March 2000 Volume 81 Number 3 "serving the protectors"
CRICKET

Australasian Championships

The SA Police Cricket Club defeated New Zealand in its first game of the Australasian Police Cricket Championships in Brisbane last November.

SA batted first and, after 50 overs, was 9/193. Major contributors were Brenton Massey with 64 and Shane Maraun with 45. The NZ side - which contained two former test players - was very quickly 5/51. This was due largely to Shane Maraun who finished with 3/20 off eight overs and Craig Strudwick (2/20 off 10). Bowling legspin, Brenton Massey chipped in at the end to take 3/44 off six overs. NZ was dismissed for 176.

SA played NSW in a rain-affected match on the second day. The game was reduced to a 25-over-per-side game. NSW batted first and made 7/156 from 25. The wicket-takers were: Strudwick (2/25), Massey (2/23), Maraun (1/23) and Blackmore (1/17).

Set 6.24 runs per over, SA started well and at one stage was 2/88, with overs in hand. A middle order collapse saw SA slump to 7/119 in pursuit of runs and fail in the end by just 10 runs.

Martin Faull showed his class with a hard-hitting 54. Andy Baker supported him well with 22 while captain, Craig Strudwick, completed a good personal game - unbeaten on 28.

In the third days’ play SA came up against Western Australia. Batting first, WA made a reasonable total of 179 after 50 overs. All the bowlers took wickets but the pick was Brenton Massey with 3/23 from 5.5 overs. He was assisted by Shane Maraun (1/13 from six) and Craig Strudwick (1/24 from 10 overs).

SA needed to win to stay in touch with the top. Andy Baker and Brenton Massey opened the innings and were the only batsmen required. They knocked the runs off in 28 overs. Baker finished 97 n.o. and Massey 69 n.o. Baker missed his century when, with the scores tied, the umpire called a no-ball to finish the innings.

By the fourth day, each of four sides - Victoria, SA, NZ and NSW - had lost only one game. With run rates now vital, SA - second in run rates behind NSW - played host state, Queensland.

QLD won the toss, batted and was dismissed for 168 in the 46th over. All the bowlers chipped in again: Maraun (1/13 off nine), Nick Perry (2/37 off nine), Allan McDonald (2/37 off six) and Massey (2/28 off 10).

Asked to shoulder more responsibility in the captain’s absence, Paul Blackmore was the surprise packet. With great resolve, he finished with 3/26 from seven overs. With run rates the pertinent issue, SA set about its task of passing the score in the sho rtest possible time. This was achieved in the 33rd over for the loss of only two wickets. Baker (33) and Faull (62) were the batsmen dismissed, with Massey (49 n.o.) and Martin Clifton (17 n.o.) seeing the side to victory.

The stage was then set for the final day’s play with a simple equation: beat Victoria and win the carnival. NSW had dropped out of the running with a loss to NZ on the fourth day, and NZ’s run rate was so low it could not catch either Victoria or SA.

Victoria won the toss and elected to bat. SA started well and, at one stage, Victoria was 3/40. Unfortunately, from this point, SA’s fielding became “ordinary”. The South Australians conceded 46 extras in Victoria’s final total of 220. Tragically, 34 of those extras were wides, which meant Victoria received nearly six extra overs.

Nonetheless, Shane Maraun (3/49 off 9.5) and Brenton Massey (3/34 off nine overs) were the picks of the bowlers. SA started the run chase very well and, at one point, was 2/132 with Clifton and Massey cruising nicely.

SA then collapsed to be all out for 194, 26 runs short of its first ever carnival win. Brenton Massey carried his bat through the innings to be 79 n.o. Clifton was the other major contributor with 41. Only three other batsmen got starts. Both teams scored 174 runs off the bat; SA allowed 26 more extras than Victoria and lost by 26 runs.

Outstanding individual efforts prevailed throughout the week. Brenton Massey was the outstanding performer with 263 runs at an average of 131.5. He also took 13 wickets at 11.6 and was awarded with Batter, Bowler and Overall Player of the carnival, as well as selection in the Australasian police side.

Martin Faull made 153 runs at 38 but was run out in two innings. He also made the Australasian police side.

Shane Maraun took nine wickets at 13.1 and made 72 runs at an average of 24. He too was selected in the Australasian police side.

Andy Baker made 169 runs at 42.25 and was considered unlucky to miss selection in the national side.

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