Under 11

Grand Final vs Berry - Shoalhaven Heads

PREMIERS!!!!!

It was a South Vs North final held at Nowra #3. The bookies stopped taking bets once they learned that Basin, already the underdogs, had turned in a shocker of a training session. The coach was tearing his hair out and everyone knew he couldn’t afford to do that. Before the weekend was over there would be courage, tears, an infringement notice and a missing scoresheet. It was better than TV and in 3D as well.

Saturday was as sunny as Deltra Goodrem - but a lot brighter. Tom ‘we’re-not-in-a-library-now-boys’ Keighly was the popular choice as captain. He had been practising his ‘walk- it-in-walk-it-out’ cry and turned to his mother to improve on his loudspeaking.

Berry elected to bat and the knowledgeable crowd knew what was on their mind. Batting was their strength and were looking to post an intimidating score. But the Basin boys don’t know how to be intimidated. Their response was ‘bring it on’ .

Although the first two batsmen retired, the run rate had been capped and the game would swing on Berry’s talented batsmen. They have some of the competition’s best . But Ben Boyce Mortlock delivered some unplayable balls, Thomas Dolby (2/4) was tighter than his father’s grip on the scoring pencil. Oscar ‘Woodduck’ Kennedy used his height to great effect and Thomas Ward (1/1) picked up his maiden wicket and raced past his father’s tally. Josh Pearson continues to improve his line and length, Ky Kennedy (1/7) does nothing but encourage his mates and Josh Nossiter did all that was asked of him with the ball and behind the stumps.

But it was Fraser ‘The Amazer’ MacQueen (3/2 – all bowled) who got the prize wickets. With a deceptive and rhythmic run up the ball suddenly gets big on the batsmen and it’s too late. The bowlers were dominating, the fielders were hungry for the ball and Jackson ‘Ball Magnet’ Andre got leather poisoning. Charlie Ward took a sharp chance at first slip. Kyle Jarrett went horizontal to catch one at gully and the crowd went viral.

Berry were all out for 76 and the bookies reopened for business.

Before stumps on the first day Basin was 2/41 in reply and while the parents dared to dream that night, the boys resolved to start the next day like the last and turn up ready to play.

Sunday morning church service was packed with Bay & Basin supporters who hurriedly said their prayers before day’s play. They now face a lifetime of abstinence because the god(s) delivered.

Aiden Twiner (21 n.o.) saved his best performance for the biggest day and Fraser MacQueen (27) sealed man of the match honours but not before losing his wicket when trying to make his ground and crashing into the biggest bloke on the field. No one was more concerned for him than the Berry team as he was assisted off.

When Basin passed the required runs, the benches emptied . It was reward for the boys for their willingness to practice and learn all season. It was reward for parents and families for their commitment to their sons and the team.

Our thanks to Berry and Coach Dave for the game. They are a quality team and we look forward to the years of good competition ahead.

Phil Kennedy

Semi-Final vs Nowra CC @ Husky Oval

Ticket Booked For The Big One!

Last weekend saw a return by the boys to their spiritual home at Huskisson . The HCG had been upgraded and the amenities now included seating if you bought your own.

This last time we played here was a shattering loss in the 2009/10 semi final. Many remember it as a day to be forgotten. But the team was different this year and although the parents were lacking the ‘Brian Factor’ they would still provide plenty of support.

Charlie Ward was our Captain. By the end of the game, it would be a story of how responsibility and sportsmanship clashed with allegiance but how he gained respect in an instant decision.

With the prospect of lost play due to rain, we sent Nowra in to bat. Our opening bowlers applied the pressure but Nowra resisted and wickets were harder to get than sunscreen in England.

The boys in the field were full of talk and it was infectious. The sound effects mike even picked up Thomas, Rowdy Ward having a chat. This alchemy of team spirit has been building and comes at the right end of the season.

Despite the fine innings of Nowra’s Riley White, the pressure started to produce results. Josh Nossiter, Thomas Dolby and Kyle Jarrett all bowled well. Ky Kennedy also bowled well. Rumour has it that he is destined to be a triple representative in cricket, AFL and scouts. Oscar Kennedy bowled with nonchalance like he didn’t even know the meaning of the word. There were sharp catches and there were snappy run outs.

