Welcome to the second instalment of the Rant. After mostly positive feedback, I am back for another crack at letting everyone, past and present, know of the goings on of the club for the past month.
February is over, and another successful month for some of our past and current members.
Let’s set the scene. It is February 13, and Westies are in the middle of a cross town domination of second and fourth grades.
At Chisholm, newly appointed skipper, Pete McKell lost the toss and Westies were sent in to the field. An enthusiastic display ensued, and after an early breakthrough by Josh ‘Hoppa’s brother’ Corbett, Wests continued to build the pressure on the Tuggeranong batsmen. Tuggeranong were going along quietly and cautiously, and at 3-100 odd, looked like they may get to 200. Enter the Stiff One. Young leggie, Stefan Delhaize displayed far more experience than his 18 years affords him. His 3 wickets turned the match back in Wests favour, and in combination with David Roberts and Dwayne Hall, Westies tightened the screws. Tuggeranong were bowled out for 160 odd, Stef 3, Robbo 2, McKell 2, Corbett 1, Willis 1 and Darty (0-22 off 10) with a run out.
The chase started nervously, with Jake Boyle losing his wicket with the first ball of the innings. That brought Alex Taylor to the crease, and he was looking good until a suicidal second saw him short of his ground. Matt Veitch was then dismissed and Wests had their backs against the wall at 3-40 odd. Robbo and Darty then proceeded to re-establish the innings and a significant partnership developed before Robbo was dismissed for his customary 40 odd.
Out to the crease strolled DAVID Spare. Having had a lean season, much was left on the shoulders of Darts and Spare Grylls, and the two of them built a match winning partnership, 50 from Darty and 30 something from Sparey, with Sparey hitting the winning runs.
The celebrations commenced with a stream of Westies second graders invading the pitch and gang mobbing David and Dwayne. Celebrations continued at the club and the sight of skipper Pete McKell drinking, not from the cup, but by pouring beer down the front of the trophy and into his open mouth will long be remembered by all who were present. Kicking on into town, the traditional post GF adventure to the Canberra Casino, saw the night come to a close in the small hours of Monday morning, ending for one senior player with an encouraged removal from the Cas bar, after repeated requests for Mr Appeldorff senior to attend his table. Not every day you win a GF hey Robbo???
Meanwhile, and much earlier at Jamison, Westies 4th grade commenced play in the One Day grand fina. The overnight rain saw a delayed start, with play commencing at midday. Again, bowling first after losing the toss, ANU were restricted to a total of 146. Having lost their last wicket in the 46th over. Zain Mohsin, a former ANU player, was the destroyer against his old club, snaring 4/33. The bowling group were disciplined and patient, well supported in the field.
The chase began positively, with the experienced Ben Keens and Stuart Hook taking the score quickly to 44. Both openers were dismissed in the 11th over, but skipper Jaffry and Suman Nataranjan consolidated with a match winning partnership of 59. Major contributor to the partnership was Suman, whose 49 was the innings top score, but Jaffs patient 15 was critical to the chase. After Suman was dismissed, Peter Bradley and power hitter Irfan Yousuf came together to finish off the chase, with Peter hitting the winning runs in the 46th over, leaving Wests with its second ‘Jaffry skippered’ premiership of the summer, following Januarys T20 Division 3 premiership.
Sincere congratulations to both the 2nd and 4th grade sides on their efforts and success!!!
Ganny
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