All-Stars Take Boys to School. 27/02/10

The All-Stars assignment this weekend was to beat HBHS 7th 11, the only team to have beaten us in round 1.

We were still smarting from the loss to Ham East last weekend and keen to make amends. We were also bolstered by the return of the some big guns in Duncan, Daryl and Pieter.

The skipper called correctly and we elected to have a bowl. The skipper was a bit anxious with Eb (who works til 1pm) and Dan missing. Dan eventually showed up 20 minutes late, with his arms covered in stamps - tells a story.... Daryl muttered something about Dan being out late looking for a 3.30 princess - not quite sure what that means.

Anyway Pieter and Dave opened up well bowling tight lines and 9 fielders were as many as we needed.

Pieter (1/21 off 4) struck first with a perfect in-swinger - removing their captain and best batsman. Dave was bowling well, but without luck. We decided to bowl him through - with immediate payoff as he had had their other opener caught behind. He was unlucky not to pick up the new batsman LBW the next ball, but he didn't have long to wait, trapping him in front next over.

Daves last over was a maiden, capped off with a spectacular run-out off the last ball - fielding in his follow through and breaking the stumps from mid-pitch, catching the batsman asleep on the job. 2/23 off 7 - great bowling.

At the other end Eb had replaced Pieter - but fell into a small hole beside the pitch and twisted his ankle. The skipper came in and started well enough going for 7 off his first three.

Duncan replaced Dave and bowled an entertaining first over wicket - (c&b), 4, wide, 4, wicket (c&b), wide, dot, dot. 2/10 off one to start! The skipper asked for boring the next over and Dunc settled down nicely - going for 1/4 off his next three, before busting out with another 2 wicket burst. Final tally 5/24 off 6, nicely bowled.

At the other end things had gone pear shaped for the skipper, having dropped a c&b himself and having to deal with some guy who was channelling Victor Trumper. So he did the right thing and trudged off to first slip and gave Jared a crack. In his second over J got the pest to dance past a nicely flighted delivery and it was all over for HBHS 129 all out in 27.

At the break all the superstars in the top order were discussing what they'd do after we knocked the runs off - and we were in a positive frame as we headed out to chase.

Brendan got us off to a nice start with a couple of nice cover drives, before flicking a full ball off his toes to square leg. Jimmy was there on 1.

Dave got the dreaded bagel, LBW trying to work to leg. Jimmy was there 1.

Daryl was next to the wicket, and was his usual positive self - playing positively and well to all parts, rapidly making his way to 36 before hitting catching practice to point. (Gaaaa) Jimmy was still there on 4.

Batsman Dan came and went for 4. Jimmy was still there on 4. Plenty of overs left.

John joined Jimmy at the wicket and looked comfy, knocking it around and we cruised along at threes.

In the 28th over we still needed about threes when Jimmy finally departed for 15, having basically sucked the will to live out of the opposition. It was dour stuff but a great application. Jared came and went for one - amusingly HBHS were celebrating having got through to the tail as Pieter G strode to the wicket. 6 Balls later Pieter departed for 14, and we were all but home.

Duncan put his pads back on and wrapped it up in two balls, with a two and a 6 which went onto the back of the pavilion roof at Steele 1.

So in the end a comfy win nicely done.

Next week, Diamonds at Clyde Park.

POD Points - Duncan 3

Dave 2

Daryl 1

A's v Old Boys

I don't know what to say. This was possibly the worst days cricket the writer has been involved in after 12 years for star. It was always going to be a difficult task with a number of key players out or playing Prems, and with 8 bowlers the stand in skipper was hoping to win the toss and bowl. Unfortunately the old boys skip called correct and sent us in. We had a reasonable start with the old boys keeper gifting many, many extras and Rohit looking solid. However no one really got going, and when only 3 players (not including the 30+ extras) get to double figures and the top score is 20 (rohit) it is never going to be a good total. All out for 105.
The deck was actually a good one, which old boys proved in making 220/8 declared with a fairly average batting line up. No one really bowled well. Jeff got a couple along with Shabir who was probably the bowler of the day.
18 overs were left and we were hoping for a solid end to the day. This was not to be with Rohit bowled missing a straight one for the second time in the day (I think thats 15 bowled from 16 innings this year?) and Commins LBW to a half tracker that didn't bounce. Ryan was given caught behind to one he didn't nick, and Mark B bowled leaving one for a Golden. The score was about 50/4 and a lot of work to do next week just to make them bat again.