Late in the days play, Nowra were all out for 94 and time allowed us to start our innings. Josh Pearson was the picture of concentration as he opened the batting. You get the feeling that a big score is not far away. Aiden ‘Coiled spring’ Twiner (24) decided there were runs to be had before stumps on the first day. We rang ‘1800 night watchman’ and Ben Boyce Mortlock (7)answered the call.

The second day saw our batsman apply themselves sensibly. Tom ‘call me pet’ Keighley (8 N.O.) has found form along with Fraser MacQueen (8 N.O.)

We finished at 4 for 98 and Basin have now got themselves a ticket to the big dance this weekend.

Our thanks to Nowra for the season. They are to be congratulated for sticking with it all year and we look forward to many more seasons with them.

Phil Kennedy

Rd 8 vs North Nowra-Cambewarra

Arm Wrestle For Home Semi

Day 2:

Day 2 of the game saw a full list turn up. Although the Basin players consider themselves a good chance to make the finals they are also keenly aware of their averages. Oscar Kennedy can recite his to a decimal place and of all the players in the team - he is one of them.

Basin were defending last week’s total of 134. The training during the week had been punishing with several players having to leave early. Would the catching practice translate to actual catches? Would the Sundries be down (and staying down)? Would Charlie Ward’s dad admit his son’s ability comes from his mother?

Our opening bowler ,Kyle ‘scary as hell’ Jarrett (3/2), smashed the stumps three times. With the new ball and a lively wicket it was the perfect storm .

Thomas Dolby (1/2) not only bowled well but fielded well. He got a run out by spearing the ball in from 30 metres and collected the middle stump. There were high fives, scuba dives and jellyfish all round.

Ben Boyce-Mortlock (1/2) opened with a maiden and showed more ability by later taking a fine catch. Ky Kennedy set the standard by holding the first catch at mid wicket. Yes the ball was spooned and yes he didn’t have to move but by the time the ball got to him he had heard everyone yell “CATCH IT” - then still had to wait some more.

The team is finding form at the right end of the season. The talk is there, the fielding is there and there is more back up than a 10 gig hard drive.

Aiden Twiner, Josh Nossiter and Fraser MacQueen got wickets. Josh Pearson, Jackson Andre and Thomas Ward bowled well but the bowling award went to Tom Keighly who had a wayward over but then came good. Natural ability can be overrated but the ability to ‘stick with it’ can never be overrated.

North Nowra finished all out for 71 and everyone agreed it was time to go home and get out of the sun.

Our thanks to them and Coach Angus. Their team spirit was on display when both of their girls got hit by fast balls. It takes no small amount of courage to get up and play on like they did.

Phil Kennedy

Day 1:

And there at Drexel Park was the all important play off for 2nd and 3rd spots on the ladder. These teams have had more close shaves than ten razors (and none of the irritations). The winner would be alone in e 2nd spot and have the advantage of a home semi final, the loser would have to make the long road trip away and risk missing the connecting flights.

Josh Nossiter is our captain for the match and takes his job seriously. North Nowra won the toss and sent us in. He leads by example and opened the batting on a lively wicket. Together with Josh Pearson they saw off the new ball.

Aiden Twiner came in at first drop. His game is evolving from being a ‘cowboy’ to a more orthodox batsmen. He is playing down the line and protecting his stumps. He still looks like a coiled spring but saves it for the right moment.

Jackson Andre was next in and looking to continue his good form - and did. He is a student of the game and has a thirst for knowledge. They say he gets the knowledge from his mother and the thirst from his father.

Ben Boyce Mortlock (11n.o.) continues to impress. Not only does he get the most out of his innings he squeezes every run possible for his batting partners by backing up and forcing the second run if possible.

Thomas Dolby (18) came in and the field retreated like the spectators seeking shade. He swung the bat from the start and reminds many of a young Gary Gilmour coming in late and smashing the ball like every over was the last.

Tom Keighly played with the full face of the bat and with his head over the ball. Kyle Jarrett , Charlie Ward, Thomas Ward all played their part and encouraged their teammates.

The pressure was on Oscar Kennedy as all his family looked on. Luckily he was wearing his pressure suit and did not disappoint.

Fraser MacQueen (11 n.o.) finished off in fine style. There’s no need to tell him to ‘go out there and enjoy yourself’ – it’s all he knows.

Basin finished at 9/134 and have no doubt there’s work to be done, catches to be held and correct cricket caps to be worn.

