A Legendary Win For Bloomfield
- Pickle Rick
- Feb 13
- 3 min read
Accelerate Automotive Premier 3 vs Palmy Legends. Saturday 8th of February at Ongley Park 9
Being able to play on grass wickets is a privilege that is probably a little overlooked in the Manawatu at times. Trying to maintain 13 of them to playing perfection is near impossible and the variations from week to week, good or bad, add a huge amount to the game. So, what we end up with on Ongley Park on any given week can only be described as outstanding. This week Ongley 9 offered us up something a little different from the usual. The exceptionally dry week had baked the pitch into what, at first glance, seemed to be a batsman’s dream so when the Legends won the toss and decided to bowl, we couldn’t believe our luck.
Due to yet another spectacular failure from NZC’s lemon scoring system, PlayHQ, the game was delayed so we could track down a scorebook. (Legends also used another app that seems far more useful called Stumps.) After the first couple of overs, it was clear that this pitch wasn’t going to be as easy to score off as we had hoped. While there was very little swing on offer the variable bounce off the deck made things difficult. Good length deliveries sometimes sat up to be hit and other times raced through, almost taking edges. A watchful partnership was established as an unusually cautious Jase and Tyler got underway. Tyler rotated the strike well as Jase picked his balls to bludgeon to the boundary. Jase finally went out in the 16th over trying to hit over Shawn Thomas fielding short mid midwicket.
Big Doggs was next out to bat but after looking solid with a run a ball 14 before a sharply rising ball took his outside edge just after drinks. Pilch followed shortly after with a top edge to the keeper. Tyler went past 50, his first for the club, as he looked to increase the run rate. Unfortunately, he missed one from Shawn who had him out bowled for a well batted 56. Sahan was out shortly after leaving us stalled with 2 new batsmen at the crease. Captain Trout and Kurtis Dibbles the tea lady looked to rebuild, and it didn’t take long for them to start scoring. After deciding it was time to start batting Kurtis requested a bat swap betraying his latest fling for his old faithful, Badjelly. After a few hiccups to start with, Badjelly looked to have forgiven Kurtis for his unfaithfulness and together they put on a quick fire 37 of 23. Captain Trout, not interested in the soap opera underway at the other end of the pitch just went about scoring runs. Looking as confident as ever he pulled out all the shots, including a reverse sweep, on his way to 35. The rebuild complete both batsmen hit themselves out as the innings ended with Benjamin and Like at the crease.
Bloomfield finishing 226 for 7.
Benjamins demise with the ball continued as he struggled to with his run-up, line, length, sunburnt head and apparently a fractured spine which is pretty cool. What wasn’t cool was the runs Shawn was scoring off his terrible bowling. Luckily, Trout was as good as ever at the other end making things difficult for the Legends openers. Clearly keen early on to run quick singles, the batsmen found themselves in trouble as a bunt from Shawn to short mid-wicket was fielded by trout who threw down the stumps with a direct hit, sending Shawn on his way for 25.
Pilch replaced Ben and made inroads straight away removing Manpreet Singh for a solid 33, Aman Bawa and then Sachin Malik. Chirayu Chauhan had looked steady while all this took place scoring 15 from 50 but an outside edge to Gaz at first slip from Sahan’s bowling had him on his way. A good innings from Gurinder Singh looked to keep the Legends on track but Sahan eventually had him caught at mid-on for 39 from 38. The legends tail failed to put together a solid partnership and they were eventually bowled out for 168.
That became our 3rd win in a row as we head back to Omanuka next week to take on the undefeated Palmy Super XI. Massive thanks goes out to the Bloomfield guys who turned up to support us on their weekend off, especially Cuckoo, who’s treachery was not enough to stop him turning up with his colouring-in pencils to take charge of the scorebook.
MVP- Tyler 3, Pilch 2, Jase 1.
Comments