Match Facts
Date: Sunday, November 10, 2024
Location: W.J. Cox Oval , Fairfield, VIC
Time: 1pm start
Introduction
Our Annual Pub v Club game is one that I look forward to every season, not simply because of the free beer that the Pub usually throws our way (and they certainly did with extra effort this year), but because it’s a great chance to welcome new people to the game and share the love that is Pub Cricket.
The Match
This season’s iteration would have to be one of the most enjoyable for years. We had a phalanx of new players come to us from the pub, some playing the game for the first time, others playing for the first time in 15+ years. All were welcomed, and (seemingly) had fun along the way.
The day itself was gorgeous, 24ish degrees, nary a cloud in the sky and the gumtree-enclosed field of WJ Cox oval all to ourselves. Ed pulled off his greatest trick since convincing me he was a spin bowler by convincing me not to play on the COMPLETELY VACANT TURF WICKET next door. Not wanting to get him / us in trouble with the Council, I took his advice and left it to the dog walkers to trash.
In very pub cricket style, seemingly everyone was running late and only our statuesque Ice man was there on behalf of ‘the pub’. Still, we had good numbers. Teams were drawn out and we eventually got onto the field – apart from Hendo, he kind-of stood on the boundary and looked like he was talking either to Slug or himself. He looked pretty happy, so I just left him be.
First Innings
Previous YPCA rep Paul and Radar opened the batting for The Pub and I decided to try something new on them; slow bowling. And no, that didn’t mean me, I brought on our normal wicket-taker in Stef, and our own earl of twirl; Sizzle.
Unfortunately (?) Radar thought this, plus only 10 fielders, was a good laugh and he was soon retired. Paul took a while to get going, and was given a life by Maxy putting down a sitter at square leg (DNA test now unnecessary), before hitting some lovely dabs and straight drives to the boundary.
Harry then provided some balance, picking up two wickets in two overs with the help of Fargo’s reliable catching.
After a bit of a wayward start and lots of commentary, Maxy also found his radar and hit the top of middle and the top of leg in the space of 4 balls. He then took off on a celebration run that would make Alan Shearer proud.
Santo also came on for some mystery spin and managed to take 2 wickets for NO RUNS in two overs.
The Pub was 6-71 in the 13th over, drinks had been had, and I was wondering if we might need to bring our reservation at the pub forward.
Enter Dusty, who had some wild swings at it, sometimes connected but managed to get bowled by Hendo, who had decided to meander to the middle from the mountain of empty cans he was standing on at Deep Midwicket.
The last two (non-retirees) were Ed and Ice, or more accurately; Fire and Ice. Ice had entertained us all greatly in last year’s game with his dour defence and he started similarly, before starting to hit a range of shots all around the ground, denying our bowlers and finishing not out on 32.
At the other end, Ed obviously had a bit of pent-up aggression from having to endure Maxy’s backchat while umpiring and Hendo’s commentary from the boundary while manning the scorebook. A rapid 35 (not out) followed, including some dashing back foot shots either side of the wicket, one of which cleared the boundary behind square leg.
TBC turned up with a couple of overs to go, came on to umpire, then bowled the last two overs consecutively. His first over went for 15, his second for 1. Very pub cricket.
At innings break, a total of 156 had been posted and a great quantity of dim sims and snags were washed down responsibly with free beer. The sun was shining, dogs were swimming between legs in search of stray sausages and Fargo was absolutely losing his mind with myself and Hendo taking turns in sitting in his chair.
There was also a very interesting conversation about the best and worst potato meals. Chips came out on top, with jacket potatoes coming last. The suggestion was also made that they should be called “jacked potatoes” due to them looking like they’ve hit the gym, which is well worth contemplation. Good times.
Second Innings
The Quokkas opened the batting with the normally batting-averse Stef and new player Santo, who had the most impressive coffin outside of Transylvania. Stef soon hit one straight back to the tracky-dack wearing bowler (Dusty), who ran her out with an impressive direct throw.
Newish man Harry then joined Santo at the crease and the two pretty-much put the game to bed. Both retired, Santo with 41 and Harry with 35. We were 1 for 85 in the 10th over.
Some very entertaining bowling, fielding and batting then transpired, with flashes of brilliance and ineptitude from both sides. After smashing Ed for boundaries everywhere, Sizzle missed a (very) low one and was bowled for 21.
Maxy hit one into his foot then tried to hoik everything to the leg side before missing a deceptively straight one from the man in his trackies to go out for 1.
Fargo hit 3 of his first 4 balls to the boundary before falling to a similar delivery that brought Sizzle’s downfall.
There had been some great fielding efforts, particularly from Katy who had an absolute rocket for an arm, as well as from Erica who was ridiculously committed to stopping and getting the ball in her first ever game of Cricket.
Prez was batting as well as she ever had, hitting the ball bloody everywhere and running well before managing to pick out Fargo, who had decided there were more catches to be enjoyed by playing for the other team. At 5 for 141 in the 17th, there was not much left to do, but F1 and Hendo still stuck around and did it, bringing up the needed runs in the 20th over.
Conclusion
It really was a great day, with lots of laughs and fun. I’m certainly looking forward to next year’s iteration.