Thanks to North Nowra for the game. Some of their catches were fantastic and congratulations to Thomas Jelavic who finished with 5/11.

Phil Kennedy

Rd 7 vs Nowra CC

Strong Position

While the rest of the country was looking like a Dorothea Mackellar poem, Bay & Basin hosted the first days play at Francis Ryan Reserve. It was a hot day- so hot that Oscar Kennedy’s chickens were laying hard boiled eggs.

The crowd filed in past security who were checking for flares. Aiden Twiner’s dad got caught wearing some.
Captain for the day was Josh Pearson. His enthusiasm for the game grows and it shows. He won the toss, looked around at the fast outfield and elected to bat.

Fraser MacQueen and Josh Nossiter opened the batting against Nowra’s best. For 9 overs they saw off the new ball and retired unbeaten. Josh Pearson (c) and Aiden Twiner were next in. They too almost finished together unbeaten until, under instructions, Aiden opened up his shoulders, got through the shot too early, and the leading edge went back to the bowler.

Jackson Andre joined his captain at the wicket. He was determined to make up for his cheap dismissal against Berry and he was as focused as a storm chaser. He achieved his highest score and retired .The crowd rose and clapped and he acknowledged it with a simple lift of the helmet.

By this time the mercury hit 40 and it only got hotter when Tom Dolby (20 n.o.) came out. Tom Keighly was going well until beaten neck and crop by the best delivery seen all year.

Charlie Ward (10),Ben Boyce Mortlock (9 n.o.) and Ky Kennedy (9) all contributed and saw Basin Finish at 5 for 139.

Thank you to Nowra and Coach John. They are a good team of young fellas who are good sports.

They say that cricket has lost its way. They say that money has replaced sportsmanship and that players are coached by mercenary agents. At junior cricket you can still see the game played as if the money was nothing.

Phil Kennedy

Rd 6 vs Berry Shoalhaven Heads

Downed In A Cliffhanger

It was the second day of the 2 day game and although both teams were assured of a spot in the semi finals there was plenty to play for. It was the classic Team of Champions Vs The Champion Team.

Last week Berry won the toss and sent Bay & Basin in. Our captain Aiden Twiner doesn’t care for that result, he comes ready to bat or bowl. They say his father was the same - except different.

The boys arrived and it appeared they had renegotiated contracts with sponsors – either that or Santa had spent some time in the Cricket section of the sports store
Berry were down on numbers but had a quality line up.

The Basin boys supplemented in the field and, to their credit, showed no favour . Oscar Kennedy never looked like getting out (except when the ball hit the stumps, the bail popped up then fell back into place). Jackson Andre was just about to pile on the runs when he holed out to a teammate.

The early batsmen were cautious and the first three were retired. The tempo increased when Thomas Dolby (15 n.o.), Kyle Jarrett (15 n.o.) got the crowd interested. Tom Keighly (12 n.o.) looked strangely nervous but gained confidence one his mother remembered he was missing an important piece of protective equipment.

Basin stood their ground and finished at 3 for 117. There were more retirees than a Channel 9 commentary box. It was not a large total and like Greg Bird would be hard to defend. Credit must be given to Berry and to the curator for providing a very safe and soft outfield.

And so to the second days play. Berry’s undoubted strength was their big name batters. It would be crucial for Basin to take their chances or they would make us pay - and pay we did.

Defending a modest total requires tight bowling and tighter fielding. Although there were more missed catches than a paper fishing net, Basin kept down the sundries, kept up the chat and Charlie Ward just kept.

It all came down to the last session of play and then only one wicket required. This was not a good scenario for the Basin first time scorer. Any more pressure and he would have snapped his pencil.

Berry finished at 6 for 119 in a deserved win for the home team and last year’s premiers. Cooper Maddinson (36 n.o.) and Kaleb Weller (25 n.o.) had a shootout at our expense.
Their efforts should not overshadow some of the bowling. Ben Boyce-Mortlock (4 overs 0/3) applied the scoreboard pressure and nearly took a sharp caught and bowled chance. You get the feeling he won’t miss the next one.

Kyle Jarrett (1 /7) has that menacing presence about him – so much so that Cricket Australia is fending off enquiries from the Ultimate Fighting Competition.

