If proof were needed that Old Boys weren’t too full after gorging on four straight premierships to tuck into another one, it was supplied at Riverside 1 on Saturday.
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When Bective East dismissed Old Boys for 197 – with Simon Norvill (63) and Ben Middlebrook (57) top-scoring – the reigning premiers delivered 31 overs of intimidatory cricket to leave Bective at 5-83 at stumps on day one of the two-day match.
Needing a win to put the minor premiership race beyond doubt, Old Boys, spearheaded by paceman Aaron Hazlewood, may have had another reason for such aggressiveness: to show the young, improving Bulls who was boss.
The dismissal of Bulls skipper Adam Jones – the scorer of a ton in the last round – was met with a great celebration. Jones was caught behind by Norvill for 13 off Hazlewood’s bowling, leaving Bective 4-79 with five overs remaining before stumps.
Knowing that his side probably needs a win to keep their finals hopes alive, Jones then sent in Rod Fensbo as the night watchman – a move that resulted in an Old Boys claim that the Bulls had “given up”.
When Hazlewood bowled a leg-side wide with the first ball of his second last over and Fensbo swung wildly at it, the quick was disgusted enough to lambast him. “You swing at that,” he yelled from the top of his run-up. Or words to that effect. Fensbo looked towards the bowler but didn’t respond, which was probably a wise move, given that Hazlewood was already fired up enough.
Hazlewood, who has menaced bowling attacks this season, had a rare failure with the bat (10) but countered that with 3-29 off 15 overs.
After Jones fell, Bective lost No.3 James Haling (23), bowled by Norvill. But Fensbo survived, facing eight dot balls. Lochie Barton also finished on naught.
Post-match, Middlebrook smiled wryly when asked about his side’s verve in the field. He said: “I think they said a few things while we were batting. A few of the boys let them know we weren’t going to roll over and let them get 200 runs. It was a good hard day’s cricket. I guess we’re not going to roll over for anyone.”
Middlebrook said he wanted Old Boys to bat out the 80 overs but overall he was pleased with the performance, while, personally, he hit his fifth half century in all forms of the game this season.
Old Boys are facing a Bective side who, after a poor first half to the season, have been imbued with self-belief and have won three matches, including a last-start outright win over South Tamworth that earned them the most points of any team this season (16.32).
South African-born quick Gerhard Labuschagne was again the Bulls’ most effective bowler. After claiming nine wickets for the match against Souths, he finished with 4-83 off 18 overs. Tellingly, he again was most effective against the top order, claiming openers Abel Carney (38) and Norvill, as well as No.4 Hazlewood.
Lachie Davidson, Jones and Fensbo all took two wickets.