All Stars Left With Nothing but Regrets vs Ham East.

The All-Stars were the few-stars this week, with a few missing players replaced by enthusiastic ring-ins!

Still, we'd be playing well and it was a good chance for other players to step up and do a job.

We needed to bat and got our way. The skipper promoted himself to open with Brendan (ignoring the dissent) and we were under way.

We were 31/1 after 7 and 50-odd for 3 when Eban strode to the wicket. They seemed intent on bowling half trackers to Eb, and he was enjoying increasing his score in multiples of 4.

We were looking good at 98/3 when the wheels flew off! Eb played about a second to late on a dirty half tracker and gloved to the keeper, John came and went on a leading edge, and Dave holed out with the score still on 98. 98/6 in 16.

Jared didn't seem to grasp the concept of making sure we batted our overs and we were 104/7.

The tail included a guy who hadn't played cricket in 10 years and 2 guys who hadn't played ever, so optimism was in short supply. But Dan did a great job and eeked us out another 40 runs - all out for 143.

The four senior guys in the team all got starts, but no-one went on with it - leaving us well short of a good total.

Still, there are plenty of stories about teams defending small totals. Hamilton East appear to suffer from some sort of collective personality disorder and had provided plenty of motivation to get stuck into them. So with some choice words from Dave we hoed into them.

Eb and Dave opened the bowling - Eb was bowling quick and bending it around, while Dave was crafty at the other end. Our positive approach was putting the squeeze on and we had the buggers 40/4 after 9 overs and had them well and truly spooked.

The highlight was a brilliant take off an under-edge from stand in keeper Brendan, who distinguished himself and and may find himself with the gloves again (when he can walk).

We went for it and bowled Dave and Eb out - after 14 overs they were 72 for five and looking vulnerable. They only had 10, so another 4 wickets would see us home.

The skipper picked up a wicket in his first over, (three to go now) but there was a problem at the other end, as we were well short of bowling. Jimmy was tried and discarded. Batting hero Dan was next cab off the rank and was pretty dire (although he did have their remaining quality batsman dropped). 50 odd runs leaked away at one end -and that was pretty much it.

Yap picked up a consolation wicket, leaving us tantalisingly close - but it wasn't to be and the end came next over.

A day of regrets! Wish we'd batted better and for longer - wish we'd held onto a couple of catches, wish I'd tried Jared first!

Anyhoo, the loss makes the Senior C ladder very interesting with our closest rivals going down to Burbs on the adjoining wicket.

Team	Points
HBHS 7th X1	34
Ham Star	34
Ham East	34
Suburbs	25

Next week - top of the table clash with HBHS 7th 11 on Steele 1. Both teams will be smarting after losses so it should be a good day out. - Hopefully we'll have a bit more artillery to wheel out.

Prem's vs Suburbs

We somehow managed to finish 3rd in the round robin competition which meant we would face Suburbs in the first game of the finals round.

Lone Star HBHS	56.14
Easy Tiger Fraser Tech	44.50
Ham Star	40.54
Melville	40.28
Furnace Old Boys	36.81
Suburbs	31.75

The pitch looked like an absolute belter for batting but it was still a virgin pitch so our plan was to bowl first. When Suburbs won the toss and elected to bat we were definitely not unhappy.

The ball was moving around in the first 10 overs and with Gary and Cam bowling well (yes Cam bowls as well...) we managed to take steady wickets in the first session. At lunch they were 5 for 170, so probably more runs than we would have liked but still good to have taken 5 top order wickets. They were scoring freely but riskily, and we thought we could finish them off after lunch for under 250.

Some fantastic batting from Ricky for them, who scored 100 on the nose, along with some lower order dirty swipes from some bloke named Shoston, had them declaring at 294/9 just before tea.

