Match Report on Game 2

SportCenral Academy vs Holland Under 17 @ Rood en Wit CC – Wednesday 22^nd July 2009-07-23

Fresh from Monday’s defeat, the SportCentral boys arrived at Rood en Wit CC for another opportunity to cause an upset against the Dutch national side. However, after Gary Halcrow lost the toss – again – we were put in to field by the Dutch.

Jamie ‘Subway’ McCann once again opened the bowling with new partner George Smith. But, with both bowlers struggling with their footing, the Dutch openers raced to 64 for 0 after 10 overs. With a breakthrough needed, the skipper turned to the Dutch destroyer Charlie McNish, who picked up the prize wicket of Dennis Coster with his first ball, due to an awesome catch by young master bell.

The Dutch destroyer struck again in his second over, claiming Jaap Dickmann caught down the legside – a very good catch by Chris Morton. This brought Mathius Luten to the crease, fresh form the Under 19 Euros the week before, and after suffering an early chance – when he gloved one to the keeper – he then proceeded to take the attack to the SportCentral bowlers.

Gary Halcrow kept changing his bowlers around, and turned to Scott Bell for some inspiration. Heads immediately went down when his first ball was a wide, but they were back up again a few balls later as Scott was launched over the grandstand for one of many 6s for Luten. By the end of Scott’s two overs, the words ‘130 Jaar Voetball in Nederland’ – the words on the grandstand – were imprinted on Scott’s mind as he had had to look over there a few times.

Blair Campbell, bowling with good control, picked up 3 prize wickets – including that of Luten, Wories and Loggers. Despite tight bowling, Roada and van der Burg batted solidly, with a late acceleration taking the Dutch score to a massive 347 for 5 in 50 overs.

With 347 to chase, the SportCentral top order had a mountain to climb. Graham Oliver faced the first ball, and he gently tapped this and the next one back to the bowler. On the 3^rd he smashed it straight to cover’s feet before calling the far superior Dan Smith through for a suicidal single. Dan was backing up 5 yards out of his crease and without any hesitation at all still only managed to make it halfway down the track. However, Smith didn’t stop and in Gump-like fashion he “just kept running” all the way into the pavilion. It was the perfect start?!?

The responsibility fell once again upon Gary Halcrow’s shoulders. However, he was on the receiving end of a good delivery from Emile van der Burg. Charlie McNish was also prised out without scoring. Next into bat was Scott Bell. Both players punched gloves and Oliver remarked that his ‘running was a little suspect.’

Oliver was dispatched a few balls later and Bell got cut in half by a fairly good seed. George Smith put up another sturdy fight scoring a brilliant 18 before middling a cut that was brilliantly caught by van der Harten in the gully.

With some useful contributions from the lower order, Peter Hamilton scoring 34 and Chris Morton scoring 16, SportCentral managed to scramble to the 3 figure mark, eventually being bowled out for 103. In the words of coach Gordon Allan “it was a learning experience!” Once again we would like to thank Rood en Wit CC for their lovely hospitality throughout the course of the day, and we look forward to our final encounter at the VRA tomorrow.

Report by Dan, George and Scott

Score card for game 2 click here