The SquizLog

Manuka Magic

Last week I had the privilege of being a parent watching the NSW Combined High Schools 15 Years cricket team playing in the School Sports Australia championships in Canberra.

The boys got off to a slow start but came home strongly.

In their first match they bowled South Australia out for 120 but then, in reply, plummeted to be 8 for 24. A spirited tail-end recovery showed that they were a team to be reckoned with but was not enough to gain a win. Strong victories against NT, Tasmania and WA over the following days earned NSW the right to contest the final at Manuka Oval in a rematch agaist SA.

On an excellent pitch for batting with a fast outfield SA batted first. I expressed the view that any side batting first in those conditions would be disappointed not to get 200 from their 50 overs. As it was SA finished their innings on 6 for 199.

A certain member of the NSW team - knowing that he would not be required to bat - confidently predicted that his team would win with two overs to spare. Coincidentally, that turned out to be exactly the case and a happy bunch of young cricketers, their parents, coach and manager celebrated!

Posted to Cricket by Keith Pitty