The wickets were shared around. Our lengths weren't always where they needed to be but overall it was a pretty good bowling and fielding performance... apart from the 12 byes and making easy catches look hard... Reg...

To the batting department, we had 30mins to bat before tea and we failed to negotiate it, being 2 for 16 at tea with Chris and Rowly falling cheaply. After tea Braces was out to a shocker, lbw to a ball that hit his hip. Ben fell soon after, doing a Rohit and missing a straight one, and Toby, being understandably nervous in his first game, was out for a decent 15. Fortunately for us Z Walden batted superbly in between sledging bowlers and ended up on 56*. Let's hope he can carry on and crack a Premier ton next Saturday.

We ended the day on 113/5 with Zeb and Cam at the crease. With a bit of batting still to come, hopefully we can get close to their total and put some pressure back on them.

Stirlo

Pictures of Some Really Cool Dirt

 

Guys - thought you'd be interested in this very cool piece of dirt at the university. The nets are under way!!

All Stars roll on....

Questions about the weather made the toss one you kinda hope you lose. So of course we won the toss and put them in to bat...

Solid opening bowling spell by Pieter and Dave, though no wickets after 5. They made a good start and were 40 after Duncan picked up the first wicket in second over on an inside edge off nicking the stump on the way through to the keeper for a caught behind. Big wicket when Duncan bowled their wicketkeeper/opener who was looking set for 33.

At drinks they were 3 for a hundred odd with two guys looking ok. Duncan bowled another good spell along with Dave Gunn to start to put the squeeze on their run scoring. wickets started to fall more regularly and they ended up bowled out for 150. A solid effort in the field with some good catches and a run out by super ring in Steve.

Bowlers of note: Duncan 3/19 off 7, Gibbo 1-5 off 4

Eb and Duncan opened the batting and promptly began dispatching the ball to all parts of the park. Duncan skied one to end his innings on 20, and after a cameo duck by Steve, Gibbo took up where Duncan left off. Lots of big hits... lots of runs.... easy win after 21.3 overs.

Good job lads!

P.O.D. Points

Eben 3

Duncan 2

Gibbo 1

Deshy Test Lowdown

Thanks to those who are helping with the scoreboard during the Bangladesh Test Match.

Here is the roster for the five days. If you are not going to be able to make the times you are rostered, you MUST let Mark Donnelly 027 66 44 674 or Reg Prasad 0210555646 know.

The run down is as follows:

Sunday - we need people to help with set-up in the afternoon. 4-7 (or sooner if we are quick.) Please let me know if you can help.

Monday - Friday. Please be at the groundkeepers entrance at 10:30. The game starts each day at Midday and goes through to 6pm.

Reg is in charge so look for him.

Bring something warm and dry because if it rains then it can be quite miserable!

Apart for that - let's have a good one, cheers.

Mark.

A's in Command against Boys High

With Sitrlo playing prems, stand in captain Aidan was looking forwarward to having a bowl, whoever won the toss. However, boys high surprised by winning it and inserting us to bat on what was a true belter of a deck. The Skipper gave makeshift openers JB and Rohit the low down on staying in till drinks at all costs, which they nearly did - with JB falling the ball before drinks, and Rohit falling three balls after (maybe he shouldn't have been so specific about the length of time he wanted them to stay in?). This started a bit of a collapse to see us 60/4 before Toby joined Commins at the crease for what was the defining partnership of the day. Whan Commins fell for 45 the score was 160/5 and with some batting to come we were looking good for a score in excess of 250. Toby scored a very good 60, but unfortunately another Star collapse saw us all out for 210, a little short of the total we hoped for but one we were very confident of defending.

