Yass District Cricket recommenced on the weekend with the Harden B grade team taking on ladder leaders Murrumbateman at the Murrumbateman Pony Club Ground.
Harden lost the toss and Murrumbateman elected to bat. With a team consisting of anybody who was available, Harden started the game well with good bowling from both Jeff Brown and Marty Smith. Brown got the early breakthrough, bowling both openers Darren Thornwaithe (1) and Wayne McIllhatton (12) to have 2 wickets for 23 in the seventh over. However, from this point, things went downhill with excellent batting from James Gray and Jim Bray. Gray was in superb touch hitting the ball to all parts of the ground, he took a liking to the part time bowlers. Harden was lucky that nobody was killed due to the rough outfield of the Pony Club Ground resulting in variable and dangerous bounce of the ball. At the half way mark of the game Murrumbateman had been held to the respectable total of 2 wickets for 119. However from this point Gray and Bray opened up, the 127 run partnership was finally broken when Bray was caught behind off Jeff Brown for 46. All this did was bring Andy Clarke to the wicket and together with Gray they put on 86 runs in the next 8 overs. Both Clarke (32) and Gray (114) fell in consecutives balls to Tyler Allen. For the hat trick ball, the field was brought in and an outside edge flew low to wicketkeeper Matt Murray’s right, but the chance was grassed. After 40 overs Murrumbateman reached 7 wickets for 297. Special mention to Mitch Brown who was required to bowl 8 overs for the first time due to the lack of recognised bowlers.
Harden’s innings got off to a flying start with opener Matt Stadtmiller taking a fancy to the Murrumbateman opening bowlers. He drove, cut and pulled virtually every ball and was finally out in the third over to a spectacular one handed catch by McIllhatton in short cover for a brisk 19. Greg Brown (13), Jeff Brown (18) & Tyler Allen (15) all batted well but found ways of getting themselves out. A late flurry of tail enders entered the fray. Marty Smith added (12) to the score before Captain Coach Kelvin Brown entered the field.
The old man of the sea brought some respectability to the score line adding 32 runs and was defiant in his stand. Kelvin set a great example to the younger team mates who he continues to guide in the finer arts of cricket. Mitch Brown (8) & Bud Abnett (5) got Harden to the final score of 157, only a few short of what was required.
A bye next weekend will then be followed by a game on Tim Doolan Oval against second place Gundaroo. Harden will have to win this one to keep their final chances alive.
