AUSTRALIA
050S UK TOUR 2017
GAME
17 AUSTRALIA 050S VS CORNWALL 050S
AT
TRURO CORNWALL CC
TUESDAY
8th
AUG 2017
This
was going to be a momentous day for someone but at this stage we
didn’t know who. For the most of the electorate it was cricket as
usual this time against Zone 5 champions Cornwall at the delightful
university /sea side town Exeter in Devon. The weather was overcast
again with the threat of rain. There was also a bitterly cold wind
blowing which made sheer existence precarious let alone the pursuit
of cricket excellence. Is there any time during this country’s
season when one can enjoy any normal summer weather…at any time? I
suppose it really doesn’t matter as we are only 4 days away from
returning to heaven.
The
short trip to Truro was quick and uneventful. After seeing the Abbey
from a distance as we drove into town, the next thing which caught
our eye was the beautiful flower arrangements in the middle of the
roundabouts. This is a tidy town indeed
The
first exit after next left after the third roundabout beyond the
lights at the “Snootty Fox Inn” where there was an obvious large
sign erected proclaiming “Truro Cricket Ground this way” led us
to the main cricket ground in town. It was located adjacent to the
river where the tide had vacated and left large rolly polly mud flats
as far as the eye could sea. The locals warned us to bat when the
tide is out and bowl when it is in. Something to do with climate
change I suppose.
Australian
050 Association President Mal Coleman was Captain today. But despite
his Presidential aurora Cornwall won the toss and sent him i.e. us
into bat.
Our
team for today was Mal Coleman Captain; Bob McGee; Warwick Hayes;
Allan Chellew; Greg Briggs; Peter Judd; Wayne Miles; Ross Belstead;
Noel Raymond; Gordon McGurk and Fabian Heaton wkper.
and
Stirling Hamman;
Allan
Chellew 50 n.o. and Bob McGee 43 bashed us into a strong position so
our first wicket fell at 114. Noel Raymond 41 and Peter Judd
continued the momentum until their dismissals. Then the proverbial
wheels fell off. Coleman duck first ball; Belstead 2 ; Briggs 2 and
then Hayes; Miles and Hamman all members of the 12,000 km duck club.
Some strong rear guard activity by Gordy McGurk 21 n.o. landed our
total on 10-185 off 43 overs.
A
short tea ensued and the hosts started well at 0-74. Enter Scotchman
Gordy McGurk again and his deft slight off spinners/straight balls.
Gordy took 5-29 off 9 overs to destroy the Cornwallians and their
aspirations. The hosts all out for 148 off 43 overs! So 185 was in
fact 36 runs too many so we need not worry about our middle order
collapse or so we told ourselves in hindsight.
Another
highlight was the wicket keeping of Fabian Heaton which was pure
brilliance on a wicket where the ball was bouncing no more than 10 cm
high or in brexit terminology about 4”. Two stumpings and a catch
where he literally stayed squatted were real class on a wicket which
obviously didn’t know where the tide was. It was Mal Coleman’s
second victory as Captain on tour so he was building impressive
curriculum vitae as a President of the Australian 050s Cricket
Association.
We
thanked our opposition who served delicious Cornish pasties
exquisitely wrapped in paper bags for dinner along with the chilled
local ales. We then imbibed in a quick trip home for our day off
tomorrow.
Cheers
Your war correspondent from the front.
STOP
PRESS -SIGNIFICANT TOUR POSTCRIPT-OUR DAY OFF
Today
Wednesday 9th
AUGUST 2017 was one of the milestone events on our inaugural
Australian 050s cricket tour of the UK.
Yes
it was our last day off in a campaign which has 19 games in 27 days.
Yes
it was the day when President Mal Coleman was fare welled as he
returned home for a wedding (not his).
But
yes it was significant as it was the team’s final fare well dinner
in the ball room of the Shrubbery Hotel Ilminster in Somerset.