover drive took off from the edge of the square and smashed his sunglasses which ended up tearing his skin which left a gaping hole. From here we learnt that Amanda would not only assist us with the beer but was a nurse and set about patching Rob up with Trevor’s First Aid kit. Riverina batted well with some luck but we stuck it out in the end and restricted them to 8-262 from their 45 Overs.

It was lunch and the TV Crew had turned up to take some photos and do an interview which Matt gratefully put his hand up to perform on behalf of Port Jackson.

We set about our task without any panicking. The Skipper had emphasised strongly that if we batted 45 Overs we would win the game. Through different parts of the innings all members of the team did what they were asked and contributed in different ways which in the end set us up needing 6 an over off the last 5 Overs. With so many gaps in the field and the Riverina boys exhausted we ended up cruising past the score with 2 Balls to spare and the Boys ecstatic!!

MOM – Rob Pagano after coming back and scoring a fantastic 40 + after being smashed by the ball earlier in the day Highlight of the Day – Winning with the Lads

From Day 1 we all knew minimal about each other and virtually shook hands 45 minutes before the 1st Game as we were handing out the PJ Kit.

This is where Warwick our skipper stepped in and all would agree his calm but tactical approach to each game created a huge confidence amongst all the individuals and we grew as a team over the 3 Days.

The Ground conditions in Orange were absolutely fantastic as was the weather. A Huge Congratulations to the Organising committee for NSW Veterans Over 50’s Cricket for what was a wonderful tournament and a thank you to the town of Orange who welcomed all the Old blokes and their families to their hideaway.

To our Port Jackson Committee well done on your fantastic efforts in not only putting together 4 very competitive teams but for all the work you completed in the background which is an endless job. We are all very lucky to have a group of awesome volunteers like yourselves. In ending I would like to thank Warwick for taking on the Role of Captain at late notice and doing such a fantastic job of it. We were all very lucky to have spent the 3 Days under your leadership.

Congratulations to Darren Smith who was the deserved winner of the Port Jackson Player of the Tournament scoring 3 x 40 Not Out Retirements, picking up a few wickets and embarrassing a few of us in the field with what looked like the arm of a 25 Year Old and running around like a 21 Year old for all 3 Days.

To the team – Not only were you a Great Bunch of Blokes you are all awesome cricketers and deserved winners of the 2019 NSW Over 50’s 1st Division Championships !! What an Awesome 3 Days !!!!! MH