The bowler of the day was Fraser MacQueen (2/3). He has a deceptive loop that is delivered off a rhythmic approach to the wicket. He enjoys taking wickets but moreover enjoys the game.

Our miserly bowling was exemplified by Ky Kennedy, Tom Ward, Josh Nossiter and Tom ‘TD’ Dolby who also held a catch.
Thanks to Berry and Coach Dave for the game.

Phil Kennedy

Rd 6 vs North Nowra-Cambewarra

Clash of the Titans

Day 2:

Last Saturday was the second day of the match against North Nowra Cambewarra at Francis Ryan Reserve. Basin was defending 103 and the bookies could not remember a closer game since the second test against India in 1986. The boys trained well in the nets during the week and were looking forward to the game.

Oscar Kennedy opened with the new ball and was not happy to see the umpire who regularly ‘no- balled ‘him. He relaxed a little at the other end, pretended the middle stump was a party and crashed it. Ky Kennedy backed up his batting effort with a fine display of bowling and fielding. Some say he has what it takes to become a genuine all rounder. Tom Keighly bowled well and encouraged his mates all day.
Kyle Jarrett’s figures did him no justice. He will bowl worse one day and get more wickets.

Next up was Thomas Dolby. With the wind behind him, the ball was going faster than an atom in the Large Hadron Collider. With Fraser MacQueen behind the wickets it was a case of the immovable object meeting the unstoppable force.
North Nowra settled in well and looked to have done their homework on the run rate. After 18 overs they were 2/40 and the live betting showed no change with a tie being the favoured result.

Josh Pearson was involved in a fielding mix up with a teammate when a ball was spooned between the two. The crowd had flashbacks to the Steve Waugh/Jason Gillespie mix up but Josh kept his eye on the ball, rode the bumps with a grin and finished with his familiar victory dance.
Aiden Twiner (2/2) was back in town. He sets high expectations on himself and does not hide his disappointment. But with his extended family flown in, they all agreed he may be the best bowler the family has produced.

Jackson Andre’s bowling has improved out of sight. He definitely is the best bowler in the family.
After 35 overs Basin had their noses in front.
Ben Boyce Mortlock, Josh Nossiter, Charlie and Tom Ward all bowled well and had the Kookaburra ball laughing.

The last 10 overs was a flurry of activity as the North Nowra bats were swinging more than a 70s disco. They selflessly attempted to reach the target with risky singles but ran out of time and finished at 7/86.
All players met in the middle and thanked each other for playing in the spirit of the game and in the spirit of the season.

Day 1:

Last Saturday Bay & Basin hosted last year’s finalists. The ghost of Francis Ryan had been busy and the ground was in first class condition. All reserve seating had been sold out prior to the game and the cheap seats were filling with the low rent crowd who bring their own coffees and sandwiches.

Tom Keighly was chosen as captain, won the toss and without hesitation elected to bat.

First up were the Ward brothers Charlie (3 n.o.) and Tom. The selectors have been looking for a winning opening pair all season and may have finally got it right. Their job was to blunt the attack and take the shine off the ball. Some thought they were seeing Geoff Boycott and Chris Tavare at the crease.

Next up were the Kennedy brothers (separated at birth) Ky and Oscar (3 n.o.). They too cautiously played their shots each of them watching the ball like a hawk.

Fraser MacQueen (6 n.o.) played a thoughtful innings. He looks to have made a full recovery from last week’s injury. He was the ‘butt’ of many jokes and was ‘stung’ into action.
Josh Nossiter and his backyard training buddy Aiden Twiner tried but were beaten by some good bowling.

Josh Pearson and Jackson Andre were more of our batsmen whose defence frustrated the bowlers . The crowd certainly appreciated their discipline and recognized their skill. They reject 20/20 as the junk food of cricket and come to watch their sons learn the art of building an innings in the 45/45 format.

Ben Boyce Mortlock (5 n.o.) looks every bit the future of the club. With the trend toward ginger headed leaders, he looks to be a future president.

Our innings finished with a flurry. Thomas Dolby (9 n.o.), Kyle Jarrett (8 n.o.) and Tom Keighly (6 ) made the most of the remaining overs and we finished with 6/103.

All up Bay & Basin had seven batsmen who carried their bat until their allotted time was up. This fits with the team strategy of staying at the wicket, building skills and an understanding of calling and backing up. It’s a bit like one of those ‘Wicked’ Vans - sometimes not pretty, but could take you a long way.

