2nd Grade UTS North Sydney vs Eastern Suburbs at Bon Andrews
Eastern Suburbs 228 (J Aitken 3/34, B Knox 3/37, W Graham 3/47) def by UTS North Sydney 2/229 (M Papworth 65, J Vilensky 56, G Aitken 54*, R Alexander 47*)
Through the eyes of Sam Alexander
The Second Grade Seahawks turned up to Bon Andrews still high on last week’s trial match win over a hardened Randwick-Petersham side, a side that some would say showed resolve beyond their years.
Whipping out his trusty two-sided coin, GA proceeded to win his 87th toss in a row - a remarkable achievement that blew us all away.
Sending the Dolphins, in we knew the deck was destined to have a little bit in it early. Our assumption proved gospel with James Aitken and Will Graham skittling both openers in their respective first overs of the season.
They were a far cry from the first over last season with Jarrad Ninness bowling one into his own foot and bringing the game into disrepute.
With Ninness fresh in our minds our bowling started to resemble his cricket career, a shining light filled with promise, only to deteriorate as time went on.
Enter Niranjan Naguleswaran.
Niranjan’s loop and guile had the opposition in all sorts, and this built the platform for us to attack.
Benny Knox, warm up son, you’re on.
Knoxy seemed to be nervous in his first over or two, dragging the odd one down and giving himself a serve, but what none of us knew is that it’s all part of an elaborate plan.
Knoxy sucked in the opposition, they became complacent, they thought they were better than our right-arm leggie.
How wrong they were.
Knoxy capitalised, ripping through the Easts top order to take three quick wickets.
Child’s play.
With the set batsman removed and spin taking the pace out of the game, the Bears rolled last-years runners-up Easts for a paltry 228, well short of their projected 300.
New opening pairing Max Papworth and Jordan Vilensky didn’t look out of place as they set about chasing down the total.
Runs came at an ease with beautiful strokeplay, and big bombs courtesy of JV’s huge, girthy levers. Cheers big fella.
With Pappy just out for a run-a-ball 65, but Jordan set with the score at 1-114, level-headed Ray Alexander strides to the crease.
He approaches Vilensky.
“Hey mate, we’ve just lost a set batsman, you’re in and we only need to go at 3s. Let’s walk this in.”
“No worries, mate,” Vilensky quips with a smile.
First ball. Six.
Vilensky goes the distance, and the crowd goes wild.
“Hey mate, nice shot, but head down we can’t afford to lose you just yet.”
Vilensky nods.
The next ball is bowled.
Vilensky clears the front leg.
The ground goes silent. Cars stop in the street. GA; a vein popping out of his head.
Vilensky takes on the big boundary, 80 km/h winds blowing in his direction.
No challenge is too large for the big fella.
Vilensky strikes.
Vilensky connects.
Vilensky’s out.
A hush echoes around the ground. GA; his silence betrays his inner anger.
Vilensky departs the field for a well-made 56…but only one bomb.
Easts are back in the game.
Or so they thought.
In what pundits are describing as a “masterclass in batting”, Ray Alexander, who also happens to be my older, more talented brother, comes together with GA, still fuming with Vilensky’s ignorance but knowing his time will come.
GA and Ray take us from 2-126 all the way to 2-229. For you mathematicians out there, that’s a match-winning unbroken partnership of 103, with 4.3 overs to spare.
In layman’s terms; they absolute pieced them up.
The boys hit the sheds and are led by one of the most enthusiastic versions of the club song ever seen, courtesy of young Ben Knox. Rumour has it he’s still banging away on that bin, screaming at the top of his lungs. Good for you son.
With 6 points in the bag we head to Old Kings bristling with momentum, our head in the clouds but our feet still firmly on the ground.
Over to you, Parra.