Binalong’s Mick Paterson and Harden’s Josh Wakem both snared a
hat-trick for their respective sides on Saturday, when Harden hosted Binalong at Tim Doolan Oval.
It was a day for records at Tim Doolan Oval on Saturday February 4 . The day commenced with the celebration of the cricketing career of David Coggin which included the unveiling of the cricket bat which he used to make 211, the highest individual score ever made in the Harden district. The day then finished with Harden opening bowler Josh Wakem achieving a hat trick to finish the Binalong innings after Mick Paterson had achieved the same feat in the Harden innings. This was the first time in memory that two hat tricks have been achieved in the same game.
A large crowd of past players, current players and friends gathered at the Tim Doolan clubhouse to celebrate the cricketing feats of David Coggan. David played cricket in the district for over 40 years predominately for Jugiong but in later years for Harden. He achieved his record score of 211 in the Windsor Cup at Roberts Oval, a record that may never be beaten.
In the main game Harden Hornets took on Binalong on a water logged pitch due to overnight sprinklers not being deactivated by council. Binalong captain Dylan Arabin won the toss and had no hesitation in sending Harden in. Harden opening pair of Paul Potts and Kelvin Brown got away to good start after some wayward bowling including a number of legside wides.
The introduction of Hayden Bee into the attack had instant success when he had Kelvin Brown (7) caught at mid-on to a ball that hold up due to the slow pitch. Brown was quickly followed by the wickets Kai Steele (4) and Paul Potts (2), at 3 for 29 Binalong was starting to get some rewards for good line and length bowling. Leo Tamale joined Jeff Brown and started to get a good partnership going. However, this was short lived when Brown became the first wicket in the hat trick when he gave a return catch to Mick Paterson. Paterson then had Greg Brown caught at short leg with the next ball and followed this up with the middle stump of Todd Spackman with the third delivery, the rare achievement of a hat-trick. At 6 wickets for 42 it seemed like a quick game was the order of the day. However, the tail was able to wag and got partnerships around Leo Tamale (27) with main contributors of Josh Wakem (13), Rob Bunt (5), Michell Brown (16) and Shane Abnett (5). Harden Hornets all out for the respectable total of 128. Mick Patterson was the best of the bowlers with 4 wickets for 25 and James Woodhead 1 for 2 from 3 overs.
Binalong’ innings got off to the worst start when Danny Arabin (1) was spectacularly caught one handed parallel to ground by wicket keeper Kai Steele off Josh Wakem. Harden kept the pressure on when Todd Spackman was able to get George Knight (6) to miss hit a slower delivery to Paul Potts in cover. Potts was in the action again when he caught Mick Paterson (9) one handed off Leo Tamale. Todd Spackman was again rewarded trapping Dylan Arabin (3) in front, at 4 wickets for 27 the game had swung back to Harden’s favour. A consolidating partnership between Mark Dyball (21) and Drew Arabin (14) settled things down before Mitch Brown bowled Arabin and Potts followed this up with a great quicker delivery to bowl Dyball.
Binalong still had a chance with a late recruit from a foreign land simply known as “Nick”, even the Binalong team where unaware of his name. Nick (21) became the first of Josh Wakem’s hat trick when he spooned a ball straight back to Wakem, Hayden Bee was bowled with the next delivery and Josh Sykes followed next when he was also bowled. Binalong all out for 84.
