SA police cricketers’ two impressive wins

By Rob Beattie

The SA Police cricket team triumphed over its WA counterpart in the bi-annual Australia and New Zealand Police Cricket Carnival in Sydney last November. SA won the toss, elected to bat on the University of Sydney’s picturesque St Paul’s ground, and scored 9 for 232 in its allotted 43 overs.

Best with the bat were Faull, who scored 85 not out, and Stansborough with a solid 45.

Best and opening batsman for WA, Tomlinson, ran to the wicket when it came his side’s turn to step up to the crease. But his skill on this day failed to match his enthusiasm, and so brought about his quick demise.

His early loss came as soul-destroying for WA, which capitulated to be all out for 93. SA’s best were Clifton (4/9) and McCudden (4/22).

SA had approached the game with hope in its heart after it had fallen disastrously to New Zealand in its opening game on day one.

A scene from the Australia and New Zealand Police Cricket Carnival.

NZ won the toss and elected to bat on a fine, cool day on Allan Davidson Oval. The side managed to score 205 in its allotted 50 overs. This was its lowest score for the carnival, owing to the fine bowling of Clifton (3/27), Leverington (2/19) and Koerner (2/35).

Then to the crease came the SA side, which got safely to 2/94 before a Redbacks-like collapse for 158. Faull, with 39, and Stansborough, with 34, proved best with the bat.

Rain on day two brought about the cancellation of an SA game against the highly rated NSW outfit, which went on to defeat NZ on the final day for an outright carnival victory.

But, with renewed enthusiasm after its defeat of WA, the SA team saw the championship as still up for grabs, as it faced its nemesis: the Brenton Schinnick-inspired Queensland outfit.

Qld went into to bat after SA lost the toss. In the seventh over, Schinnick managed to lift a searing delivery from former state opening bowler, Peter Gladigau, into an adjacent suburb.

Play resumed after the loss of 15 minutes to a search for the match ball, which no one ever saw again. Gladigau quickly restored order with the dismissal of Schinnick. The remainder of the Qld side then fell like dominoes for 138, after its seventh-over score of 0/37.

The best of the SA bowlers were Butchart (5/32) and Clifton (4/30). With only one leg functioning, Gladigau finished with a creditable 1/35 off 10.

The SA side stepped up to bat with a slight change to its batting order: Glen Pink at No. 3. He waited nervously in the wings as SA openers, Stansborough and McGregor, batted with contemptuous ease against the Qld attack.

Stansborough, however, retired hurt for 55. So to the crease came Pink, who used all his experience to steer SA to victory. McGregor finished 73 not out.

Sadly, other results of the day prevented SA from retaining its title of defending champions. But, with the chance to finish a respectable second, the side prepared for its final match against its arch enemy, Victoria.

But victory eluded SA, which scored only 117 to Victoria’s 230. With two wins, two losses and a draw, the Croweaters finished a disappointing fourth. A resilient 31 not out by Dave Salter proved the only highlight of the day.

The carnival presentation night at the Sydney University Bar brought some consolation to members of the SA team. Martin Clifton, Martin Faull and Russell Stansborough were named in the Australasian police cricket side. An even greater honour, the coveted title of captain, went to Clifton.

• The next carnival is scheduled for 2006 in New Zealand. For further information, contact Rob Beattie (0409 155 689) or Darren Mackenzie (0408 817 329), or visit the SA Police Cricket Club website on the SAPOL intranet.