Centrals and Kinross joined one of cricket’s most exclusive clubs on Saturday afternoon, the two sides couldn’t be separated in a thrilling Orange District Cricket Association affair and ultimately played out an incredible tie.
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Centrals navigated their way to 8-138 in reply to the students’ 141 and with opening bat Wes Roweth unbeaten on 91 and seven overs still in the bank, the red and blacks were poised to claim their first win of the season.
Then Kinross skipper Fletcher Rose came back into the attack and promptly lured Roweth into a false shot, leaving Centrals needing four to win with one wicket in hand.
Number 10 and 11 batsmen Matt Ripps and Dan Sandford nudged Centrals’ total to 141, before Rose struck, bowling the latter to seal the rarest of results.
“It was leg side-ish and hit poor old Sanga (Sandford) on the pads, then just rolled back on the stumps,” Centrals skipper Daryl Kennewell explained.
“As far as I can remember it’s the first tie I’ve played in and I’d say it’s probably the same for the most of the other guys so it’s certainly something different.”
Kennewell said his side will consider the tie a missed chance though after losing 5-20 in the back end of its chase.
“We should’ve won, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that,” he said, admitting once again a lack of application with the bat was his side’s issue.
“But in saying that, we hadn’t won a game before the weekend either. It was a bit disappointing we didn't get there, but a tie's better than a loss so I think it’s a step in the right direction, there’s plenty to take from the game.
“We haven’t batted well this year, at all. That’s the problem, you look at our card from Saturday and outside Wes no one made it to 20.”
The students had issues at the crease too though, on what Kennewell labelled “a tricky deck” at Kinross Main Oval.
Outside Steve (50) and Tom Geyer (49 not out), who added 67 for the second wicket, no Kinross batsmen made it to 20 either.
It was a bit disappointing we didn't get there, but a tie's better than a loss.
- Centrals skipper Daryl Kennewell
In fact, none made it to 15 and five didn’t trouble the scorers at all.
Incredibly, with Centrals’ four as well, there was nine ducks across the game.
Four of Kinross’ ducks came in succession too, Matt Ripps (2-60) and Zac Reimer (4-23) taking a combined 4-1 in the middle of the students’ innings, which left them 6-84.
Their tail wagged though, adding 57 for the last four wickets.
Centrals started cautiously, Roweth and Turner (11) adding 21 from the first nine overs before the latter was dismissed.
Roweth – who smashed nine fours and two sixes – made sure the score kept ticking over, as did Nick Sharp (17).
Anthony Salmon provided some resistance too. While he didn’t trouble the scorers, his belligerence helped Roweth add another 33 while they were at the crease together.
But when Salmon was bowled by Kyle Smith (1-38), the wickets tumbled, Kennewell (1) and Reimer (0) both falling before Rose claimed the last two.