*GAME 2*
The Southern Cricket League T20 season came down to this: Win and the mighty GCC win its first title; lose and we likely finish third (on strike rate). After two seasons of finishing bottom (as the club got on its feet), we faced our biggest challenge yet: could we compose a Cinderella-like storyline to set a new narrative for the red and blacks?
No pressure.
“All Todd had to do was win the bloody toss”, and I came up short with Malaga CC choosing their vastly preferred option, to bat first. Was this first wrong step for the day by GCC a sign of things to come?
GCC went in with the same lineup; if it ain’t broke…
The opening bowling combination set the tone for the game (and continued it from the first game) as Brett ripped into the top 3 taking all their wickets whilst James bowled beautifully to restrict Malaga to 22 of 4 overs (econ: 5.50). The first changers, Stuey and Todd, continued restricting some inspired and divinely protected (a.k.a. deaf umpiring) batting by Waqas and Syed, at an economy rate of around 7.5, with Stuey especially frustrating some big hitters. As this batting combination starting to build some momentum, and a potentially game-winning partnership, Sebin once again put on the brakes with two wickets and an inspired spell. Meanwhile, Richie was unlucky to have the ball ghost past the bat a number of times without (officially) taking an edge, despite some Denis Lillee-style appealing and showing his Australian-style dissatisfaction with the decision. Brett finished the innings by taking a brilliant low catch in the outfield, whilst wearing his grandmother’s garden hat, to leave the GCC with a challenging, but do-able, total of 162 to chase.
Special mention to three GCC’ers: (1) To Andy for covering the most amount of KMs ever achieved by a GCC player in a game, as he trapsed from fine leg, to fine leg, creating a mountain-goat type trail through the grass of the Cartema Oval; and (2) to Pep for his Greatest American Hero impersonation as ‘the panther’ got airborne in a desperate attempt to take a catch whilst donning what could be best be described as a rainbow fantasy terry-towelling beret, capping a bad fashion and appealing day for the Aussie contingent; and (3) to Spanish Andy for the amount of ground he covered to ensure that no GCC outfield player was short of liquid.
You gotta want it!! .. and didn’t we! It was a brilliantly paced run chase with firstly, James, striking a cracking 45 off 21 balls, and then Richie controlling the tempo to score a brilliant 78 off 52, always adding a boundary before the troops could ever get any nervousness. A quick cameo from both Todd, 14 off 10, and Brett, 17 off 20 helped to see us home, and win the GCC’s first ever trophy. The winning runs were stuck to bring the lads on the side-line pouring onto the field in celebration of a second great win, and a much deserved first title.
Special mention to four GCC’ers: (1) Ribin for continually managing to place himself in front of the view of the maximum number of GCC players at any given moment. It was sincerely an impressive act!; (2) to Gazaratti for scoring both games, sacrificing any chance of add another layer to his very extraordinary tan; and (3) to Paul for again making the journey from the Canaries, and (4) Stuey for risking his marriage by cutting short his holiday to play cricket.
On such a momentous day for the club, when the pressure was on, our ability to control, if not dominate, both games against a very good batting side, showed the outstanding character we have in our ranks and also the mental strength (bat first, or last, no matter) and fighting culture of the GCC. As much as anything though, it is the outstanding team atmosphere and comradery in the team, throughout the series, that was something no other club possessed, and this, as much as performing under pressure, contributed to an outstanding full squad performance…. everyone truly contributed.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the full squad of players who trained and played so hard during the last months, and the absolute team-first mentality of those I am proud to call my teammates. Thanks also to all the squad for having patience with a cricket-notice as captain, and especially to Richie for his brilliant advice, aggressive field setting and stubborn refusal (another Australian trait) to accept the reality that he is in fact Australian. We are looking forward to you taking the reins again in the new season champion.
- Report by Todd –
_Match Summary_
Richie – 78 n.o. off 52
James – 45 off 21
Brett – 17 n.o. off 20
Brett – 3 wickets with 8.0 Econ Rate
Sebin – 2 wickets with 8.0 Econ Rate
_Records_
Best bowling figures in a day by a GCC bowler to Sebin (5 for 38)
Worst hat by a GCC player, ever: Jose, special mentioned to Brett
Most amount of KMs every covered by a GCC player: British Andy
Granada CC have now won 9 of their last 10 games in all forms