Congratulations to Sarah Hamilton of North Nowra Cambewarra. She took her first wicket and was overwhelmed with her achievement. It was simply one of those magic moments in sport.

Phil Kennedy

Rd 5 vs Nowra at Added Area

In The Box Seat

Day 2:

Last Saturday there was ‘added action’ at the ‘added area’ as Bay & Basin resumed their first innings at 2/32. Chasing 60 was never going to be a sure thing . No one mentioned the ‘Berry Breakdown’ but the boys knew if there was a repeat then the coach would be unbearable as he could talk endlessly about the subject of ‘defensive cricket’.

Josh Pearson and Charlie Ward continued where they had left off. Both kept their head over the ball and played with a straight bat. Ky Kennedy (14 ) came in and delivered on the promise he had been showing in the nets. He’s been hearing plenty of talk about his technique but it was his bat was doing the talking on game day.

Oscar Kennedy also is starting to play like a good batsman. If he put his cricket gear out to be washed in time, he’d look like one too.

The early run rate was not high, but it didn’t need to be. There was an emphasis on conservative batting and sensible calling. For some there was just not enough action.

Fraser ‘Sting’ MacQueen was on the sideline and disturbed a wasp. He got stung on the butt 5 times. Some of the crowd were very unkind and laughed at him as his Grandma applied the cream.

Out in the middle Tom Ward, Ben Boyce- Mortlock and Jackson Andre could not be distracted. Through concentration and cooperation they formed good partnerships.

There’s only so long aggressive batters can hold back and the crowd was about to be spoilt. Kyle Jarrett (16 n.o.) was menacing. Tom Keighly (22 n.o.) played his finest innings yet. He smashed the ball and dissected the field. When interviewed at the ground, his mother said she was delighted but was also mindful that in one innings Tom had now surpassed his father’s career tally.

Unbelievably there was more to come. Thomas ‘TD’ Dolby (25 n.o.) nearly belted the ball out of shape. The last two wickets yielded 84 runs and it’s believed to be a ground record for the 8th and 9th wickets by a Bay & Basin Under 11s team.

After our 45 overs we had scored 163 runs and in the interest of giving both sides more game time, we invited Nowra to bat again. The result of that is not important in so far as the score is concerned. It was a chance for boys from both teams to learn more about the game, improve their skills, build friendships, play by the rules and enjoy all that cricket has to offer.

Our thanks to the Nowra boys who have improved their numbers and are a good team to play against.

Phil Kennedy

Rd 4 vs Berry-Shoalhaven Heads

Visitors Lay Down The Gauntlet

Day 1:

Last Saturday saw the Basin team at home and welcomed last year’s premiers Berry. Although they were down on numbers, Berry still had a quality team. It was a big occasion for Ky Kennedy as he was made captain and his father proudly named the fold- up grandstand after him.

The ground had seen some rain in recent times and parts of the oval were wetter than a fish’s sock. The pitch had been well covered but the outfield was slow and the ball would not be rolling away from the fielder and across the ropes.

Berry decided to bat first. Josh Pearson took the new ball from the southern end and his first spell was as tight as it was unorthodox. Some say that his style is random but they fail to see the layers of complexity that should never be interfered with.

Josh Nossiter was the other opening bowler and sent down a first over maiden. The batsmen should not be fooled by his apparent good nature. One moment he’s the playful Labrador puppy the next he’s destroying the batsmen’s furniture.

It wasn’t until the thirteenth over that Basin got the breakthrough. In the same over Thomas ‘TD’ Dolby (3/2) took two wickets and was on a hat trick. He has raw power and pace and slings the ball like a catapult.

Fraser MacQueen (0/4) continues to worry the batsmen. He is all the time thinking about his bowling and is willing and able to vary line and length. Oscar Kennedy was busy in the field. He is leading the competition stats in ‘nearlys’ and one day he will take that sharp chance and his father will do the crazy victory dance like Steve Martin in the movie Parenthood.

Kyle Jarrett (1/2) showed his all round ability with the ball and in the field. If this kid doesn’t end up on Weet Bix packet then it’s only because Brett Lee is still playing at 47.

