The Blues travelled down the coast again to finish the second day against the undefeated Tuross side. As we arrived Golly and Pete Hazel chucked on the pads and looked keen to move the Blues closer to Tuross' total of 171, with us at 5/54. After 5 overs where the two had established a nice little partnership, Golly (32) was given LBW to a ball that was given a help along with the bat, making Golly laugh angrily at his misfortune with "The Smoke" as I passed him on my way out to the crease. Again, me and Pete stayed for the next couple of overs before a mix up occurred and I was run out for 2. McClure then arrived at the crease and thumped the ball about, but he too was dismissed, quickly followed by Luke Staunton and Pete Hazel (26). The Blues were able to push their score up to 109 before we were all bowled out, still 62 runs behind.
It was then a young Blues side that took the field for the second innings with Corey Pont coming in for Damien Glass and Michael Atkins replacing Richard Walker. We opened up again with Hazel (1/11 off 5) and Haigh (0/18 off 4). The two hitting the spot straight away in their first couple of overs, Pete's hard work paying off as he snared himself one of the Tuross openers with an LBW.
As the game progressed we wondered whether Tuross would make a game of it or whether they would bat all day, protecting the win they already had due to their first innings points. Our question was answered as we returned from tea and the lads from Tuross came out swinging, so to speak, charging both me (3/30 off 7) and McClure (1/20 off 5) who were on, we worked together in perfect tandem, using both flight and spin to capture our wickets. One wicket being from the bowling of me but being all the work of Pont who was fielding at long off and judged the catch perfectly and with his safe hands, sent back one of our more annoying opponents, well done Punter.
Golly (2/14 off 3) was brought on at McClure's end and the angry fast bowler struck again with his first ball to bowl out the Tuross captain. Another wicket from Golly and me later and Tuross had declared at 5/98. Showing true sportsmanship, the leaders of the competition had set us a total of 160, with at least an hour and 20minutes to get the runs.
The first 5 overs developed Golly showed just how lethal he is by sending the ball to all parts of the ground, sending the Tuross side into panic. Then Golly was out for 31. Southy got out for 14 and Hayward joined me at the crease and pushed the score along before our captain was out.
Hazel then came out and together we were able to form a brilliant partnership. Playing shots all over the grounds. With about 9 overs left and 40 runs still to get Pete was caught out for 20 at short mid wicket, ending a good partnership and even a better innings from the Veteran.
Atkins came and went and but helped move the total along before McClure came in and soon the Blues needed only 9 runs off the last over. With nearly all the fielders on the boundary the shout came from the sidelines "They can't catch you if you hit it over their heads", that was very profound I thought, and as I tried to do just that I ended up skying it on the first ball, getting out caught and bowled for 66.
But we crossed though and McClure was able to hit a couple of 2's with Haggis who was running like a youngster again and soon we only needed 3 off the last ball, the whole side except the keeper and bowler was on the boundary and we knew it would be have to be a well placed 4 or a huge 6 to do it for us... In the end it was nothing as McClure missed the ball, Haggis ran anyway and was run out for a diamond duck, something you rarely see in a game of cricket, for those of you playing at home it's where the batter doesn't face a ball and doesn't get a run.
It was a nail biter... But wait, as one umpire checked the books, he saw a mistake, on his first look he told us that we had passed the total. Had we won? Calling over the other umpire, they checked the books repeatedly, adding up all innings scores and yes, we had, the Blues had won, beating a side that had gone through the comp without being challenged. The boys were ecstatic, we had won, and with it, our ticket into the finals. What a great effort. We thanked the umpires, for if it wasn't for them we would have been none the wiser, coming home with empty feelings not knowing the game was ours.
News just in, from early reports and results from the weekend end tallied, the Braidwood Blues have finished 2nd. Wooohoooooo. What an achievement.
Hawaiian shirt goes to Haggis, even though it wasn't his fault in the second innings he still got a duck which earned him a pair for the match.
So Braidwood are your squad for the finals. Can we triumph? Lets hope so, it's been a long time coming. Until next time, this has been another report from your local journo,
Brendan Maher, signing off.
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