Inter-Services Cricket
By POSA Randal Bartholomew
Inter-Services Cricket was held in mid February and hosted at RNZAF Base Woodbourne.
RNZN VS. NZ Army - 17 February
The day started with a wet pitch (from malfunctioning sprinklers). This delayed the start and reduced the overs to 45 per innings. The groundsmen worked hard to ensure that the game started at 1200.
Navy won the toss and we decided to field first to take advantage of the damp wicket. However this didn’t work and the Navy bowlers struggled early to get any footing and bowled erratically. The Army openers then went about dispatching the Navy to the boundary with some excellent cricket shots. The opening stand reached 174 from only 20 overs. From then on we managed to pin the Army batsmen down with consistent bowling and fielding. They scored 274 for seven wickets from 45 overs.
Navy came to the crease requiring a chase of six runs per over. At the 30 over mark Navy were 140 for 4 wickets. Greg Staines and I came together in good batting conditions and took the score to within reach of the total. With a quick-fire 27 from Greg Gatley we reached the total with 7 balls remaining. Navy won by three wickets.
- Army: 274/7 off 45 overs
Navy bowling: R Urbahn 1 – 33, M Lambert 1 – 34, R Gaastra 3 – 31, J Rees 1 – 42.
- Navy: 275/7 off 44.1 overs
B Owens 27, S Goodwin 22, R Bartholomew 83 not out, G Staines 75, G Gatley 27.
RNZN VS. RNZAF - 18 February
This game was played on the same wicket as the previous day; we elected to field first. The first hour’s play belonged to the Air Force batsmen; this gave the Air Force confidence to accelerate the score. After their 50 overs, Air had scored 324 for seven wickets. Kim Bevan was their star with 142 not out.
Despite the big total, Navy never thought it was unachievable and the run chase was on. But our opening batsmen were dismissed cheaply before Ben Owens got us back in the chase with 75. However he needed support but the wickets fell at the other end. Even with a late revival by Greg Gatley with 62, it was too late. We were dismissed for 222 in the 39th over.
- Air Force: 328-7 in 50 overs
Navy Bowling: R Urbahn 2 – 48, M Lambert 3 – 62, R Gaastra 1 – 38.
- Navy: 222 all out in 39 overs
B Owens 75, G Gatley 62.
RNZN VS. Marlborough Invitation Side - 19 February
This game gave the opportunity for three of our remaining players to represent the Navy; it also gave the opportunity for three players to play for the invitation side.
We lost the toss and Marlborough batted first. After the first ten overs Navy had dismissed the first three batsmen with only a small total on the board; however, this brought two Navy players into bat for Marlborough who started to change things around! Adam Flaws went on to make 120 while supported by a fine 73 from local player Andrew Knowles. Marlborough reached a solid 274.
Navy then went about chasing this competitive total but the strike was turned over regularly. Despite losing several wickets we remained in the hunt but without a significant partnership, we suffered a consistent Marlborough bowling attack. We reached 199 all out - a win to Marlborough Invitation by 75 runs.
- Marlborough Invitation 274 all out
A Flaws (Navy) 120
Navy Bowling: R Urbahn 1 – 28, Z Thomas 3 – 36, J Smillie 2 – 26.
- Navy 199 all out
R Bartholomew 41, S Hollis 27
Marlborough bowling: P Furjes (Navy) 1 – 16.
Final Inter-Service Placings
- 1st: Air Force: Winners of the Bill Morley Cup for Inter-Service Competition
- 2nd: Navy
- 3rd: Army
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