Oct 15 – HCC Cavaliers vs Addington. Home at Hillsborough Domain.

Result – Lost

The Cavaliers Twenty:20 season finally got underway after rain last weekend – maybe summer isn’t quite here yet? Fantastic to be back playing summer sport – after we were robbed of a full season last year due to the February earthquake.

Captain Roger Georgiff got the season off to a flyer – losing the toss to a motley looking lot from Addington – we were sent in on a lush pitch. Jonno “Stretch” (Lambert) and Richie Howard opened the batting – scratching a partnership of 49 for the first wicket. Not bad considering the dense cobwebs (figurative) that had accumulated over winter with several early shots looking more appropriate for a snooker match (and not a very good one at that!). That was until Jonno decided to pot a red – back over the bowlers head into the trees for 6 – and we were away. Eugene Macfarlane, answering a request from the selectors (mmm?), came in at 3 for his first Cav’s 20:20 innings. After crashing one backward of point and a quick call of two – two – TWO, Eug turned at the non strikers end and, in his own words, “turned like the Queen Mary”. He lumbered back at about 3-4 knots towards the keeper…with the wind. In the meantime a handy throw saw him runout by inches – (probably about 48!) Welcome to the team Eug! That was the start of something quite special ….for Addington! A steady procession of Heathcote wickets, maybe due to and early season lack of application (after all it is 20 overs!), resulted in a sub-par 101 all out. This was actually not a bad score given the wet track and huge outfield. John MacDonald, returning to the club, held up and end with a handy 17. For Addington, a bloke nicknamed “Tattoo Ben” (his name is Ben and he’s got tattoos on his arms), mopped up our tail (with his bowling).

Addington were quietly confident at the break, but our opening bowlers John Macdonald (player of the day for his batting and bowling) and Nathan Robinson (welcome back too), soon had Addington reeling at 15 for 3 of 8 overs. Handy bowling spells from Matt Hoole, Mike Brietmeyer, and Andrew Stone, weren’t enough to stop Addington sneaking home in the final over – 7 down. Fielding team bloopers (there’s no such thing as highlights in club Twenty:20) included 3 dropped catches, a multitude of wides, and a smack in the gob for keeper Stretch – ouch.

Not a win, but a very promising start to the season. We’re looking forward to next weekend – and we’ll fit some cricket in I’m sure! See you at the new Heathcote Clubbies for an after match drink and a chat.