hedger_14
ICC Chairman
Chapter 26 ~ Second Innings: Rest Of Match
Steven Smith came on to bowl his second over. Hopefully he could take a wicket to give us an advantage going into the last 8 over?s or so. Steven duly delivered clean bowling Jason Krejza for 2 and we had probably gave us the edge in this match. That wicket brought Brett Geeves and provided he didn?t get going, we were in a very good position. Smith struck again later in the over after Geeves had scored a single and it was the very big wicket of Travis Birt, who was trying to slog the spinner over mid wicket but it just went straight to the fielder and he was frustrated at himself for losing his wicket like that. That was a very big over taking 2 wickets for only the 2 runs off it and we were now in the better position.
They brought up the hundred with an edge through the slips cordon off Prithviraj for 4. Only 5 runs were scored off the over though which put the game further and further in our favour. Steven Smith after his superb previous over was allowed to continue into his third over. 6 runs were scored off the over, all singles which meant they were rotating the strike. They were still in trouble though requiring 67 runs from 7 over?s. Henriques took the ball himself off Prithviraj. A close LBW shout was the only highlight of the over, but it was turned down by the umpire and rightly so as it was missing leg. There were 6 runs from the over and they needed more than singles if they wanted to win. Steven Smith had one more over left and he was about to bowl it.
A better over for the batsman it was, Smith conceding 9 off it, 3 doubles and 3 singles but the Required Run Rate was now above 10 an over. Henriques was to continue. Naved-ul-Hasan hit a beautiful 4 down the ground but only managed to score 7 off the over and the Required Run Rate was rising. I was given the ball again to try and get a wicket or keep the run rate down. I knew it was a time to make my economy rate better. I started off with a yorker but is was hammered down the ground for 4. I wasn?t happy as I headed back to my mark.
I got my man though deciding to bowl a slower ball which was full and he tried to loft it over mid on but it went straight to him where Steven Smith took the catch. In reply, he jumped on my back. ?Get off Steve, you?re going to break my back?, I said to him which he did and the rest of the team congratulated me. 8 wickets down now and that was my third wicket. Oh man, I got a wicket but it was a no ball. The crowd supported the umpires decision as we were playing in Hobart. I redid my run up so I would hopefully not overstep again.
9 runs came from the over in the end and Hazlewood came on to bowl his last over after taking 3 wickets in his opening spell. Could he finish the game here and now. 36 runs required from 3 over?s, 2 runs a ball. It was going to be tough for the batsman. Holy ████, Geeves just hit a yorker from Josh Hazlewood for six. What a shot and the crowd gave a huge roar. Geeves was now timing the ball well and played another lofted shot over square leg but only got a single for it. It wasn?t over just yet. OMG, another boundary and 11 off the over with 1 ball left in it. A dot ball to finish but an expensive over. 25 runs needed off 2 over?s. Starc came on to bowl his second over. Brett Geeves was on fire hitting his second six, this time even bigger than the previous one and the pressure was back on us.
Geeves now had 28* off 18 balls with no fours and 2 sixes. Another 6 runs were scored from the rest of the over so it was 13 needed off the last over. I was handed the ball. Moises said to me, ?Don?t bowl yorkers to Geeves or he will put you out of the park. Put it on a good length. Keep it reasonably full for Doherty.? Doherty was on strike. 1st ball of my over was cover driven for a single so now Geeves was on strike. A good length ball was deflected down to short third man for 1 and I had bowled a dot ball next up to Doherty. 11 runs required from 3 balls. No!! It was a no ball. Luckily no runs were scored off the bat though so it was 10 runs required from 3 balls still. Lofted over cover for 1 by Doherty but now Geeves was on strike with 9 runs needed from 2 balls.
2 fours would tie the game while a four and a six would win it. Geeves hit me for 4 and it was 5 required off 1 ball. I knew I couldn?t bowl it very short or very full otherwise Geeves would probably hit it for six. I bowled it outside off on a good length. Geeves played the lofted back foot cover drive and it went to the fielder in the deep and only 1 run was scored giving us a 3 run win. We celebrated a good win. Steven Smith got man of the match for his 37 off 27 balls followed by taking 2/27 from 4 over?s. I felt a little hard done by not to get MOTM, having scored 46 off 34 and then taking 3 wickets with the ball but I was way too expensive. Oh well, at least we won.
