Grand Final Match Report // Wed, 02 Jan 08
The Bali Geckos traveled to the hallowed grounds of the Udayana University to take on the fire of the mighty Gianyar Red Ants in the final of the 2007 Bali cricket league.
The Bali Geckos were attempting to rewrite the record books by winning a 4th consecutive premiership title. The first two titles were won under the leadership of the cool head of Daniel Metcalf and the last under the astute mind of Courtenay Werleman. The current undefeated skipper, Chad Paull was definitely feeling the pressure to continue the winning legacy as he donned his whites that morning.
For the first time in 13 tosses the Garuda was called correctly and the Bali Geckos would be able to make the decision of whether to bat or field first. Looking at the state of a few of the team members who had only left the dance floor at club Double Six a few hours earlier, it was decided that a couple of pick me up Bloody Mary’s were required, so as bartender Lynchy and Heckler Hendo set about their daily chores, Rob ‘Hanky’ Hindmarsh and Danny padded up.
Hanky got off to a cranking start and seemed to be hitting boundaries at will. Danny was playing a great sheet anchor role as he waited patiently for the ball to be delivered to his two scoring strengths of the square cut and the one handed flick off the pads, which he managed to dispatch to the boundary on more than one occasion.
On what has become a worrying trend, Cranky once again became more concerned about the current status of the scoreboard and lost focus hitting a cover drive direct into the hands of the cover fieldsman, who proceeded to do a Hinchy and spill the sitter of a chance. With Hanky still seething at the thought of being docked a run by the scorers, bartender Lynchy in the midst of mixing his 17th Bloody Mary, unleashed his psychic powers by boldly predicting that Hanky would be bowled middle stump with the next delivery. An eerie silence fell over the batting side as the centre wicket went cart wheeling through the air and those yet to bat pondered what predictions Lynchy had in store for them.
So with Hanky back in the pavilion after a well earned 44 and a 1st wicket partnership of 66 at better than a run a ball, skipper Chad ‘Nude’ Paull ventured to the crease in what would likely be his last innings for his beloved Geckos.
Danny was out in the 18th over for a well compiled 23 and the first drinks break was taken at 2 for 88. Russell McGrath, who after a season playing for the Geckos had yet to be dismissed, was promoted to the number 4 position for the big occasion. He was met first delivery with a fierce sand shoe crusher by Putra, who then in the next over took a smart catch to send Russell from the crease, after scoring only 1 and leaving the Geckos at 3 for 96.
This bought veteran Greg Hinchliffe to the crease, desperate to impress the national selectors with his batting prowess up against Putra and Urip, who are in the national squad as bowlers. An enthralling battle pursued over the next few overs as the bowlers maintained an accurate line and length and the runs dried up. The tenseness was given a moments reprieve when Putra overstepped the mark and Hinch was the first recipient in Bali cricket of the new law which allows a free hit for a front foot no ball infringement. The ball was hit straight back to the bowler and an opportunity was wasted. In Putra’s next over he finally broke through the defenses of Hinch and bowled him after compiling a determined score of 6.
This brought the newly named Antagonist to the crease with the Geckos looking vulnerable at 4 for 126 in the 29th over. Ant was also rewarded for a free hit after Putra once again over stepped the mark, however unlike Hinchy he duly dispatched the next delivery to the boundary.
Putra, the pick of the Red Ants bowlers, finished his 10 over spell with the figures of 2 for 26 and was replaced by Yeri. The change had an immediate effect with the slower pace of Yeri deceiving Agonist and he was left, head in the air with wickets sprawled and the long walk back to the burger stall with 8 runs to his name.
The Geckos were now 5 for 162 in the 35th over. Nude was batting conservatively and had just reached his 50 and Rocco strode to the wicket with the match evenly poised. The next 10 overs would be crucial to the outcome of the game. What the 2 batsman at the crease lacked in height they made up for in power with a bludgeoning partnership of 118 coming from these 10 overs, Nude bringing up his century in the process with a 6 over mid wicket. The opening bowler Erwin was bought back into the attack during this run feast and saw 30 runs hit from his last over.
Mick fell for 30 and Nude followed shortly after for 156. Jacko was out for 3 and Links fell for a duck in the pursuit of quick runs. Dougal and Ed put on 23 for the last wicket before Dougal was bowled off the last ball of the 50th over for 16, the Geckos finishing all out for 326. Ed, in his first bat for the Geckos finished 5 not out and staked a claim to rise above Russell in the batting order for next season.
Fueled by the wonderful burgers of the Metro sports bar and the Bloody Mary’s from the James Lynch bar, the Geckos took to the field ready to defend their sizable total.
Russell was fired up after his failure with the bat and proceeded to bowl a fiery spell of accurate line and length bowling, finishing with the excellent figures of 1 for 8 from his six overs.
The first wicket fell to a sublime piece of fielding as Jacko pounced on a cut shot as the batsmen went for a run. The throw to the keeper was slightly off target but he managed as he overran the stumps, whilst in mid air, to deflect the ball back with one hand and dislodge one bail in the process and the unlucky captain of the Red Ants, Yeri, was on his way.
Dougal, the Trophy Man, fresh from his 7 awards in his last domestic cricket season, was walking the talk as he swung and cut the ball both ways to finish with 1 for 16 from his 6 over spell.
Jacko and Links took their batting form to the field and finished with 0 for 16 and 0 for 20 respectively from their erratic two over spells.
Antagonist was complaining bitterly about his demotion from opening to third string bowler and proved a point when he picked up a wicket in his first over, albeit to a dubious leg before wicket decision. He should have been rewarded with a second, however the batsman chose the right fielder in Hinchy and an easy chance was fumbled. The batsman, stunned that such a simple chance was grassed, was on his way back to the pavilion when he realized he needed to get back into his crease. The wicketkeeper then continued the display of fielding ineptness by breaking the stumps without ball in hand as the run out was attempted.
The Geckos went to the first drinks break in a commanding position with the opposition at 4 for 61. Edweirdo decided at this junction that he needed to relieve himself of a number 2. Finding the state of the local water closet not up to his high standard of hygiene he proceeded to leave the ground, without informing his team mates, in the middle of a grand final, in search of the nearest McDonalds. With Hendo, Lynchy and Ted the only options on the bench, the Geckos headed back to battle with 10 men afield.
Hinch was brought into the attack and had immediate success, with a skied chance by Alit, safely taken by Dougal at mid wicket. A couple of errant full tosses in his next over were duly dispatched to the boundary by Indrawan, who in attempting a third got a top edge which landed safely in the hands of Nude behind the stumps, the Red Ants now in the perilous position of 7 for 80.
The next over from the King of Spin saw Ant accept a simple chance at Point for the 8th wicket to fall, and with the very next delivery an attempted wrong’un deceived the number ten batsmen, and before he had time to ground his bat, the lightning reflexes of the captain behind the stumps had the bails removed and Hinch was on a hat trick. However, it was not to be and Mick completed the innings in the next over with a straight one that was missed by the tailender, the Red Ants all out for 101, and the Geckos winning the final by a record margin of 225 runs.
Man of the Match was awarded to Chad Paull for his record breaking tally of 156 which included 10 sixes and 17 fours.
With the Bali League now over for another year, the cricket focus is now on the Indonesian National side that will compete in the East Asia Pacific Cup, in Auckland, New Zealand from November 29 to December 9. The final squad will be selected after a training camp in Jakarta on October 20 and 21. Bali hopefuls, trying to gain selection are Chad Paull, Greg Hinchliffe, Soni Hawoe, Yeri, Wayan, Putra and Urip.
by the Twelfth Man