Berry were well served by their key players. Congratulations to Cooper Maddinson (45 n.o.) an outstanding innings with many shots straight out of the coaching manual. Given this knock it was commendable that Berry was restricted to 117 after the 45 overs. Basin reigned in their sundries to just 26 and bowled with concentration and accuracy.

Even the best bowlers need fielders who can take a catch. We are lucky enough to have Tom ‘Fly Paper’ Keighly in our team. Standing at a short gully he leapt out of a glue pot and took a left handed grab. The crowd could not quite believe it until they saw the replay.

Congratulations to Ben Boyce-Mortlock, Charlie Ward, Thomas Ward and Aiden Twiner. They all bowled well and fielded with enthusiasm. Thank you to Berry for a good day’s cricket, and here’s hoping for a dry Saturday this week.

Day 2:

Last Saturday Bay & Basin started their run chase against Berry at Francis Ryan Reserve. Although it was a second day pitch we elected to use the heavy roller to compact the astro turf.

Our target was 118 to win and the boys had trained well during the week. But it’s a different story when you’re out in the middle. The bat that was the size of a door suddenly becomes a toothpick and it’s not your teammates sending down friendly fire it’s last year’s premiers stung by their first round loss.

We fell short by 25 runs. If not for Fraser MacQueen (14) and Kyle Jarrett (21) we would have gone down quicker than a Danny Green opponent. There were some notable stands that temporarily gave hope. Josh Nossiter (3 n.o.) was undefeated along with Ben Boyce Mortlock (6 n.o.) Thomas Ward (1) batted beyond his years and provided excellent support. Rudyard Kipling had them in mind when he wrote about keeping your head while all about you are losing theirs.

Jackson Andre ignored his hand injury to pad up. Charlie Ward stared down the bowling and is even more confident than his father taking bets on the Ashes. Oscar Kennedy (2) had a bit of bad luck when run out but as he muttered through his grill “If it wasn’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have any luck at all”.

The chief destroyer for Berry was Kaylan Weller. He took the finest of hat tricks – all bowled. In true junior cricket tradition Dave the coach must now stump up for ice creams all round.

On a day when some batters became battlers and the stumps fell more times than a two legged dog, Basin learnt the lesson that without defence, there will be no chance to attack.

Phil Kennedy

Rd 3 vs North Nowra-Cambewarra

Strong Position

Day 2: Washed out - now there's a suprise!

Day 1:

Last Saturday Bay & Basin played away at Drexel Park to verse last year’s finalists. Selectors welcomed Merv Hughes on to the panel and set about choosing the team. Reputations would count for little and the only certainty was that everyone would get a game.

The team arrived early except Oscar Kennedy who couldn’t find his protector, was delayed at the drive-thru at Maccas then mistook Page Ave for McMahons Rd.

Captain for the day was Kyle Jarret. North Nowra Cambewarra elected to bat first. The new kookaburra came out and Aiden Twiner opened from the river end. Before the crowd settled into their cheap seats, he had their opening bat caught with his opening ball. Aiden went on to take 2 for 3 off 4 overs with 2 maidens.

Incredibly, this effort was bettered by Charlie Ward (3 for 3 including a caught and bowled) By bowling around the wicket, the right handed batsman is one minute chasing the ball slanted toward first slip then finds the next one spearing into the stumps.

Accurate bowling kept the sundries down. Josh Nossiter again was tighter than fishing line wrapped around a propeller. Ky Kennedy might be playful enough off the field but has the best ‘game face’ when he’s bowling. Josh Pearson does his best work in close and has the ability to throw down the stumps at will.

Ben Boyce Mortlock bowled with determination, took a great catch and looks like being a 300 gamer. Some of the team have been putting in additional work in the nets. Andre Jackson saved his best for the last over and should be proud of his improvement. Thomas Ward is more than holding his own amongst the older boys. He listens carefully and is keen as any. Fraser MacQueen had the gloves on and the bails off in a run out quicker than you could say ‘Owzaaaaaat’.

North Nowra Cambewarra were all out for 118 and Basin knew they had never chased down that much before.
Tom Keighly (10) opened the batting and opened his shoulders. He batted like he wouldn’t be around for the second day’s play. Kyle Jarrett (21 not out) is the biggest hitter in the comp. He reminds the crowd of a young Ian Botham. Some say it was fate that led his parents to live next door to the cricket nets some say they knew it would save them building them in the backyard. Thomas Dolby has made a good start and makes the bowler pay for anything off line.

