With Jimbo lacking the guts to call ‘tails’ (“it’s unconventional”), the Gladdies were forced to field first in the drizzle that fell on an already wet outfield. Coogee Bay Rebels cashed in immediately with some excellent strokeplay that clearly relished the taste of 10th Division. With 0/140 on the board at drinks halfway through their innings and with three batsmen retired, the Rebels were well and truly on top. However, the Gladdies dug in, fielded well (albeit spread across the width and breadth of Moore Park 6), snagged a few – even when they might not have wanted to – and restricted the Rebels to 5/241. Precisely 7 an over required. Lach’s excellent 0/18 and Marty going wicketless (“again”, observed many) was more evidence that cricket loves letting you know who has the power in the relationship.
The Gladdies’ run chase was pretty good fun. Charlie blitzed 24 in an over before succumbing one run later, and Lach did well to withstand the oft-maligned fifteen-ball over strategy employed by the Rebels, before falling for 33. Rob and Brendan fell for 16 apiece, the former caught at Third Man (seriously, who puts a Third Man in against us?!) and the latter LBW (well done everyone at stumps for volunteering Brendan to give the umpire a lift to Central). More wickets fell before Jamie and Marty came together and dazzled both the Rebels and onlooking Gladdies alike with big shots to all areas. When “sa-wiiing batter-batter” Jamie fell for 21, we were fifty shy of an unlikely victory. Marty, perhaps spurred by others’ incessant inferences of how they thought Dan would fare in his stead, proceeded to provide plenty more tap, bringing up a superb half-century with two sixes in the one over. With 19 needed for victory and 16 balls remaining – at 4pm – Marty finally fell to a steepling chance and we were done. Steven Undries also chipped in valiantly with an unbeaten 40, and every single Gladstone hit at least one boundary. Noice.
