The SquizLog

One to Go

I'm a bit bleary-eyed this morning.

I couldn't resist watching a bit of the World Cup last night. Fortunately it wasn't long before I was supremely confident that the Aussies had put South Africa to the sword. Indeed, there was no recovery from 5 for 27! McGrath was magnificent and Tait and Bracken gave excellent support.

So, after what has seemed like an interminable prelude, Australia has one more match to win to claim their third successive World Cup crown.

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!