Nick’s team won!

This was a classic game of cricket.  Glenbrook-Blaxland CC were the underdogs, having come second to the “minor premiers”, Glenmore Park.   Initially the game seemed to be going according to their positions on the ladder.  After the first twenty overs or so, GBCC were 5 wickets down for 57 runs, and an early finish might have been contemplated.  However Brad Astill (eventually out for 95) and Zac Downward stopped the slide, and then successive 50-run partnerships between Nick Coulshed (55) and first Brad Astill and then Luke Morgan turned the game around, such that GBCC lasted all day, finishing on 9-195.

“click” to see the off-stump is shattered, and the bail flying up in the air!

The second day was even hotter than the first, and Glenmore Park did well to keep up with the required run-rate.  However wickets fell steadily, including a particularly spectacular effort from Zac Downward (4 wickets), who broke one of the stumps!

Glenbrook- Blaxland Cricket Club Fifth Grade Grand Final Champions

The tenth wicket partnership was one of frustration for GBCC, but the eventual breakthrough by Luke Morgan (3 wickets) left GBCC worthy winners on the day.

The Fifth Grade finals are this weekend – Nick’s team for his first “Senior” season.  The team came second in the league, the semi-final was washed out, so they are playing now in the Grand Final.

It did not start well.  The team they are playing are a very good bowling side, and shortly after I (David) arrived, Glenbrook-Blaxland CC were 5-57.  Their number 3 was holding on in there, but after the next wicket fell, in went Nick.

“Get your eye in first ….”

All the rest of the team were saying “just stay there and support Brad”, and “get your eye in, Nick”.

That’s exactly what he did.  Next wicket to fall was Brad (95, poor guy) after a 51-run partnership for the 7th wicket.  Nick was on 13, after 24 overs.  It was a very slow outfield with long grass.

Click to enlarge

Then in came Luke Morgan (Nick’s friend and contemporary in the team), and a 49 run partnership ensued (in 7 overs) – but now with Nick in the driving seat.  it was wonderful to watch.  At one point Nick hit their best bowler (who had been “sledging” Nick) for 15 in an over (including two 4s and a 6).  Fortunately I was there with my camera, and so was Sue.

This looks like another “Watch out, Dad” moment, but this time I was beyond the boundary!

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When the end was nearing (it was an 85-over match), Nick hit out once too often and was caught. I don’t think he was too upset by this stage.

From 5-57, Nick’s team reached 9-195 by the end, so they have a good chance of victory on the second day.

What ARE you doing? You can’t leave me NOW!

As a final note: Luke clearly wasn’t impressed when Nick was out ….

Back to school ….

There is a huge difference, however: Nick can drive!

This is a huge development, which we really didn’t see in advance.  Perhaps it’s dependent on the person – Nick is a reliable, sensible person to whom we are more than happy to entrust the car.  in fact I think Sue is less worried about Nick driving than she is about me (David).  So if Nick (or Andrew) needs to stay late, or get home early (cricket training, for instance), Nick can take the car to school, and the problem is solved.

The cricket season has re-started after the Christmas break.  That sounds a really odd thing to say for an Englishman, but not for an Australian, as I have become.  Nick is now opening the batting for 2nd Grade, for Glenbrook-Blaxland Cricket Club.  He hasn’t made a big score, yet, but it is still a much greater achievement than his father ever managed!

Nick opens the batting for 2nd Grade, at St John’s Oval.

He is now an imposing figure – 188cm and 70 kg – and has the potential to be a destructive opener: when he gets going he can really tear a bowling attack apart.