Basin finished the day at 1/47 and play resumes next week.
Thank you to North Nowra Cambewarra. It’s a pleasure to play a team that provides good competition and good sporting examples.

Phil Kennedy

Rd 2 vs Nowra

Top Of The Table

Last Saturday was the second half of a rain shortened match at Francis Ryan Reserve. The curator had re-sewn the vandalism that brought back memories of the third test at Headingly in 1975. The suns came out and the covers were removed.

Tommy Ward jumped at the chance to captain his team and knew that the wet outfield and long boundaries would help the side bowling first.

Basin opened the bowling and the early wickets tumbled. Josh Pearson took two wickets in his first over and his mum proudly recorded it in the score book. As you would expect, Tom Keighly took a catch and so did Aiden Twiner behind the stumps. Jackson Andre started his second spell with a ball he calls his ‘stump remover’. Nowra recovered well from the early pressure but runs off the bat were harder to find than a decent South Australian beer.

Our field was alert to opportunities and backed each other up. Charlie Ward had the crowd stunned when he swooped like a plover at fine leg to affect a run out. There was no ‘ready’ it was just ‘aim and fire’. Josh Nossiter took two wickets and is proof that the ‘pop-up-net-with-stumps-thingy’ works well in the backyard.

After 33 overs Nowra were 8/51 and the boys took to the watermelon that Aiden’s mum had smuggled from the school canteen.

Our opening pair of Thomas Dolby and Kyle Jarrett launched an assault and peppered the bowling. Both retired on 15 not out. These boys fairly cane it and will represent our district well. Not to be ignored, Ky Kennedy (12 not out) and Tom Keighly (5 not out) took us past the target and then some. Oscar Kennedy proved that you don’t need good fitting pads and has scored 3 more runs than this time last year.

At the close Basin had a win with a total of 8/103. Our thanks to Nowra for the spirit in which they played the game. They never stopped trying and were just as happy at the end as they were at the start.

Phil Kennedy

Rd 1 vs. Berry

Winning Start To The Season

Last Saturday was the first round of the season and saw us on the road to Berry.

The team had a new look. There had been players traded and new contracts signed. There were salary cap issues but Aiden Twiner made it in under the father-son rule.

The format was the familiar ‘one dayer’ and Andre Jackson was the popular choice as captain. Berry won the toss and elected to bat. They were last years’ premiers and though short on numbers were still capable of good cricket.

The Ward brothers Charlie (1 for 2) and Thomas opened the bowling and justified their transfer fee with tight bowling. Berry had the services of the young Maddinson boy who was in good touch but had to work hard for his runs.

Our fielding was quite good and the team drew on last years’ experience and encouraged each other and backed up when needed. New teammate Thomas Dolby got our attention when he calmly took a catch at mid wicket whilst everyone screamed “catch it !”. Many made a mental note that we probably don’t need to yell at him next time.

Ky Kennedy (1 for 1) was the pick of the bowlers and has the style of Michael Holding. The smooth action has the batter fooled until it’s too late.

Ben Boyce-Mortlock was impressive on debut. He brings keenness and enthusiasm to the side. Oscar Kennedy was busy in the field and came off with a personal best grass stain.

The stand out play of the day came unexpectedly. Aiden speared one into the stumps which went for overthrows. The dust had just about settled when Charlie Ward picked up what everyone had missed. He informed the umpires that in fact the ball had gone for 4 overthrows. The score was adjusted accordingly and Charlie set an impressive example to everyone that day.

Berry racked up 72 runs aided by some rusty bowling that will get some rust remover with practice.

Our batting line- up is strong indeed. Reigning golden bat winner Fraser MacQueen top scored with 26 not out. He is tougher than the Bellerive outfield where his father played his best. Kyle Jarrett, the new and welcome transfer from Sussex, stepped up and belted 9 not out.

Josh Nossiter fooled no one by being dismissed cheaply. With his determination the bookies still have him as the big improver for 2010/11. Tom Keighly hasn’t lost any of his natural ability and his father moved closer to his half century on the day.

We clocked up 96 runs to take out the match. There’s no doubt a win is a good feeling and helps ‘pump up the tyres’ but more pleasing is the approach to the game, the team and the opposition.

We thank Berry and wish them well this season.

Phil Kennedy