ORANGE District Junior Cricket Association president Nick Cooper couldn’t be happier with the result of the inaugural Fathers versus Sons Twenty20 on Friday night.
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The fixture went off without a hitch, with the Sons emerging victorious by 29 runs.
“Everyone loved it,” Cooper said.
“The kids had a ball, the dads thoroughly enjoyed themselves and it was played in the right spirit. Everyone had a bat and bowl, the sons had to bowl to their fathers and vice versa, it was great fun. We just wanted it to be a success, the result wasn’t important.”
Sons captain James Ryan agreed with Cooper’s sentiments, but disputed the importance of the result.
“Coops is only saying it wasn’t important because they lost,” Ryan joked.
“We dominated.”
After forfeiting the toss, the Fathers were made to swelter in the heat as the Sons piled on 176 from their 20 overs.
Ryan was the best of the Sons’ batsmen, retiring on 24.
Charles Litchfield (19), Michael Hannelly (19), Cooper Bingham (19), Hugh Middleton (12), Fletcher Rose (12), Mitch Winslade (12), Jack Dodds (10), Pat Harris (10) all hit double figures, while Ryan Manning (5) and Charlie Cooper (2) all chipped in.
Nick Cooper was the best of the Fathers’ bowlers, taking 2-8 from one over, including the wicket of his son.
The Sons’ innings was rife with devious tactics from their elders, highlighted when Andrew Litchfield bowled son Charlie while the youngster wasn’t looking.
In the spirit of the game, he was given out for not paying attention.
Charlie Cooper got one back on his old man when the Fathers batted, bowling him first ball of the innings.
The ‘can’t get out first ball’ rule was thrown out the window for old man Cooper.
Andrew Litchfield (31), Stu Middleton (28) and Jarrod Rose (15) all retired for the Fathers, while Richard Manning (17), Paul Murphy (16 not out) Luke Bingham (16), Steve Ryan (6), Matt Winslade (5) and Phil Dodds (2) all pitched in.
Gerard Hannelly and John Harris were both dismissed, by their respective sons, without scoring as the Fathers were bowled out for 147.
Nick Cooper said he is looking forward to next year’s fixture, and is hoping the ODJCA can make a bigger event of it.
“Hopefully next year we expand a bit and maybe make it a stand alone game,” he said.
“It was good playing before the Royal Hotel Cup, but it’d be great to get it on its own and make it an annual event from here on in. It was just a fantastic afternoon.”
