Record total demolishes Stella Artois
Posted by Neville Smeda on April 6, 2009
In the best performance of the season so far, the Crusaders travelled to FC Stella Artois Cricket Ground and put on a highly professional display of cricket. Captain Michael Prince won the toss and chose to bat first, looking to make first use of the green wicket with the hope that the wicket would be quicker in the evening.
The openers Prince and Matt O’Shea smacked 249 for the opening partnership in only 230 balls. Prince took few risks in his 116 off 101 balls as he creamed 8 wonderful fours through the gaps. O’Shea was the aggressor as he made 130 off 122 balls with 5 fours and 4 sixes. Both openers were dismissed on the fence off of Cleminshaw. The carnage was not over as the final 10 overs went for 120 thanks to Graeme Jeremy’s unbeaten 58, aided by Geoff Kenny’s 61* off just 38 balls. With Moller having an indifferent time at number 4, Kenny was chosen to bolster the attacking nature of the middle-order, and that he did.Crusaders made 378/2 in their 50 overs, which is to date their highest limited-overs total.
FC Stella Artois were never in the game as their innings ended in the 13th over. They could not combat the extreme pace and lift that Eddie Ayres and Allan Blott were getting and they folded for a total of 44. Ayres took 4/17 and Blott 3/21. Stephen Harding got 9 balls in with his leg-spinners and took 2/6 as the victory unfolded by 334 runs. O’Shea took the player award for his aggressive century.
Prince said, “I was surprised as to how easy the wicket played in the earlier part of the match. It looked likely to assist the quicks, but we were able to play very freely. I must say, though, that we certainly used the conditions to our advantage when it was our turn to bowl”.
On having Kenny back in the team in the middle, “We know Geoff’s ability with the bat and he can be very explosive. The challenge was being able to find a place for him in the one-day team as opening is really his forte, but both Matt and I are solid at the top. With Molly [Pete Moller] needing a rest, we thought about giving Geoff a chance in the middle and he showed how dangerous he can be at the end of an innings”.
The team was: Prince(c), O’Shea, Jeremy, Kenny, Lothrop, Simpson, Ahad(wk), Harding, Blott, Fox, Ayres.