Some pace, swing and seam from Jess and Aidan had the openers jumping about early, but one in particular soon got on top and was slogging and top edging all over the place. A change bought Phil into the attack who bowled one of the spells of the season, removing both openers bowled, with another added later on to end up with superb figures of 3/20 from 10, though it should have been 4 with a blatant caught behind being given not out from the first ball their number 4 faced. Shabbir's brother Zabbir came out to some good natured ribbing in english from his older sibling, and some apparently unrepeatable stuff in Afghani, however it didn't seem to work as he settled down to look like their most capable batsman (he was also their best bowler and someone the club will certainly have their eye on for next year!). It took one of the catches of the season from Josh (yes, Josh) to dismiss him after he put up a skyer which Josh made about 30 metres and a sliding catch to come up with the pill amazingly still in his hands. No one thought he would get close, including toby at slip who quite loudly when the ball was in the air stated 'no f**ken way he's going to hold on to that'. The catch all but ended a very good day with Boys high about 110/6 and their bowlers to come, and hopefully a good first innings lead early next week.

Not sure if POD points are given after day one, but if they are:
Phil 3
Toby 2
Commins 1

Fast Times at Steele Park. All Stars 06/02/10

On the 6th of February the All-Stars faced up to Fraser Tech on Steel Park #1.

The word was that Tech were short and had a few ring ins - including one Ollie Davis who we knew was a handy cricketer (having taught him all he knows, but not all we know...).

We we bolstered ourselves with one of Star tuskiest stalwarts Rob Brown.

Dave helpfully took care of the toss, and lost (again) and we were inserted. We weren't too fussed either way.

Jimmy went early and we sent Rob out on the back of some excellent business-house form. We weren't disappointed as Duncan and Rob gave us good momentum. We got through to 50-odd before Duncan (32) got tangled up with a short ball and waltzed it onto his stumps.

Daryl joined Browny at the wicket and nostalgia was to the fore as they shared a 40 run partnership.

Daryl departed for 21, having sold his wicket to a very user-friendly bowler, long-hop (4), long-hop (4), 5 wides (over the keepers head on the full), long-hop, out. The worst part of it was that he holed out to a fielder he'd forgotten about, and that they had just spent a full minute positioning.

Dave Gunn joined Rob, and we continued on our way - together they saw us through to the 27th over, with 190 on the board. Rob departed for a well paced 55, replaced by Jared who played another one of his great little cameos to score a brisk 44, Dave eventually went for 61 and the tail worked with Jared to see us through to an impressive 264 off 35. (7.5/over.)

The innings break was spent getting Jimmys glove off the roof - and we were in a cheerful frame of mind as we headed into the field. We knew we'd win it if we bowled and fielded to our standards, although Tech had some handy batting.

Tech started slowly - DK picked up a wicket in his first over - and Eb (after a couple of range-finders) settled in nicely.

Techs #3 looked solid but a bit slow, and we had a lid on them for the first 10. Dave G picked up a wicket early in his spell and brought Ollie to the crease. Ollie looked ominously solid right from the start, but he checked a drive to Jared at Mid-off, who made no mistake.

The next man in had scored 170 against Diamonds and was certainly a threat! He was obviously keen to get started, swinging from ball one. On 8 though he slogged one high to mid-wicket. The skippier surprised everybody by making good ground from mid-on to take a neat catch running at full speed. (Yes, that was full speed.)

We were feeling good at this stage with the major threats removed and the run rate required climbing all the time.

The next 15 overs were tough going - their #3 (who turned out to be a ring-in, an ex junior rep cricketer and current NZ rep hockey play) woke up and was brutal on anything remotely short, hitting with great power square.

The skipper came into the attack and was poor - just a length thing as they say. Tech were still behind the run rate, but some power hitting and aggressive running had us stretched. Probably only for the second time this season we were battling to control the game.

Brown dog and the skipper tightened up a bit without getting total control, but the required run rate began to tell and the wickets started to come.

When the spinners turned it over to the medium pacers to close it out Tech needed 16s for the win, but they were in with a chance with their #3 still at the wicket, having scored a chanceless century.

The killer blow came with 3 overs to go when Eb had the centurion caught behind on an understandably tired shot. The remaining batsmen tried their best, but they didn't have the fire-power and Tech finished on a very good 224/6.

A fantastic days cricket with 488 runs scored in the day at 7 runs an over. A great batting effort and a superior fielding and catching effort saw us home in the end.

