2004/05 Semi Final

Deans Marsh Cricket

Semi Final - Forrest v Deans Marsh

12^th & 13^th March 2005

There was a air of confidence around Deans Marsh during the week. The ‘Marsh’ had beaten Forrest convincingly in February at the Yaugher Reserve and was questionably the inform team of the competition leading up to the finals. The local tennis teams had also secured final appearances which added to the buoyant atmosphere that surrounding the hamlet.

The team was unchanged from the following week, a solid bonding assembly followed a intense training session on the Thursday. The ‘Swamp Rats’ were dealt a cruel blow when news filtered around the town that Leighton Hart had been struck down with food poisoning on the Friday night. Our first thoughts were obviously for the health and well being of our in form opening batsmen but you couldn’t help thinking there was something fishy or ‘chickeny’ going down. The toss was fundamental, the skipper won and after lengthy deliberation with vice captain Borg, the opposition were sent into bat in the stifling conditions.

‘Glin’ Dempsey struck early, Oates & Marriner both experienced the resonance of the shattered hardware in successive overs but at tea Forrest had recovered to 5/92. The fielding had not been up to the high standard set but was excusable in the oppressive conditions. Valuable runs continued to flow after the adjournment until a skyed catch claimed by keeper Brook Smith off the fiery bat of ‘Daz’ Jenkins turned the game. Great catches followed to ‘Rip’ Bracken and Tommy ‘Gadget’ Reid. Forrest all out 174 with the bowling honours to gilt-edged experience and guile of Peter ‘Rip’ Bracken.

‘Marsh bats hold key to semi-final’ was the headline in a rival publication during the week. Some were seen to chuckle as they read the editorial. It was important to see out the ten overs before stumps without the loss of wickets and with Hart still on intravenous therapy, Brook Smith stood up and opened with Borg. A undisciplined spell from the Forrest opening bowlers saw the runs flowing gracefully from the seasoned willow, often to the boundary and at stumps the ‘Marsh’ were on top at 0/48.

The team had risen at varying times and as usual in diverse states of mind and fitness. Hart was cajoled from his sick bed and was pleasantly surprised when he was able to slip comfortably into his size 16 shorts. The openers added another 36 runs and had done the job. Borg’s entertaining and at times ostentatious innings was severed on 93 but Hart looked cosseted and serene at the crease. ‘The journalist’ Oates had Reid in knots with his late swing and was soon rewarded with a caught and bowled, Hart spanked his next over to the boundary and Oates soon followed with a torn supraspinatus. A solid 24 not out from the skipper put the result beyond doubt. The winning runs fashioned by Nifty Bennett’s elegant late cut for four.

The win was celebrated with sponsors, supporters and umpires well into the evening at our newly renovated clubrooms. Our thanks also to the preternatural beings that surfaced from Beeac, shrieking loudly in there tribal dialect, entertaining us as we battled through the heat and humidity on Saturday.

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