POD Points.

Dave G 3

Rob B 2

Jared 1

Next week, Melville on Steele 2.

By the way, updated points up to round 11 (30th Jan vs West Ham) are here:

http://www.hamiltoncricket.co.nz/index.asp?pageID=2145855393

Scoreboard Lowdown

Update - the following peeps are down to run the scoreboard on Wednesday:

• Mark
• Damien
• Richard
• Brendan
• Dave G.
• Josh
• Toby
• Jimmy
• Reg
• Rohit

If you missed out - the test starts on the 15th.

If you are not on the list please, please, please do not show up and try to get in - we have a set number of passes and we can't help you! We can (and will) mock you from our positions above the gate.

For the uninitiated - bring some warm clothes (lest the weather turns) and feel free to bring a seat and something to drink (no booze though.)

_________________________

This is the run-down for the scoreboard on Tuesday/Wednesday next week.

If you've been under a rock - We are running the big old-school scoreboard at Seddon Park for the NZ Bangladesh T20 next Wednesday night.

The basic run-down is:

• Tuesday - We need people to go to the signwriters and stick the names onto the boards, and then take the board to the park. 5-8.30pm sort of gig. We need 2-3 bods for this.
• Wednesday - We need people to set-up, run the board and pack away when we're finished. We need 6-10 to do the set-up easily. The game is at 7 - I'd probably like to see guys arriving about 3pm and finish will be about 10pm.

You don't need to know anything - we have some experienced guys who can show you what to do.

For the games vs Australia in March preference will be given to those who have fronted up to help on the board for the Bangladesh games.

Please contact Yap if you can help.

Thanks

Star.

All Stars Triple Spin Threat Stranglafies West Ham 30/01/10

The All Stars have generally bludgeoned opposition teams to death with the bat this season, allowing them to set decent totals and then chasing them down with a health mix of stroke-play and batting violence.

This weekend marked a pleasant change of pace in more ways than one.

West Ham won the toss and decided to bat - which suited us. We were keen to get fielding over and done with in hot conditions.

We had a bit of a makeshift lineup, on a long (Parachute) weekend but still felt confident we could keep our streak in-tact.

Dave G opened up and looked to have left the radar in the car, with a bunch of wides first up.

But Dave K steadied the ship with a great opening spell on his way to 4 overs 0/11 (0/5 after 3).

After 8 overs West Hamilton were 1/31 and it was time to turn the screws a bit more. Yap and Duncan teamed up to put West Ham in a choker hold. The batsman seem mesmerised by anything slow, and seemed content to play Yap out. This was fine by us and as Yap finished with 7 overs 1/19, Rakesh picked up with his offspin - and prospered! With the overs running out West Ham needed to push it - but they did this without success and Rakesh came away with 4/19 off 5.

At the other end Duncan had finished a tidy spell 2/15 off 6, and Jared had come on to attack with his box-of-tricks legspin. He picked up a wicket in his first over - with Yap rolling back the decades to pull in a good catch running back from Mid-on. Tricky bowled a few gimmes, but in between had the batsmen waving at thin air.

West Ham gradually slipped into unconsciousness all out for 122 in 32 overs.

In reply we seemed intent on breathing life into the West Ham corpse. Jimmy was bowled for bugger all, and prodgical son Jeff East went west rapidly, being adjudged adjacent first ball.

Surely order would be restored with Dan Hennebry striding to the crease. This proved not to be the case as Dan ran out the red hot Duncan on a very tight single (sometimes it doesn't matter how good your form is).

This brought old mates Dan and Dave G together at the crease (No Duncan, I don't think it was on purpose.), and they calmly righted the ship - and then put the foot down.

Dave looked especially good, with good timing being a feature of his innings of 70 n.o. There were shots to all parts of midwicket, he overcame his dodgy knees to run well. It truly was an excellent innings for someone of his ability.

We raced to 124/3 in 17 overs and that was that.

A solid win made all the better by the emergence of some new talent in the bowling department....

Next week it's back to Steele Park to do battle with Fraser Tech.

POD Points

Rakesh 3

Dave 2